1.      It is the policy of The Winter Center to ensure the security and confidentiality of all records within its custody or control containing personal, confidential or proprietary information. Such records will not be destroyed earlier that the dates indicated in this policy. Such records will be shredded, erased or otherwise modified so as to make the records unreadable or otherwise modifying the protected information as to make it unreadable or undecipherable through any means. Record destruction will occur when these records can be properly disposed of in an effort to reduce the expense and liabilities of storing irrelevant and obsolete documents.  This may be accomplished directly by Winter Center staff or other secure means.

 

2.      There appears to be no absolute and comprehensive guidance in regard to record retention and expert sources differ in their recommended retention periods. Some requirements are available via the IRS, the State of Kansas, our client partners and others but the guidance is only pertinent and relevant to the source. This retention schedule is based on information from a variety of sources. It has been compared to retention schedules from other, similar non-profit organizations and in those cases where recommendations were not consistent, the longer retention period has been used.

 

3.      Retention periods apply to the original hard copy only. Duplicate copies may be disposed of at any time at the discretion of management unless the original has been lost. Records should not be kept any longer than necessary whether in hard copy, microfilm, optical discs or computer data base.

 

4.      The basic requirements that apply to all records apply to e-mail records as well. Emails are to be printed and the hardcopy stored in the relevant subject matter file as is any other hardcopy communication. The email record must include the sender and recipient as well as the date and time was sent and/or received.

 

For all records EXCEPT those pertaining to education and employment assistance records, the following schedule will be utilized:

Type of Record

Retention Period (Years)

Where Located?

Accident Reports and Claims (Settled)

7

Storage Facility (J.M)

Articles of Incorporation

P

Corporate Record Book

Accounts Payable Ledgers

7

 Storage Facility (J.M)

Accounts Receivable Ledgers

7

 Storage Facility (J.M)

Affirmative Action Plan

P

 Individual Sites

Annual External Auditor’s Report

P

 Corp. Headquarters

Annual Report to the Housing Partners

P

 Storage Facility (J.M)

Background Check Requests and Reports

3

 Storage Facility (J.M)

Bank Deposit Records

7

 Storage Facility (J.M)

By-Laws

P

 Corporate Record Book.

Chart of Accounts

P

 Storage Facility (J.M)

Checks (Cancelled)

7

 Storage Facility (J.M)

Contracts
(Unless stated otherwise in the contract)

7

 Corp. Headquarters

State Certifications or Approvals

P

 Corp. Headquarters

Correspondence (General)

3

 Storage Facility (J.M)

Correspondence (Legal Matters)

P

 Corp. Headquarters

Depreciation Schedules

P

 Corp. Headquarters

Donation Listings

7

 Storage Facility (J.M)

Syndicator Reports

7

 Storage Facility (J.M)

Electronic Fund Transfer Documents

7

 Storage Facility (J.M)

Employee Application from Unsuccessful Candidates

1

 Corp. Headquarters

Employment Applications

3

 Corp. Headquarters

Employee Handbooks

P

 Corp. Headquarters

Financial & Related Records for Federal Grant Awards

3

 Corp. Headquarters

Financial Statements-Year End

P

 Corp. Headquarters

Garnishments

7

 Corp. Headquarters

Grants (Submitted but not funded)

3

 Storage Facility (J.M)

Application as Kansas non-profit and amendments to  articles and bylaws.

P

 Original in Corporate

Record Book

I-9 Forms

1

Corp. Headquarters

Insurance Policies and Records

7

Corp. Headquarters

Internal Reports (Various)

3

Individual Sites

Invoices (From all sites)

7

Storage Facility (J.M)

Job Descriptions

3

Corp. Headquarters

Legal Opinions

P

Corp. Headquarters

Minutes of Board Meetings, Agendas & Related Documents

P

Corporate Record Book

Mortgages, Notes and Leases

7

Storage Facility (J.M)

OSHA Logs

7

Storage Facility (J.M)

Property Partnership Related Documents

P

Storage Facility (J.M)

Payroll Records (Including Timesheets)

7

Storage Facility (J.M)

Client  Records (non-educational)

10

Individual Sites

Personnel Files (of terminated employees)

7

Individual Sites

Physical Inventory

7

Individual Sites 

Purchase Orders and Back-Up Documentation

7

Individual Sites

Fundraising Proposals (Approved/in process)

7

Individual Sites

Status of Funds Reports (Year End) and Worksheets

7

Corp. Headquarters

Tax Returns (Federal and State)

P

Corp. Headquarters

Tax Exemption Application and Determination Letter from Internal Revenue Service

P

Corporate Record Book.

Taxes, Withholding Statements

7

Corp. Headquarters

Taxes, FICA

7

Corp. Headquarters

Partner  MofU or Letter of Agreement

P

Corp. Headquarters

Travel Reimbursements

7

 Individual Sites

Workman’s Compensation Documents

10

Following 1st closure

The Corporate Record Book is currently held by John M. Holzhüter 734 S. Cedar, Ottawa, Ks 66067-2908