| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 2 |
NEXT CONNECTS: NEXT CONNECTS, LAUNCHED IN FALL 2023, IS A BI-DIRECTIONAL MENTORSHIP INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT YOUNG AUTISTIC ADULTS ENTERING THE WORKFORCE WHILE FOSTERING IMPROVED ACCEPTANCE AND INCLUSION WITHIN BUSINESSES. NEXT MATCHES PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE ESTABLISHED CAREERS WITH AUTISTIC COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO WILL SOON BE SEEKING ENTRY INTO THE WORKFORCE. MENTORS WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT AS WELL AS COLLABORATIVELY SET PERSONALIZED MENTORING GOALS, PROMOTE CAREER ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, ENGAGE IN KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER, AND EXPAND NEURO-INCLUSIVE PRACTICES IN THE WORKPLACE. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 3 |
IN 2023, WE DISCOVERED THAT OUR VISION TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE ON HOW DSPS ARE TRAINED COULD BE SCALED THROUGH AN E-LEARNING PROGRAM RATHER THAN A CONSULTATIVE APPROACH. WE HAVE COMPLETED THE E-LEARNING COMPONENT. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 2 |
LAURA SLATKIN, BOARD PRESIDENT AND HARRY SLATKIN, BOARD MEMBER SHARE FAMILY RELATIONSHIP. MICHELLE SMIGEL, BOARD MEMBER AND ROBERT SMIGEL, BOARD MEMBER SHARE FAMILY RELATIONSHIP. ROBERT SMIGEL, BOARD MEMBER AND BELLANCA RUTTER SMIGEL, BOARD MEMBER SHARE FAMILY RELATIONSHIP. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B |
THE COMPLETE FORM 990 IS REVIEWED BY THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND IS MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD DIRECTORS PRIOR TO FILING WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C |
NEXT HAS A WRITTEN POLICY REGARDING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST WHICH APPLIES TO ALL DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF NEXT. DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS ARE ANNUALLY REQUIRED TO CONFIRM COMPLIANCE WITH THE POLICY. IF THE PRESIDENT OF NEXT BECOMES AWARE OF ANY FACTS SUGGESTING THAT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS THEY ARE REQUIRED TO NOTIFY THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, OR THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, OF SUCH CONFLICT AND THE BOARD, OR AUDIT COMMITTEE, UPON THE ADVICE OF LEGAL COUNSEL, WILL DETERMINE WHETHER SUCH CONFLICT EXISTS AND WHAT ACTIONS, IF ANY, TO TAKE IN REGARD TO SUCH CONFLICT. ANY DIRECTOR DETERMINED TO HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON A MATTER PRESENTED TO THE BOARD WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY DISCUSSIONS OR DELIBERATIONS REGARDING THE SUBJECT MATTER WHERE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS AND WILL NOT BE ENTITLED TO VOTE ON SUCH MATTER. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 |
COMPENSATION IS DETERMINED BY THE GOVERNANCE AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE COMMITTEE IS COMPRISED OF INDEPENDENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE GOVERNANCE AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CONDUCTS AN ANNUAL REVIEW, INCLUDING COMPENSATION REVIEW. THE GOVERNANCE AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE PERIODICALLY REVIEWS FORMS 990 OF OTHER SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS, OR PUBLISHED COMPENSATION REPORTS, TO COMPARE QUALIFIED PERSONS IN SIMILARLY SITUATED POSITIONS. THESE DISCUSSIONS ARE DOCUMENTED. THE GOVERNANCE AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE DETERMINE A RAISE POOL THAT MAY BE DISBURSED BY THE PRESIDENT WITHIN GUIDELINES PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNANCE AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE OVERSEES SUCH DECISIONS MADE BY THE PRESIDENT. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 |
THE GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST FOR THE SAME PERIODS OF DISCLOSURE AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 6104(D) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONAL MEASURES NEXT HOLDS LARGE NATIONAL FUNDRAISING EVENTS, TYPICALLY EVERY TWO OR THREE YEARS. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES INCREASE DURING THE YEARS IN WHICH AN EVENT IS HELD BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SUPPORTING THE EVENT. HOWEVER, GRANTS THAT ARE PROVIDED FROM THE FUNDS RAISED THROUGH THE EVENTS, AND ARE CONSIDERED PROGRAM EXPENSES, ARE AWARDED BEGINNING AT LEAST SIX (6) MONTHS AFTER THE EVENT AND FUNDS MAY CONTINUE TO BE AWARDED FOR SEVERAL YEARS THEREAFTER. THE COMBINATION OF THESE FACTORS CAN RESULT IN DRAMATIC CHANGES IN THE PERCENTAGE OF PROGRAM EXPENSES TO TOTAL EXPENSES YEAR-TO-YEAR. IN YEARS WHEN A LARGE FUNDRAISING EVENT IS HELD, THE PERCENTAGE OF PROGRAM SERVICES TO TOTAL EXPENSES IS MUCH LOWER THAN IN YEARS WHEN AN EVENT IS NOT HELD. NEXT ANTICIPATES A SIMILAR TREND TO CONTINUE FOR AS LONG AS WE HOLD LARGE FUNDRAISING EVENTS. |