2024-11-15T13:57:23-06:00 2023-12-31 541487262 MATTHEWS CARTER & BOYCE 12500 FAIR LAKES CIRCLE SUITE 260 FAIRFAX VA 22033 990 2023-01-01 883020032 COUNTRY FIRST FOUNDATION COUN 2027297514 PO BOX 2385 OTTAWA IL 61350 GREG RIDENOUR SECRETARY AND TREASURER 2027297514 2024-11-14 1 0 KATHLEEN M FLAHERTY P00969957 7032183600 2023 2024-10-15 13:58:12Z X GREG RIDENOUR 617 MAPLEWOOD DR MINOOKA IL 60447 681494 0 X HTTPS://WWW.COUNTRY1ST.COM/ X 2022 DE AT COUNTRY FIRST FOUNDATION WE PURSUE A PATH TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON IMPORTANT CIVIC AND POLICY ISSUES. COUNTRY FIRST FOUNDATION STRIVES TO SUPPORT NONPROFITS THAT ARE WORKING ON PROVEN SOLUTIONS THAT EMPOWER LOCAL COMMUNITIES FROM THE BOTTOM-UP. FOR TOO LONG, MANY HAVE LOOKED TO WASHINGTON, DC TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS FACING RURAL, EXURBAN, SUBURBAN, AND URBAN AMERICA. REAL CHANGE OFTEN TAKES PLACE CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. COUNTRY FIRST FOUNDATION WILL WORK TO EDUCATE CITIZENS ON STRENGTHENING OUR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND LOOK TO INVEST IN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT SEEK TO IMPLEMENT PROVEN SOLUTIONS WITH A LASTING IMPACT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 3 2 1 5 0 0 266476 415000 18 0 681494 104151 0 30439 0 0 41898 176488 505006 528120 23114 505006 X AT COUNTRY FIRST FOUNDATION WE PURSUE A PATH TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON IMPORTANT CIVIC AND POLICY ISSUES. COUNTRY FIRST FOUNDATION STRIVES TO SUPPORT NONPROFITS THAT ARE WORKING ON PROVEN SOLUTIONS THAT EMPOWER LOCAL COMMUNITIES FROM THE BOTTOM-UP. FOR TOO LONG, MANY HAVE LOOKED TO WASHINGTON, DC TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS FACING RURAL, EXURBAN, SUBURBAN, AND URBAN AMERICA. REAL CHANGE OFTEN TAKES PLACE CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. COUNTRY FIRST FOUNDATION WILL WORK TO EDUCATE CITIZENS ON STRENGTHENING OUR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND LOOK TO INVEST IN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT SEEK TO IMPLEMENT PROVEN SOLUTIONS WITH A LASTING IMPACT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 1 0 147922 104151 415000 DASH FOR DEMOCRACY - ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2023, COUNTRY FIRST JOINED THE WORLD IN CELEBRATING THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY AS WE LAUNCHED A NATIONWIDE CELEBRATION TO ENCOURAGE ALL AMERICANS TO JOIN IN AND REFLECT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF DEMOCRACY. COUNTRY FIRST LED A BROADER PRO-DEMOCRACY COALITION OF A DOZEN ORGANIZATIONS AND ORGANIZED A SERIES OF ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS, INCLUDING IN-DEPTH VIRTUAL EDUCATIONAL PANEL DISCUSSIONS FROM EXPERTS IN THE FIELDS OF DEMOCRACY IN ARTS. SPORTS, DEMOCRACY, RELIGION, DEMOCRACY AROUND THE WORLD, AND INNOVATIONS AND REFORMS TO IMPROVE DEMOCRACY. THE WEEK ALSO INCLUDED A VIRTUAL 5K AND CULMINATED IN A BATTLE OF THE BANDS VIRTUAL EVENT THAT ALLOWED DEMOCRACY-LOVING BANDS AND THEIR FANS TO PARTICIPATE, SELECTING A WINNER VIA RANKED-CHOICE VOTING (THE FIRST TIME MANY HAD EVER USED IT). 147922 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 IL X THE ORGANIZATION 2027297514 PO BOX 2385 OTTAWA IL 61350 MARIO CASTILLO DIRECTOR 0.50 X 0 0 0 AUSTIN WEATHERFORD DIRECTOR AND PRESIDENT 0.50 X X 0 0 0 GREG RIDENOUR SECRETARY AND TREASURER 20.00 X 27750 0 0 27750 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14500 251976 266476 PROGRAM REVENUE 900099 415000 415000 415000 18 18 681494 415000 0 18 104151 104151 27750 22200 5550 2689 2151 538 13123 13123 5585 868 4717 23190 18552 4638 176488 147922 28566 0 0 320601 207519 0 528120 0 23114 0 23114 X 0 505006 0 505006 0 528120 505006 0 X 0 0 0 X 266476 266476 266476 266476 238510 27966 18 18 266494 415000 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 1 FIRST COUNTRY ACADEMY PO BOX 34688 WASHINGTON DC 20043 862932695 501(C)(4) 90000 0 THE ORGANIZATIONS'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. US CAPITAL POLICE MEMORIAL FUND 119 D STREET NE WASHINGTON DC 20510 383716738 170(C)(1) 14051 0 SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION. PART I, LINE 2: THE ORGANIZATION USES A GRANT AGREEMENT TO LIMIT THE GRANT ACTIVITIES TO SECTION 501(C)(3) PURPOSES, PROHIBITS ACTIVITIES SUCH AS POLITICAL CAMPAIGN INTERVENTION, REQUIRES REPORTING ON THE USE OF THE GRANT FUNDS, AND WILL CONDUCT OVERSIGHT OF THE USE OF THE GRANT FUNDS. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION WILL RETAIN RECORDS OF ITS GRANTMAKING ACTIVITIES. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 2 THIS IS THE INITIAL RETURN FOR THE ORGANIZATION SO NO PROGRAMS HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPORTED. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE 990 WAS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTRONICALLY FOR REVIEW PRIOR TO THE FILING DATE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C TO ENSURE THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH ITS TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSES AND DOES NOT ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES THAT COULD JEOPARDIZE ITS TAX-EXEMPT STATUS, PERIODIC REVIEWS SHALL BE CONDUCTED. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY ACTUAL OR POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST, AN INTERESTED PERSON MUST DISCLOSE THE EXISTENCE OF THE FINANCIAL INTEREST AND BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCLOSE ALL MATERIAL FACTS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. AFTER DISCLOSURE OF THE FINANCIAL INTEREST AND ALL MATERIAL FACTS, AND AFTER ANY DISCUSSION WITH THE INTERESTED PERSON, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS (EXCLUDING THE INTERESTED PERSON) SHALL DECIDE WHETHER THE DISCLOSED FINANCIAL INTEREST CONSTITUTES A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. IF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DECIDES THAT A PARTICULAR TRANSACTION CONSTITUTES A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SHALL DISALLOW THE TRANSACTION THAT GIVES RISE TO THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST. IF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DECIDES THAT A PARTICULAR TRANSACTION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SHALL DOCUMENT ITS DECISION AND THE BASIS FOR THE DECISION AND SUCH DETERMINATION SHALL BE RETAINED WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S CORPORATE AND FINANCIAL RECORDS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15B WHEN HIRING A KEY OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SHALL SET COMPENSATION (INCLUDING SALARY AND BENEFITS), AND SUBSEQUENTLY SHALL INCREASE OR DECREASE SUCH COMPENSATION, BASED UPON FAIR MARKET STANDARDS, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION OBJECTIVE FACTORS. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL FOLLOW THESE PROCEDURES IN SETTING COMPENSATION FOR KEY OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES: 1. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL COMPLY WITH THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY IN CONSIDERING AND DECIDING ON COMPENSATION; 2. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MUST BE COMPOSED ENTIRELY OF INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH RESPECT TO THE COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENT. THE KEY OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE MAY PROVIDE INFORMATION RELEVANT TO THE COMPENSATION DECISION, BUT THE KEY OFFER OR EMPLOYEE SHALL NOT PARTICIPATE IN DELIBERATIONS OR VOTE ON HIS/HER OWN COMPENSATION; 3. THE ENTIRE COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENT WILL BE APPROVED IN ADVANCE OF THE DATE OF CONTRACT; 4. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL OBTAIN AND RELY UPON INFORMATION RELEVANT TO THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THIS POLICY AND APPROPRIATE COMPARATIVE DATA PRIOR TO MAKING THE DETERMINATION; AND 5. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL ADEQUATELY DOCUMENT THE BASIS FOR ITS DETERMINATION CONCURRENTLY WITH MAKING THAT DETERMINATION. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. COUNTRY FIRST ACTION INC PO BOX 2385 OTTAWA IL 61350 922311773 PRO-DEMOCRACY EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT DE 501(C)(4) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0