2020-11-13T10:50:23-06:00 2019-12-31 MARCUM LLP NINE PARKWAY NORTH SUITE 200 DEERFIELD IL 60015 990 2019-01-01 360802950 BETTER GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION INC % EMMETT MURPHY BETT 3124278330 223 W JACKSON BLVD STE 300 CHICAGO IL 60606 DAVID GREISING PRESIDENT & CEO 3128219029 2020-10-15 true GEORGE BODENBERG P00434750 8472826300 2020-10-15 144.121.95.190 15832520203185000000 2020-11-13 P 1311AC6936C526A11A1B421C802A47E9DD46308A 418BE3082C191A8C556D73DDB7731ACF58C0A790 2019 2021-01-29 14:40:06Z DAVID GREISING 223 W JACKSON BLVD STE 300 CHICAGO IL 60606 3883742 false X WWW.BETTERGOV.ORG X 1923 IL PROMOTES INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNMENT. SEE PART III FOR MORE INFORMATION 28 28 27 40 0 0 3067081 2392904 0 0 79544 32764 -172547 -185547 2974078 2240121 0 0 0 0 2618925 2209904 0 0 449835 911598 774451 3530523 2984355 -556445 -744234 3866610 3316642 176803 59619 3689807 3257023 X TO PROMOTE INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNMENT BY EXPOSING WASTE, FRAUD AND CORRUPTION, PROMOTING EFFECTIVE PUBLIC POLICY, AND ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY. false false 1511888 INVESTIGATIVE UNIT - THE BGA'S INVESTIGATIVE UNIT LOOKS INTO ALLEGATIONS OF WASTE, FRAUD, AND CORRUPTION IN CITY, COUNTY, SUBURBAN, AND STATE GOVERNMENT. THE RESULTS OF THESE IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATIONS ARE MADE PUBLIC THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL MEDIA. INVESTIGATIONS INCLUDE ANALYSIS OF GOVERNMENT BUDGETS, CONTRACTS AND PAYROLLS, MONITORING OF EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF GOVERNMENT RESOURCES AND REVIEW OF OPEN, HONEST AND FAIR LEGISLATIVE PROCESSES. THE BGA FILED NEARLY 32 INVESTIGATIONS IN 2019. IN A SIGNIFICANT STEP FOR THE ORGANIZATION, 2013 MARKED THE INITIATION OF THE RESCUING ILLINOIS PROJECT, AN ONGOING SERIES OF IN-DEPTH REPORTS ABOUT IMPROVING AND REFORMING STATE GOVERNMENT AND FOCUSING ON THE STATE'S SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS SUCH AS FAILING PUBLIC PENSIONS SYSTEMS, WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS, AND THE HIGH COST OF TOWNSHIPS. IN ADDITION THE BGA CONTINUES TO PRODUCE DAY-TO-DAY, HARD-HITTING INVESTIGATION. 319040 CITIZEN EDUCATION & COMMUNICATION PROGRAMS (CIVIC ENGAGEMENT) - THROUGH THE WEBSITE AND ITS COMPREHENSIVE DIGITAL STRATEGY, THE BGA PRESENTS ITS JOURNALISTIC INVESTIGATIONS, EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ON IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT ISSUES AND TRAINS CITIZENS ON TECHNIQUES FOR MONITORING GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES. THE WEBSITE ALSO INCLUDES THE ACTION CENTER WHICH EMPOWERS CITIZENS TO STAY UP TO DATE ON POLICY PRIORITIES AND CONNECT DIRECTLY WITH LAWMAKERS TO ACHIEVE POLICY CAMPAIGNS. 357467 POLICY ADVOCACY - THE BGA'S POLICY UNIT CONTINUES TO MAKE GREAT STRIDES IN SHAPING THE DISCUSSION, BOTH IN CHICAGO AND IN SPRINGFIELD, ABOUT WAYS TO IMPROVE OUR GOVERNMENT. THE POLICY TEAM WAS AT THE FOREFRONT OF KEY ISSUES, RELAYING THEM TO BGA FOLLOWERS ON THE THINK TANK BLOG AND IN THE MEDIA. THE POLICY UNIT FOCUSES ON STREAMLINING GOVERNMENT, KEEPING THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT FROM BEING DIMINISHED, WRONGFUL CONVICTION REFORM, PUBLIC PENSION REFORM AND GREATER FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY RELATED TO THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS. 100563 CITIZEN WATCHDOG PROGRAM 100563 2288958 true true false true false false false false false false true false false true true false true false false false false false false false true false false false false true false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false true 23 0 27 true false false false false false true true false false false false false false X 28 28 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true false false IL X X EMMETT MURPHY 3124278330 223 W JACKSON BLVD SUITE 300 CHICAGO IL 60606 DAVID GREISING PRESIDENT AND CEO 40.0 0.0 X 261000 0 7063 DAVID KIDWELL SENIOR EDITOR 40.0 0.0 X 115851 0 22411 BRETT CHASE SENIOR INVESTIGATOR 40.0 0.0 X 115888 0 22052 LORA NICHOLS VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT 40.0 0.0 X 122667 0 1056 JOHN CHASE DIRECTOR OF INVESTIGATIONS 40.0 0.0 X 107724 0 4561 MARK E RUST DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 STEVEN N MILLER VICE CHAIR 1.0 0.0 X X 0 0 0 JACK MODZELEWSKI CHAIR 1.0 0.0 X X 0 0 0 HEIDI RUDOLPH VICE CHAIR 1.0 0.0 X X 0 0 0 G SCOTT SOLOMON TREASURER 1.0 0.0 X X 0 0 0 JONATHAN C BUNGE DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 MARTA CARREIRA-SLABE DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 BARACK ECHOLS DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 SAMUEL FIFER DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 STEVE GREENSPON DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 HILL HAMMOCK DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 CARROLL JOYNES DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 DAVID KOHN DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 ROBERT LEVIN DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 CHRIS LYNCH DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 GEETA MALHOTRA DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 RYAN MURPHY DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 JESSICA NOLAN SECRETARY 1.0 0.0 X X 0 0 0 CHRIS SEGAL DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 LISABETH WEINER DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 JILL WINE-BANKS DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 HON JULIA NOWICKI DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 RYAN CUDNEY DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 PAULETTE DODSON DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 TIM FRANKLIN DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 CHRIS ROONEY DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 BRIAN SHER DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 ANNA WEAVER DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 723130 0 57143 5 false true false 0 1199191 1193713 222424 2392904 0 21285 21285 0 0 0 0 0 1390201 1378722 11479 11479 69252 1199191 264899 -195647 0 0 0 0 0 0 MISCELLANEOUS 900099 9300 9300 SPEAKER FEES AND AWARDS 900099 800 800 10100 2240121 10100 21285 0 0 0 0 261000 182003 26000 52997 0 1678850 1287184 123180 268486 46563 32135 12053 2375 93325 60913 20044 12368 130166 99342 10809 20015 0 73287 63079 6405 3803 81447 50098 20387 10962 0 0 0 0 0 24374 18317 1722 4335 332 332 0 149017 112861 11460 24696 0 0 4802 2581 83 2138 0 0 44726 33874 3440 7412 69654 52754 5357 11543 INVESTIGATIVE 122608 122608 WATCHDOG TRAINING UNIT 4927 4927 POLICY & GOV'T AFFAIRS 45630 45630 MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS 69637 69637 84010 50683 4622 28705 2984355 2288958 245562 449835 308134 664565 0 0 465000 343000 26078 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 46971 44870 244548 198723 57773 45825 2440198 1810890 0 0 0 0 48390 22809 474066 384683 3866610 3316642 167928 46494 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8875 13125 176803 59619 X 2757132 2516731 932675 740292 3689807 3257023 3866610 3316642 -744234 311450 X false true X true false X 4496428 3641509 3176237 3067081 2392904 16774159 0 0 4496428 3641509 3176237 3067081 2392904 16774159 1026797 15747362 100150 38579 38751 38831 21285 237596 2801 6625 9426 15335 19718 20250 10100 65403 17086584 0.92162 0.93336 X SCHEDULE A PART II, LINE 10, EXPLANATION FOR OTHER INCOME: SPECIAL EVENTS: 2015 AMOUNT: $24,356 2016 AMOUNT: $NONE 2017 AMOUNT: $NONE 2018 AMOUNT: $NONE 2019 AMOUNT: $NONE PART VIII LINE 11A MISCELLANEOUS: 2015 AMOUNT: $35 2016 AMOUNT: $6,680 2017 AMOUNT: $19,000 2018 AMOUNT: $2,500 2019 AMOUNT: $9,300 PART VIII LINE 11B SPEAKER FEES AND AWARDS: 2015 AMOUNT: $15,300 2016 AMOUNT: $13,038 2017 AMOUNT: $1,250 2018 AMOUNT: $300 2019 AMOUNT: $800 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED false true false false false false true 4341 false true 37079 41420 false LOBBYING ACTIVITIES PROVIDING RESEARCH, REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING CURRENT POLICIES AND LEGISLATION BASED ON BETTER GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATIONS. 6314 1521 4793 238234 197202 41032 45825 SECURITY DEPOSIT 6391 LONG TERM PLEDGES RECEIVABLE 378292 384683 0 DEFERRED RENT 13125 13125 X 2894788 311450 78318 264899 654667 2240121 2240121 3327572 78318 264899 343217 2984355 2984355 PART X, LINE 2: The Organization is exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501 c3 of the Internal Revenue Code. In addition, the Organization has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service not to be a private foundation within the meaning of Section 509a of the Internal Revenue Code. Therefore, the Organization has made no provision for income taxes in the accompanying financial statements. The Organization evaluates all significant tax positions as required by GAAP. The Organization does not believe that it has taken any tax positions that would require the recording of any additional tax liability nor does it believe that there are any unrealized tax benefits that would either increase or decrease within the next twelve months. If the Organization were to incur an income tax liability in the future, the interest on any tax liability would be reported as interest expense and penalties on any income tax liability would be reported as income tax expense. The Organizations income tax returns are subject to examination by the appropriate taxing jurisdictions. The Organizations income tax returns generally remain open for examination for three years from the date filed with each taxing jurisdiction and there are currently no examinations pending or in progress. PART XI AND PART XII, LINE 2D: EXPENSES DIRECTLY RELATED TO SPECIAL EVENTS: $264,899 ANNUAL EVENT 1193595 1128595 65000 39357 160480 INVEST. AWARDS 74848 70596 4252 7643 57419 0 1268443 1199191 69252 47000 217899 264899 -195647 X X X false false false false false false false false false DAVID GREISING PRESIDENT AND CEO 261000 7063 268063 X 8 221424 FAIR MARKET VALUE X RENT 1 10000 FAIR MARKET VALUE false true false FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4D, OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: CITIZEN WATCHDOG TRAINING PROGRAM - THE BGA'S CITIZEN WATCHDOG TRAINING IS A FREE PROGRAM THAT EMPOWERS CITIZENS TO EXAMINE GOVERNMENT AND DEMAND THE CHANGES THEY WANT TO SEE MADE. IN A SERIES OF FREE TRAINING SESSIONS, CITIZENS LEARN HOW TO KEEP AN EYE ON GOVERNMENT FROM VETERAN JOURNALISTS AND LEGAL PROFESSIONALS. PRO BONO SPEAKERS TEACH CITIZENS HOW TO UNDERSTAND GOVERNMENT AND HOW TO USE THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT AND OPEN MEETINGS ACT. IN 2019 THE BGA TRAINED OVER 100 PEOPLE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, THE BGA CONTINUED TO EXPAND ITS CITIZEN WATCHDOGS OF EDUCATION PROGRAM, A TRAINING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO EMPOWER PARENTS TO KEEP AN EYE ON THEIR LOCAL CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. FINALLY, THE BGA HELD FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT CLINICS. FORM 990 PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B: THE VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS AND PRESIDENT AND CEO WILL ENSURE THAT ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE FORM 990 BEFORE IT IS FILED. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C: THE ORGANIZATION'S BOARD HAS A STANDING COMMITTEE, THE TRUSTEESHIP COMMITTEE, THAT KEEPS AN EVALUATION CHART ON EACH BOARD MEMBER AND OVERSEES ACTIVITIES THAT MIGHT RESULT IN POSSIBLE CONFLICTS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A: THE COMPENSATION PROCESS FOR THE PRESIDENT/CEO INCLUDED THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE APPOINTING A SUB-COMMITTEE TO WORK WITH LEGAL COUNCIL AND TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE SUB-COMMITTEE DID A FULL EVALUATION OF THE PRESIDENT/CEO'S PERFORMANCE IN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING THE CONTRACT. THE SUB-COMMITTEE ALSO WORKED WITH A NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT WHO USED EXISTING STUDIES THAT COMPARED NONPROFIT SALARIES FOR PRESIDENT TYPE POSITIONS. THE CONTRACT WAS DISCUSSED AND APPROVED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION OF THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE ORGANIZATION DOES NOT HAVE ANY OTHER COMPENSATED KEY EMPLOYEES OR TOP MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19: THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS BYLAWS AVAILABLE ON ITS WEBSITE AND THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST.