Official 501(c)(3) Non-Profit • Tax-Deductible Contributions • EIN 83-2464095
Governance

Our Leadership & Board of Directors

Dedicated stewards committed to transparency, fiscal accountability, and direct community service across Columbus, Ohio.

Board of Directors

Four-Role Governance Structure

Each board member serves without compensation and brings professional expertise in nonprofit management, finance, operations, and community health. Together, they ensure IBADO remains accountable to the families we serve.

Abshira Qassim
Position 1 — Lead Executive

Abshira Qassim

Principal Officer / President

Oversees strategic mission execution, IRS 501(c)(3) public-charity compliance, fiscal transparency, and community outreach alliances across Columbus, OH, USA. Abshira provides overall leadership, serves as the organization's legal representative, and directs high-level partnership development. She also supervises board governance and ensures all programmatic decisions align with the foundation's charitable mission.

Patricia E. Peterson
Position 2 — Financial Stewardship

Patricia E. Peterson, CPA, CGMA

Treasurer / Financial Officer

Oversees budget allocations, fiscal transparency, Form 990 readiness, and ensures 88%+ of all donated funds go directly to active community outreach programs. Patricia manages revenue and expenditure reporting, prepares tax and financial disclosures, and maintains asset transparency records. She also leads compliance oversight for all financial regulatory requirements.

Jonathan H. Sanders
Position 3 — Governance & Operations

Jonathan H. Sanders, M.P.A.

Secretary & Operations Lead

Maintains corporate records, regulatory filings, conflict of interest disclosures, and oversees digital operations infrastructure to maintain organizational integrity. Jonathan archives legal documents, records board meeting minutes, and manages the foundation's technology and website systems. He also handles internal administrative governance and legal record-keeping.

Rachel W. Adebayo
Position 4 — Programs & Outreach

Rachel W. Adebayo, M.P.H.

Program & Outreach Director

Directs frontline program execution, beneficiary intake workflows, volunteer coordination, and strategic alliances with local community partners. Rachel designs and implements charitable programs in the field, coordinates volunteer teams, and manages community relations. Her public health background informs our senior wellness and nutrition outreach initiatives.

Policy Standards

Governance & Accountability

IBADO East African Charity Foundation operates under a written set of governance policies reviewed annually by the full board. These standards exceed minimum IRS requirements and reflect our commitment to the families and donors who trust us.

All board members and officers disclose potential conflicts annually. No board member may vote on matters where they have a financial interest. Transactions with board members require independent review and documented justification. Copies of this policy are available upon request at admin@ibadoeastafrican.org.

Employees, volunteers, and board members who report suspected fraud, waste, or abuse are protected from retaliation. Reports may be submitted confidentially to the Board Secretary or directly to the Principal Officer. All reports are investigated within 30 days with findings presented to the full board.

The board commits to engaging an independent CPA firm for financial review when annual gross receipts exceed IRS thresholds requiring audited statements. Until that threshold is reached, the Treasurer provides quarterly internal financial reports reviewed by the full board at each quarterly meeting.

Corporate records, board minutes, and IRS filings are retained per federal and Ohio state requirements. Form 990 returns and determination letters are available for public inspection under IRC Section 6104. Contact our Secretary at admin@ibadoeastafrican.org to schedule a review.