Elka Park Association

The information for Elka Park Association is as of the organization's most recent filing in December '21. This organization is located in Kingston, NY. It has been in existence for 86 years, following its founding in 1935.

Organization Classification

The IRS classifies organizations according to the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) system. The NTEE system helps the IRS assign a 3-character code to each organization to describe the organization's activities.

The Elka Park Association's NTEE code is N32. The "N" tells us that the organization is classified along with Recreation & Sports. The "32" tells us that the organization is focused on Parks & Playgrounds. The NTEE describes Parks & Playgrounds organizations as those that develop, maintain, and make available recreational areas equipped with athletic fields and courts, campgrounds, picnic areas, and various recreational trails such as bridle trails, hiking trails, off-the-road vehicle trails, and snowmobile trails.

Every organization is also governed by a specific section of the Internal Revenue Code. This organization happens to be classified under section 7. The IRS describes organizations in this section as social and recreational clubs.

Perhaps the most accurate way to understand the organization's goals is by looking at its mission. The mission of the Elka Park Association is to preserve open space and the woodland environment.

Program Areas

The homeowners association maintains the real estate for the common good of all owners and is comprised of volunteer homeowners.

Organization Staffing

Elka Park Association is run by James Sansevero, who is the President of the organization. The organization has a small labor force consisting of only 3 employees. None of the employees are paid over $100k per year, and there are no volunteers supporting the organization's work.

Board Governance

Based on the information provided, it is evident that the Elka Park Association is not well-governed. The organization lacks several key governance practices and policies that are essential for transparency, accountability, and effective decision-making. Firstly, the absence of independent members on the board raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Without independent voices, the decision-making process may be influenced by personal biases or self-interests, which can undermine the organization's mission and credibility. Furthermore, the lack of documented board and committee meetings suggests a lack of transparency and accountability within the organization. Without proper documentation, it becomes difficult to track decisions, actions, and discussions, making it challenging to hold board members and committees accountable for their responsibilities. The absence of conflict of interest policy, disclosure requirements, whistleblower policy, and document retention policy further highlights the weak governance practices of the Elka Park Association. These policies are crucial for ensuring ethical conduct, preventing conflicts of interest, protecting whistleblowers, and maintaining proper record-keeping. Lastly, the organization's failure to substantiate and review leadership and officer salaries raises concerns about financial oversight and accountability. Without proper review and justification of salaries, there is a risk of excessive compensation or misuse of funds, which can damage the organization's reputation and donor trust. Overall, the Elka Park Association's governance practices appear to be inadequate. To enhance its governance, the organization should consider implementing policies and practices that promote transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct. This can include recruiting independent board members, documenting meetings, establishing conflict of interest and whistleblower policies, as well as conducting regular reviews of leadership and officer salaries.

Organization Growth

The Elka Park Association, a nonprofit organization, has experienced growth over the given time period. The organization's program service revenue increased from $313.9K in 2017 to $1.4M in 2021, indicating an expansion in their services and activities. Additionally, their investment income also grew from $2.9K in 2017 to $23.8K in 2021, suggesting successful financial management. Total revenue for the organization increased from $325.9K in 2017 to $1.4M in 2021, demonstrating overall growth in their financial resources. However, it is worth noting that employee salaries also increased from $73.0K in 2017 to $86.8K in 2021, which may indicate increased operational costs. Despite this, the organization maintained the same number of employees, with three in both 2017 and 2021. Overall, the Elka Park Association has shown growth in its revenue streams and program services, despite some increased expenses.