Federal Award Agency U.S. Department of Agriculture Pass-through Granting Agency California Department of Education Program Name: Child and Adult Care Food Program Assistance Listing Number 10.558 Federal Award Identification Number 19-NP-CS Federal Award Year October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024 Compliance Requirement: Reporting Criteria Uniform Guidance requires auditees to submit the reporting package and data collection form to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse within nine months after the end of the fiscal year. Grant agreements also require adherence to specified financial reporting deadlines. In addition, the timely preparation and submission of financial documentation is necessary to facilitate the efficient completion of audit procedures and the timely issuance of audited financial statements. Condition The single audit reporting packages for the years ended September 30, 2022 and 2023, were submitted to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse on March 27, 2026 and March 31, 2026, respectively. As of the date of this report, the single audit reporting package for the year ended September 30, 2024, has not been submitted. During the course of the audit, we also noted significant delays in the submission of requested supporting documentation, schedules, and other audit requirements. These delays extended audit procedures and postponed the completion of the audit engagement and issuance of the related audit reports. Cause According to Foundation management, the Foundation has limited administrative manpower and does not maintain a dedicated accounting team. Staff resources are primarily focused on on-site operations to support and facilitate the Foundation’s food programs. As a result, financial management responsibilities, including accounting, reporting, and audit support functions, are addressed on a secondary basis, which has contributed to delays in the preparation and submission of required financial information and reports. Effect The delays in providing requested documentation and completing required financial reporting processes resulted in an extended audit timeline and delayed issuance of the audited financial statements. Consequently, the Foundation did not meet certain reporting deadlines required by its grantors and the Uniform Guidance submission requirements for the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. Continued delays may increase the risk of grantor scrutiny, potential funding implications, and reputational risk, as well as additional administrative burden associated with prolonged audit engagements. Questioned Costs None Recommendation Management and the Board of Directors should evaluate the Foundation’s financial management capacity and consider strengthening the accounting and reporting function to ensure timely compliance with grantor and Uniform Guidance requirements. This may include assigning dedicated personnel responsible for finance and accounting activities, engaging qualified outsourced accounting support, or reallocating administrative resources to ensure that financial records, reporting requirements, and audit documentation are prepared and submitted on a timely basis. In addition, management should establish a structured financial closing and reporting calendar aligned with grantor and regulatory deadlines and implement procedures to ensure that audit documentation is compiled and made available in advance of audit fieldwork. Views and Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions Empowered 4 Life Foundation appreciates the auditor’s recommendations and is committed to enhancing its financial management capacity to ensure timely and accurate compliance with grantor requirements, Uniform Guidance standards, and all applicable regulatory obligations. 1. Evaluation of Financial Management Capacity Since the 2023 audit, Management and the Board have begun a comprehensive review of the Empowered 4 Life Foundation’s current accounting and reporting structure. This assessment includes evaluating staffing levels, workload distribution, and the adequacy of existing financial oversight practices. The goal is to ensure that the Empowered 4 Life Foundation has the resources and expertise necessary to maintain strong financial stewardship. 2. Strengthening the Accounting and Reporting Function The Empowered 4 Life Foundation is exploring several options to enhance its financial management capacity, including: • Assigning dedicated personnel responsible for finance and accounting activities • Engaging qualified outsourced accounting support to supplement internal capacity • Reallocating administrative resources to ensure timely preparation of financial records, grant reports, and audit documentation These options are currently under Board review, and the Empowered 4 Life Foundation will implement the most effective combination of internal and external support to meet compliance requirements. 3. Establishment of a Structured Financial Closing and Reporting Calendar Management is developing a formal monthly and annual financial closing calendar aligned with grantor deadlines, Uniform Guidance requirements, and audit timelines. This calendar will outline key tasks, responsible parties, and due dates to ensure timely completion of all financial reporting obligations. 4. Implementation of Audit Documentation Procedures The Empowered 4 Life Foundation will implement procedures to ensure that all audit documentation is compiled, reviewed, and organized in advance of audit fieldwork. This includes establishing internal deadlines for preparing schedules, reconciliations, supporting documents, and grant compliance records. 5. Ongoing Monitoring and Improvement The Empowered 4 Life Foundation is committed to continuous improvement of its financial management systems. The Board and management will monitor the effectiveness of the enhanced accounting structure and make adjustments as needed to ensure ongoing compliance, accuracy, and operational efficiency. The Empowered 4 Life Foundation values the auditor’s guidance and will continue to strengthen its financial oversight practices to support transparency, accountability, and long term organizational sustainability. Personnel Responsible for the Implementation: Chief Executive Officer, Tonnie Turner Expected Date of Implementation: October 1, 2026