about navref

Formed in 1992, the National Association of Veterans' Research and Education Foundations (NAVREF) is a membership organization of the VA affiliated nonprofit research foundations, also known as the nonprofit research and education corporations (NPCs).

Most Recent NAVREF Annual Activity Report
Adobe PDF Version

2007 Annual Membership Meeting: Agenda and Financials

NAVREF bylaws

NAVREF's mission is to promote high quality management and communication among the VA-affiliated nonprofit research and education corporations and to pursue issues at the government level that are of interest to its members. 

Within this mission, NAVREF has three goals:

• Promoting the highest standards of fiscal and operational management. 
  To meet this goal, NAVREF conducts educational sessions about NPC management; develops and disseminates information through its newsletter and web site; and offers Best Practices Consultations to its members to share the expertise of experienced NPC administrators.
• Assuring appropriate oversight and regulation of the corporations.
  To meet this goal, NAVREF consults regularly with VA Headquarters personnel and Congress to coordinate development, review and revision of rules and regulations pertinent to the NPCs.
• Educating the general public and Congress about VA research and advocating improved federal support for the program.
  To meet this goal, NAVREF conducts activities designed to inform the general public and Congress about the benefits of the VA research program. NAVREF accomplishes this through public relations and advocacy.

Membership in NAVREF is open to VA affiliated nonprofit research and education foundations as well as individuals and organizations appointed by the NAVREF board of directors.

Class A: Nonprofit research and education foundations affiliated with Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and established under Title 38, Subchapter IV, Sections 7361-7368. Class A members are voting members of the organization.

Class B: Individuals and organizations appointed by the NAVREF board of directors. Class B members are nonvoting members of the organization.

Membership roster including contact information.

Class A (VA affiliated nonprofit research and education foundations): Dues are based on an NPC's total revenues as reported on line 12 of the NPC's last completed IRS Form 990. 

Minimum dues are $50.00 for NPCs with total revenues from $0 to $10,000. The NAVREF membership year is June 1 to May 31.

Class B: The NAVREF board of directors determines dues for Class B members.

Membership application.

To host a board meeting, please contact the NAVREF office.

• Government Affairs Committee
• Non Government Grants Committee

NAVREF serves as a forum for promoting the highest standards of fiscal and administrative management of the NPCs by supporting services and conducting educational programs tailored to the NPCs’ unique needs. Brief descriptions of programs and services currently provided by NAVREF are provided below.

Advocacy. Each year, NAVREF is a leader in efforts to achieve an increase in the federal appropriation for the VA research program. Through timely alerts, an extensive grass roots network is kept apprised of the status of appropriations and urged to contact legislators on a regular basis. Annual Conference participants spend a full day on Capitol Hill hearing briefings by members of key committees and meeting with their own legislators. NAVREF also recommends to Congress updates in the NPCs’ authorizing statute as needed. Click here to go to Advocacy and the Legislative Action Center.

Annual Conference. Each year, NAVREF holds a three- or four-day annual conference in the Washington, DC area. Educational sessions, general sessions and breakouts backed up by written handouts acquaint NPC executive directors, board members and administrative staff with the latest developments in fiscal, personnel and IRS nonprofit management as well as VA regulations that pertain to the NPCs specifically. NAVREF meetings are open to all NPCs and the general public regardless of whether they are members. Information about the next NAVREF Annual Conference.

Best Practices Consultations. At the request of the executive director of a member foundation, NAVREF will support the costs of sending a pair of specially selected, experienced executive directors to spend two days on site reviewing all aspects of the NPC’s management and suggesting “best practices.” Prior to the visit, the consultants examine the NPC’s bylaws, policies, procedures, accounting systems, IRS tax returns, board meeting minutes, interpersonnel dynamics, etc., and then tailor the consultation to the foundation’s particular needs. Information about Best Practices Consultations and a management checklist.

Best Practices Program.  The Best Practices Program is a risk assessment and management resource designed to provide the executive director, board of directors and management staff of a VA-affiliated nonprofit research and education corporation (NPC) with tools to work toward implementing "Best Practices."  Click here to go to the Best Practices Program.

Fall Meeting and Seminars. Each fall, NAVREF sponsors an in-depth one- or two-day seminar on a specific area of NPC management taught by an expert in the field. Past seminars have focused on human resource management, federal grants and contracts, and NIH grants administration. Information about the next NAVREF Fall Seminar.

Insurance Program. To facilitate risk management by the NPCs, NAVREF sponsors a group insurance program. Low-cost policies specifically tailored to meet the NPCs’ insurance needs are provided through an individual broker. This benefit is available only to NAVREF members. Information about risk management, internal controls and insurance.

Brokerage Accounts. In 1993, NAVREF surveyed the major brokerage firms and determined that when used with the Insured Savings Account (ISA), the Merrill Lynch Endowment Management Account (EMA) meets the VA requirement that all NPC funds must be backed by the full faith and credit of the US government at all times. In 2001, Salomon Smith Barney was also found to have an acceptable account when the Business Financial Management Account is used in combination with the Insured Deposit Account. NAVREF can recommend brokers at each of these firms who are familiar with the constraints imposed on NPCs or NPCs may use local brokers of their own choosing.

National Office. NAVREF maintains its offices at 5480 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 214, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815. The office is conveniently located on the Washington, DC/Maryland border near the intersection of Wisconsin and Western Avenues.  It is two blocks from the Red Line Friendship Heights Metro station which will facilitate getting to downtown and Capitol Hill meetings, and is just two Metro stops from NIH.  Any time you are in the Washington, DC area, please stop by for a visit!

NAVREF Executive Director Barbara West. Drawing on her extensive experience in nonprofit management, Ms. West regularly answers questions and provides guidance to NPCs. Ms. West is a member of several professional organizations such as the American Society of Association Executives, the Society for Human Resource Management, and the BoardSource. She applies their expert advice and timely updates on nonprofit management to developing guidance for the NPCs. Ms. West also has working relationships with DVA General Counsel, the Inspector General, VA Headquarters personnel and members and staff of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs. She consults regularly with all of these and private sector experts.

NAVREF Up to Date. NAVREF emails all members updates on timely issues on an as needed basis. These often contain a mix of timely notices, updates on legislative issues and articles about NPC management.  Latest issue and archives

OGC Corporations Panel. The Office of General Counsel (OGC) Corporations Panel consists of specially trained VA attorneys who are available to review draft clinical research agreements negotiated between NPCs and private-sector study sponsors as well as other legal matters. These attorneys ensure that VA interests are protected and that appropriate terminology governs the administration of the research or educational activity. For a fee, these attorneys will also negotiate terms on behalf of an NPC.  Information about the OGC Corporations Panel and its services.

Preferred Vendor Program. NAVREF sponsors a procurement program designed to use the purchasing power of the NPCs to obtain substantial discounts from vendors of research supplies and office equipment. Sixteen major vendors provide discounts ranging from 10-70%.
 

about our members

Click here for a directory of NAVREF members including contact information, email addresses and web site links.  Use of the membership list is limited to NAVREF members.  Non-members may request limited use by sending an email to navref@navref.org.  Requests are considered on a case by case basis. 

Two articles that explain the legislative authority for the VA nonprofits and discuss how they support VA’s research and education missions.

NPC Fact Sheet and Examples of How They Support VA Research and Education

The statute that authorizes the VA-affiliated nonprofit research and education corporations.

VA regulations specific to the nonprofits are contained in VA Handbook 1200.17, formerly M-3, Part I, Chapter 17. 

Handbook 1200.17 – Published December 17, 2001 - Approved Handbook for research as well as research and education foundations

Handbook 1400.2 - November 14, 2001 - Approved handbook for education only corporations