Centre County Lion Country Visitors Convention Bureau

The information for Centre County Lion Country Visitors Convention Bureau is as of the organization's most recent filing in June '22. This organization is located in State College, PA. It has been in existence for 45 years, following its founding in 1977.

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 Centre County Lion Country Visitors Convention Bureau's NTEE code is S30. The "S" tells us that the organization is classified along with Community Improvement & Capacity Building. The "30" tells us that the organization is focused on Economic Development. The NTEE describes Economic Development organizations as those whose primary purpose is to stimulate the economy, expand employment opportunities, encourage commerce and industry, and enhance the economic development of the community.

Every organization is also governed by a specific section of the Internal Revenue Code. This organization happens to fall under section 6, which is for Business Leagues, Chambers of Commerce, and Real Estate Boards. The IRS describes these organizations as those that support and promote businesses, commerce, and real estate in their community.

Perhaps the most accurate way to understand the organization's goals is by looking at its mission. The mission of the Centre County Lion Country Visitors Convention Bureau is to promote Centre County as a destination for sporting events, vacations, and conventions.

Program Areas

The organization's program area focuses on promoting Centre County as a destination for sporting events, vacations, and conventions. This program area aims to attract visitors and generate revenue for the county.

Organization Staffing

The Centre County Lion Country Visitors Convention Bureau is run by Frederick Smith, who holds the position of President & CEO. The organization has a small labor force, with only 19 employees. Out of these employees, only one is paid over $100k per year. Additionally, the organization is supported by 21 volunteers who contribute their time and effort to its operations.

Board Governance

The Centre County Lion Country Visitors Convention Bureau appears to be well-governed based on the provided information. The organization has a total of 19 voting members, all of whom are independent, indicating a diverse and unbiased decision-making process. The absence of potential conflicts of interest further enhances the credibility of the organization's governance. The fact that the organization has not delegated management to an outside firm suggests that it retains control over its operations and decision-making processes. This can contribute to a more efficient and effective governance structure. The documentation of board and committee meetings indicates transparency and accountability within the organization. This practice ensures that decisions and discussions are properly recorded and can be reviewed by relevant stakeholders. The presence of a conflict of interest policy, as well as the requirement for disclosure of conflicts, demonstrates the organization's commitment to managing potential conflicts and maintaining ethical standards. The existence of a written whistleblower policy further reinforces the organization's dedication to transparency and accountability. Additionally, the organization's adherence to a document retention policy and the substantiation and review of leadership salaries indicate responsible financial management and oversight. However, it is worth noting that the organization does not substantiate and review officer's salaries, which could be an area for improvement in terms of governance practices. Overall, the Centre County Lion Country Visitors Convention Bureau appears to have strong governance practices in place, with a focus on transparency, accountability, and ethical decision-making.

Grant History

Our dataset contains seven years of grant history for the Centre County Lion Country Visitors Convention Bureau. Over the course of these seven years, they have awarded a total of 275 grants, with an average check size of $11,783. The organization primarily focuses on grants in the Community Improvement & Capacity Building sector. In terms of geographical distribution, the majority of grants were awarded in Pennsylvania (273), with only two grants awarded in New Jersey. On average, the organization awards approximately 39 grants each year.

Organization Growth

The Centre County Lion Country Visitors Convention Bureau has experienced significant growth over the given time period. Contributions and grants received increased from $73.2K in 2015 to $1.1M in 2021, while program service revenue increased from $2.1M to $3.9M. Investment income also saw growth, from -$73,303 in 2015 to $8.1K in 2021. The total revenue of the organization increased from $2.1M to $5.0M, indicating a positive trend. Additionally, grants paid increased from $301.0K to $1.7M, and employee salaries increased from $599.5K to $721.7K. However, there was a slight decrease in the number of total employees from 20 to 19, but this was offset by a significant increase in the number of volunteers, from 1 to 21. Overall, the Centre County Lion Country Visitors Convention Bureau has shown growth and expansion over the given time period.