Operational + Financial Transparency

As a tax-exempt public charity, our charitable nonprofit embraces the values of accountability and transparency as a matter of ethical leadership, as well as legal compliance. Our leaders believe that financial transparency will help preserve the very important trust each donor places in One Way Love with each contribution. Additionally, and no less importantly, conduct that is accountable and transparent earns employee and volunteer trust and creates a positive workplace culture. Earning trust through financial transparency and accountability goes beyond what the law requires, but let’s start there: we are required to disclose certain financial information to the public upon request and our board members have access to additional non-disclosed financial information in order to fulfill their fiduciary duty to the organization.

To that end, One Way Love has adopted the guiding principles and best practices of The National Council of Nonprofits.

What must a nonprofit disclose to the public?

Tax-exempt nonprofits are required, upon request, to provide copies of the three most recently filed annual information returns (IRS Form 990) and the organization's application for tax-exemption (which includes correspondence between the organization and the IRS related to the application). To demonstrate a commitment to transparency and to make it easier for those seeking financial information to view these documents, many charitable nonprofits post these documents from a link on their websites.

Learn more about the IRS public disclosure requirements.

Ten additional ways we demonstrate financial transparency

1. Honesty in solicitation materials and truthfulness and clarity in communications with donors about how their gifts will be or have been used.
2. Adoption of a conflict of interest policy with a disclosure statement that all board and staff review annually.
3. Adopt an executive compensation policy to ensure that the full board is aware of, and approves, the compensation of the executive director/CEO.
4. Ensure that the board of directors reviews timely financial reports and also reviews the IRS Form 990 prior to filing.
5. Adoption of sound financial management policies, including internal controls, to ensure accountability.
6. Being clear about who is accountable for expenditures by adopting expense policies, such as a travel expense reimbursement policy (requiring prior approval and limiting expenditures to what is reasonable.)
7. Being candid about our tax-exempt status on our organization website.
8. Being candid also about who is on the board of directors by publishing a list of names.
9. Providing, upon request, timely financial information, such as a copy of our recent IRS Form 990, and audited financial statements and annual reports, as applicable.
10. Responding appropriately to requests for copies of financial reports, as required by the IRS public disclosure requirements.

Privacy + Privileged Information

Due to the nature of our organization's work with youth, in the mental health space, and with victims of violence, we are bound by privacy laws which prohibit us from disclosing certain Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in relation to those we assist without their express written consent. In compliance with the law and ethical standards, only audited public financials will be disclosed. One Way Love does not operate an "open book" policy for this reason, as our raw financial data could reveal sensitive information about those we serve.