TY 2015 Form 990 Schedule O

efile Public Visual Render ObjectId: 201612779349300511 - Submission: 2016-10-03 TIN: 84-0399006

SCHEDULE O
(Form 990 or 990-EZ)

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service

Supplemental Information to Form 990 or 990-EZ

Complete to provide information for responses to specific questions on
Form 990 or 990-EZ or to provide any additional information.
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Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
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Information about Schedule O (Form 990 or 990-EZ) and its instructions is at
www.irs.gov/form990.

OMB No. 1545-0047

2015

Open to Public
Inspection

Name of the organization

THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC

Employer identification number

84-0399006

Return Reference	Explanation
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11	THE FEDERAL FORM 990 OF THE INSTITUTE IS PREPARED BY AN EXTERNAL ACCOUNTING FIRM USING INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM INSTITUTE'S STAFF. ONCE THE INITIAL DRAFT IS PREPARED IT IS REVIEWED BY SR. FINANCE/ACCOUNTING STAFF. IF NECESSARY, CHANGES ARE MADE AND ANOTHER DRAFT IS ISSUED. THE SECOND DRAFT FORM 990 IS REVIEWED BY AN APPOINTED MEMBER OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE ALONG WITH THE EVP FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION AND VP OF FINANCE. IF NECESSARY, CHANGES ARE MADE AND ANOTHER DRAFT IS ISSUED. THE FINAL DRAFT FORM 990 IS PROVIDED TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE. ONCE APPROVED, COPIES ARE THEN DISTRIBUTED TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS BEFORE THE RETURN IS FILED WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C	ALL ASPEN INSTITUTE TRUSTEES AND EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED ANNUALLY TO COMPLETE AND SIGN A DISCLOSURE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM RELATED TO THE INSTITUTE'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. SPECIFICALLY, ALL TRUSTEES AND EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND ARE COMMITTED TO ABIDING BY THE INSTITUTE'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND TO MAKE CERTAIN DISCLOSURES ABOUT THEIR ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF WORK AND FINANCES TO HELP IDENTIFY POSSIBLE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. ALL EMPLOYEE FORMS ARE SUBMITTED TO THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, WHICH REVIEWS THEM AND HAS DISCRETION, IN COORDINATION WITH THE GENERAL COUNSEL AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT, TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS OR RAISE CONCERNS WITH AFFECTED INDIVIDUALS AS APPROPRIATE. ALL TRUSTEE FORMS ARE SUBMITTED TO THE OFFICE OF THE CORPORATE SECRETARY, WHICH REVIEWS THEM ALONG WITH THE GENERAL COUNSEL. MAJOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST ISSUES INVOLVING TRUSTEES AND/OR SENIOR MANAGEMENT ARE REFERRED TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR RESOLUTION. THE CORPORATE SECRETARY, GENERAL COUNSEL AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT REGULARLY CONFER WITH THE CHAIR OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE REGARDING THE INSTITUTE'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST ISSUES.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15	THE INSTITUTE CONTRACTS WITH AN EXTERNAL COMPENSATION FIRM TO PERFORM A MARKET ANALYSIS TO SET THE SALARY RANGES FOR ALL OF OUR POSITIONS ANNUALLY. THE COMPENSATION FIRM ANALYZES SALARIES FROM LIKE ORGANIZATIONS TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE SALARY RANGE FOR EACH POSITION IN THE INSTITUTE. THE INSTITUTE'S COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY IS THAT WE GENERALLY TARGET THE 50TH PERCENTILE OF THE MARKET FOR OUR POSITIONS. IN ADDITION TO THE ANNUAL MARKET ANALYSIS FOR ALL POSITIONS, WE CONTRACT WITH AN EXTERNAL COMPENSATION CONSULTANT BI-ANNUALLY TO CONDUCT AN IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS FOR OUR PRESIDENT/CEO AND EACH OF OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. EACH EXECUTIVE'S TOTAL COMPENSATION IS BENCHMARKED AGAINST SIMILAR POSITIONS IN COMPARABLE ORGANIZATIONS IN LABOR MARKETS IN WHICH THE INSTITUTE COMPETES FOR EXECUTIVE TALENT. THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CONSULTANT ARE PRESENTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD FOR THEIR REVIEW AND ENDORSEMENT. THE PRESIDENT/CEO'S SALARY IS THEN PRESENTED TO THE FULL BOARD FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19	THE GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND FEDERAL FORM 1023 ARE MADE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THE FEDERAL FORM 990 AND THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE MADE PUBLIC ON THE INSTITUTE'S WEBSITE.
FORM 990, PART I, LINE 19:	A LARGE PORTION OF ASPEN'S REVENUE COMES IN THE FORM OF MULTI-YEAR GIFTS AND GRANTS. THIS REVENUE IS ALL RECOGNIZED IN THE YEAR AWARDED ACCORDING TO GAAP STANDARDS. HOWEVER, THE PLANNED RECEIPT AND SPENDING OF THE FUNDS IS OVER FUTURE YEARS. THIS MULTI-YEAR FUNDING STRUCTURE CAN CREATE LARGE INCREASES AND DECREASES IN THE INSTITUTE'S ANNUAL CHANGE IN NET ASSETS.

Return Reference

Explanation

FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11

THE FEDERAL FORM 990 OF THE INSTITUTE IS PREPARED BY AN EXTERNAL ACCOUNTING FIRM USING INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM INSTITUTE'S STAFF. ONCE THE INITIAL DRAFT IS PREPARED IT IS REVIEWED BY SR. FINANCE/ACCOUNTING STAFF. IF NECESSARY, CHANGES ARE MADE AND ANOTHER DRAFT IS ISSUED. THE SECOND DRAFT FORM 990 IS REVIEWED BY AN APPOINTED MEMBER OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE ALONG WITH THE EVP FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION AND VP OF FINANCE. IF NECESSARY, CHANGES ARE MADE AND ANOTHER DRAFT IS ISSUED. THE FINAL DRAFT FORM 990 IS PROVIDED TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE. ONCE APPROVED, COPIES ARE THEN DISTRIBUTED TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS BEFORE THE RETURN IS FILED WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.

FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C

ALL ASPEN INSTITUTE TRUSTEES AND EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED ANNUALLY TO COMPLETE AND SIGN A DISCLOSURE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM RELATED TO THE INSTITUTE'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. SPECIFICALLY, ALL TRUSTEES AND EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND ARE COMMITTED TO ABIDING BY THE INSTITUTE'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND TO MAKE CERTAIN DISCLOSURES ABOUT THEIR ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF WORK AND FINANCES TO HELP IDENTIFY POSSIBLE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. ALL EMPLOYEE FORMS ARE SUBMITTED TO THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, WHICH REVIEWS THEM AND HAS DISCRETION, IN COORDINATION WITH THE GENERAL COUNSEL AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT, TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS OR RAISE CONCERNS WITH AFFECTED INDIVIDUALS AS APPROPRIATE. ALL TRUSTEE FORMS ARE SUBMITTED TO THE OFFICE OF THE CORPORATE SECRETARY, WHICH REVIEWS THEM ALONG WITH THE GENERAL COUNSEL. MAJOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST ISSUES INVOLVING TRUSTEES AND/OR SENIOR MANAGEMENT ARE REFERRED TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR RESOLUTION. THE CORPORATE SECRETARY, GENERAL COUNSEL AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT REGULARLY CONFER WITH THE CHAIR OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE REGARDING THE INSTITUTE'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST ISSUES.

FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15

THE INSTITUTE CONTRACTS WITH AN EXTERNAL COMPENSATION FIRM TO PERFORM A MARKET ANALYSIS TO SET THE SALARY RANGES FOR ALL OF OUR POSITIONS ANNUALLY. THE COMPENSATION FIRM ANALYZES SALARIES FROM LIKE ORGANIZATIONS TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE SALARY RANGE FOR EACH POSITION IN THE INSTITUTE. THE INSTITUTE'S COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY IS THAT WE GENERALLY TARGET THE 50TH PERCENTILE OF THE MARKET FOR OUR POSITIONS. IN ADDITION TO THE ANNUAL MARKET ANALYSIS FOR ALL POSITIONS, WE CONTRACT WITH AN EXTERNAL COMPENSATION CONSULTANT BI-ANNUALLY TO CONDUCT AN IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS FOR OUR PRESIDENT/CEO AND EACH OF OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. EACH EXECUTIVE'S TOTAL COMPENSATION IS BENCHMARKED AGAINST SIMILAR POSITIONS IN COMPARABLE ORGANIZATIONS IN LABOR MARKETS IN WHICH THE INSTITUTE COMPETES FOR EXECUTIVE TALENT. THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CONSULTANT ARE PRESENTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD FOR THEIR REVIEW AND ENDORSEMENT. THE PRESIDENT/CEO'S SALARY IS THEN PRESENTED TO THE FULL BOARD FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19

THE GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND FEDERAL FORM 1023 ARE MADE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THE FEDERAL FORM 990 AND THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE MADE PUBLIC ON THE INSTITUTE'S WEBSITE.

FORM 990, PART I, LINE 19:

A LARGE PORTION OF ASPEN'S REVENUE COMES IN THE FORM OF MULTI-YEAR GIFTS AND GRANTS. THIS REVENUE IS ALL RECOGNIZED IN THE YEAR AWARDED ACCORDING TO GAAP STANDARDS. HOWEVER, THE PLANNED RECEIPT AND SPENDING OF THE FUNDS IS OVER FUTURE YEARS. THIS MULTI-YEAR FUNDING STRUCTURE CAN CREATE LARGE INCREASES AND DECREASES IN THE INSTITUTE'S ANNUAL CHANGE IN NET ASSETS.

For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the Instructions for Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Cat. No. 51056K

Schedule O (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2015

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