About the ACBS Foundation
About the ACBS FoundationWe started with a vision to make people thrive…. We continue with the vision to inspire the society about our work…. And help people make the most of their lives.
Our Values and Vision
Our Values and VisionGoals
We started with a vision to make people thrive…. We continue with the vision to inspire the society about our work…. And help people make the most of their lives.
Where We Started
ACBS is a professional organization whose purpose is to meet the needs of its professional members. Early on, the association recognized the need to form a Foundation that would enable the broader goals of ACBS, over and above meeting the needs of its members. The ACBS Foundation was established thanks to the generous donation of two longtime members, Jason Luoma and Jenna LeJeune. Thanks to their donation, the ACBS Foundation was made practical and sustainable. The ACBS Foundation serves the needs of the worldwide community through the programs listed below.
Where We Contribute
Funding students to attend and learn cutting-edge information about contextual science at the ACBS World Conference. Student scholarships set the premises for the future scientists to work to expand CBS and apply it to emerging societal challenges.
Funding for CBS projects related to the environment, social justice, and behavior in real life contexts.
Board of Directors
Board of DirectorsACBS Foundation Board
According to our Foundation By-laws the Association of Contextual and Behavioral Sciences (ACBS) board is entitled to fill a majority of board positions and the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall fill the other positions. The Directors shall hold office until their successors have been duly appointed and qualified. Each director shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which he was appointed, and until his successor has been duly elected and qualified, or until his prior resignation or removal as hereinafter provided (see the bylaws here for more detail).
The ACBS Foundation board works without pay and consists of:
Clarissa Ong, Ph.D. (Treasurer)
Clarissa Ong (she/her) is an Assistant Professor and the Psychology Clinic Director at the University of Toledo. She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical/Counseling Psychology at Utah State University. Her research focuses on developing, evaluating, and disseminating effective and culturally responsive interventions guided by behavioral and process-based principles. She has co-written two books: a transdiagnostic ACT manual, ACT in Steps, and a self-help book for perfectionism, The Anxious Perfectionist. She is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science.

Dr. Lynn Farrell completed her PhD as an Irish Research Council postgraduate scholar at University College Dublin where she explored the nature and malleability of implicit bias towards women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) through the lens of Relational Frame Theory (RFT) as part of the UCD Contextual Behavioural Science lab. Lynn received the ACBS Student Spotlight award for her work on gender bias and previously served as a student representative on the Women in ACBS SIG during its establishment. After completing her doctoral research, she took up a Research Fellow position at Queen's University Belfast (QUB) where she continued to empirically explore how to improve gender equality efforts in STEM as part of the EPSRC funded Inclusion Matters project and was awarded the QUB Engineering and Physical Sciences Faculty Postdoctoral Outstanding Engagement award. Lynn is currently an Assistant Professor in Psychology and Programme Director of the part-time Psychology programme at National College of Ireland. She is also Director of EDI for the UK & Republic of Ireland ACBS Chapter. Her research interests and publications to date have focused mainly on understanding and influencing stereo types and bias particularly related to gender, improving gender equality initiatives and applying RFT to address social issues.
Georgina Cox, Psy.D. (Member at Large)
Dr Georgina Cox (she/her) is a Senior Clinical Psychologist at the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) in Melbourne. Georgie works within the Departments of Psychology and Neurodevelopment and Disability, where she supports the psychological wellbeing of children, young people and their families, on their journey with a chronic illness or disability or following an injury. She also leads the Parent Wellbeing Clinic, where she provides both individual and group based support to parents of hospital patients, grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She also especially enjoys the opportunity to support the emotional wellbeing of medical teams, and demonstrate the value of psychology within the multidisciplinary approach. Georgie teaches into postgraduate psychology courses and enjoys presenting at national and international conferences on the use of ACT with a variety of populations. She is a board approved supervisor, regularly supervising postgraduate students, psychologists completing their registrar programs, as well as staff members in various teams across RCH and in private practice. Georgie is currently a Member at Large for the Association for Contextual Behavioual Science Australia and New Zealand Chapter (ANZACBS), where she contributes to a number of activities for the chapter, including being a member of the 2024 and 2025 conference committees, as well as leading the chapter webinar series. Georgie has experience in private practice, as well as historically holding a number of research roles.
John Hoch, Ph.D. (Member at Large) 
Dr. Hoch is a Licensed Psychologist (LP). John graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Doctorate in Educational Psychology in 2007. He then completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Center for Neurobehavioral Development at the University of Minnesota. He worked as research director at Behavioral Dimensions from 2006 until 2015, when he returned to the University of Minnesota to work towards psychology licensure. He completed his internship and post-doctoral training at Fraser Child and Family Center where he continued to provide clinical care and conduct data analyses and research and until 2023. At Fraser, he provided functional behavior assessments, individual, family, and group therapy, and psychological assessment services. Dr. Hoch re-joined Behavioral Dimensions in January of 2023 to develop the Assessment and Research programs. He completes evaluations and assessments for children and adolescents with concerns about Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders. He specializes in understanding the overlaps between ASD and other clinical disorders such as potentially traumatic event exposures, anxiety, and neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD or developmental delays. He brings his experience with evidence-based therapy, behavior analysis, and research knowledge to psychological assessments. Going beyond diagnostic labels, he hopes to capture each family’s strengths, values, and stories in the assessment process to recommend the most effective treatments. Dr. Hoch also continues to provide data analytics and research consulting services through Behavioral Dimensions.
Alexandros Maragakis (Member at Large)
Alexandros Maragakis is a Professor and Department Chair of the Bachelor of Psychology at The Chicago School. He earned his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno and is a licensed psychologist in both the United States (Michigan) and Greece. His research focuses on systems-level issues to enhance integrated behavioral health settings. This includes assessing how to best train behavioral health providers to work in interdisciplinary settings and use stepped-care practices and utilizing quality improvement to enhance clinical care.
Margot Osorio (Member at Large) 
Margot Osorio is a Clinical and Health Psychologist at Hospital San José in Peru, where she provides clinical services and contributes to continuous quality improvement initiatives within the public healthcare system. She is the first Peruvian psychologist recognized as a Peer-Reviewed ACT Trainer by the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS) and serves as an International Trainer for Prosocial World. She is an International Member of the American Psychological Association (APA) and a member of the ACBS Developed Nations Committee and the ACBS Training Committee. She is the Founder and Director of Big & Bright, an institute dedicated to evidence-based training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Prosociality, and psychological flexibility for health professionals and organizations across Latin America. With over 15 years of clinical experience, she specializes in the assessment and treatment of emotional and behavioral difficulties, as well as in the promotion of wellbeing, resilience, and values-based leadership. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Health and Global Health and is currently pursuing doctoral studies in Psychology, with research focused on prosocial systems and psychological flexibility in healthcare contexts. She is also a national facilitator for the Peruvian Ministry of Health and a Trainer of Trainers in the WISE Specialized Curriculum. Her work focuses on strengthening cooperation, psychological flexibility, self-care, burnout prevention, empowerment, and prosocial leadership among healthcare professionals and community groups.
Foundation Bylaws
Foundation Bylaws

Article I - Offices
Section 1. Principal Office
The principal office of the corporation shall be located in the City of Reno, County of Washoe, State of Nevada, or at such other location as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. Other offices and places of business may be established by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Article II - Nonprofit Purposes
Section 1. IRC Section 501(c)(3) Purposes
This corporation is organized exclusively for one or more of the purposes as specified in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Section 2. Specific Objectives and Purposes
The specific objective of this corporation is dedicated to the alleviation of human suffering and the advancement of human well-being through research and practice grounded in contextual behavioral science.
The specific purpose is to support research and applications of contextual behavioral science. Activities may include, but are not limited to, assisting in research, education, training, and applied uses. This assistance may be in the form of, but not limited to, scholarships, grants, donations, or Foundation managed programs.
Article Ill - Directors
Section 1. Number
The Corporation shall be managed by a Board of Directors. Each director shall be at least 18 years of age. The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than three (3) members. Subject to the foregoing, the number of Board of Directors may be fixed from time to time by action of the Directors. The number of Directors may be increased or decreased by action of the members or the Board of Directors, provided that any action by the Board of Directors to affect such increase or decrease shall require the vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors. No decrease shall shorten the term of any director then in office.
Section 2. Selection and Removal
The Association of Contextual and Behavioral Sciences (ACBS) board is entitled to fill a majority of board positions and the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall fill the other positions. Both ACBS and the Corporation shall be entitled to veto any board member, in its sole discretion, at the time of the appointment.
The Directors shall hold office until their successors have been duly appointed and qualified. Each director shall hold office ·until the expiration of the term for which he was appointed, and until his successor has been duly elected and qualified, or until his prior resignation or removal as hereinafter provided.
(a) The Board of Directors may remove any director by a vote of a majority of the Board.
(b) A director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors or to an officer of the Corporation. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the Board of Directors or such officer. Acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 3. Powers
Subject to the provisions of the laws of this state and any limitations in the Articles of Incorporation and these Bylaws relating to action required or permitted to be taken or approved by the members, if any, of this corporation, the activities and affairs of this corporation shall be conducted, and all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Duties
It shall be the duty of the directors to:
a. Perform any and all duties imposed on them collectively or individually by law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws;
b. Appoint and remove, employ and discharge, and, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, prescribe the duties and fix the compensation, if any, of all officers, agents and employees of the corporation;
c. Supervise all officers, agents and employees of the corporation to assure that their duties are performed properly;
d. Meet at such times and places as required by these Bylaws;
e. Register their addresses with the Secretary of the corporation, and notices of meetings mailed, faxed, emailed or telegraphed to them at such addresses shall be valid notices thereof.
Section 5. Term of Office
Each Director shall hold office for a period of 3 year(s) and until his or her successor is appointed and qualifies. The Directors shall be entitled to serve up to three (_3_) successive terms after which time they will be required to rotate off the board for at least one year.
Section 6. Compensation
Directors shall serve without compensation except that a reasonable fee may be paid to directors for attending regular and special meetings of the board. In addition, they shall be allowed reasonable advancement or reimbursement of expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
Section 7. Place Of Meetings
Meetings shall be held at the principal office of the corporation unless otherwise provided by the board or at such other place or as an online conference meeting as may be designated from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 8. Regular Meetings
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at any place within or out of the state which has been designated from time to time by resolution of the Board or by written consent of all members of the Board. In the absence of such designation, regular meetings shall be held at the registered office of the corporation.
Section 9. Special Meetings
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairperson of the Board, the President, the Vice President, the Secretary, by any two directors, or, if different, by the persons specifically authorized under the laws of this state to call special meetings of the board. Such meetings shall be held at the principal office of the corporation or, if different, at the place or by online conference meeting designated by the person or persons calling the special meeting.
Section 10. Notice of Meetings
Unless otherwise provided by the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or provisions of law, the following provisions shall govern the giving of notice for meetings of the Board of Directors:
a. Regular Meetings. No notice need be given of any regular meeting of the board of directors.
b. Special Meetings. At least ten (10) days prior notice shall be given by the Secretary of the corporation to each Director of each special meeting of the board. Such notice may be oral or written, may be given personally, by first class mail, email (using read receipt to document that the email has been received), or telephone, and shall state the place, date and time of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted upon at the meeting. In the case of email notification, the director to be contacted shall acknowledge personal receipt of the email notice by a return message or telephone call within twenty-four hours of the first transmission.
c. Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice of a meeting is required to be given to any Director of this corporation under provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws or the law of this state, a waiver of notice in writing signed by the director, whether before or after the time of the meeting, shall be equivalent to the giving of such notice.
Section 11. Quorum for Meetings
A quorum shall consist of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors. Except as otherwise provided under the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws or provisions of law, no business shall be considered by the board at any meeting at which the required quorum is not present, and the only motion which the Chair shall entertain at such meeting is a motion to adjourn.
Section 12. Majority Action As Board Action
Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the Director's present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present is the act of the Board of Directors, unless the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws or provisions of law require a greater percentage or different voting rules for approval of a matter by the board.
Section 13. Conduct of Meetings
Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairperson of the Board, or, if no such person has been so designated or, in his or her absence, the President of the corporation or, in his or her absence, by the Vice President of the corporation or, in the absence of each of these persons, by a Chairperson chosen by a majority of the directors present at the meeting. The Secretary of the corporation shall act as secretary of all meetings of the board, provided that, in his or her absence, the presiding officer shall appoint another person to act as Secretary of the Meeting.
Meetings shall be governed by Roberts Rules of Order, insofar as such rules are not inconsistent with or in conflict with the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws or with provisions of law.
Any board meeting may be held by conference telephone, video screen communication, or other communications equipment. Participation in a meeting under this section shall constitute presence in person at the meeting if all of the following apply:
(a) Each board member participating in the meeting can communicate concurrently with all other members.
(b) Each board member is provided the means of participating in all matters before the board, including the capacity to propose, or to interpose an objection to, a specific action to be taken by the corporation.
(c) The chair is satisfied that both of the following facts are true:
(1) A person communicating by telephone, video screen, or other communications equipment is a director entitled to participate in the board meeting.
(2) All statements, questions, actions, or votes were made by that director and not by another person not permitted to participate as a director.
Section 14. Vacancies
Vacancies on the Board of Directors shall exist (1) on the death, resignation or removal of any director, and (2) whenever the number of authorized directors is increased.
Any director may resign effective upon giving written notice to the Chairperson of the Board, the President, the Secretary of the Board of Directors, unless the notice specifies a later time for the effectiveness of such resignation. No director may resign if the corporation would then be left without a duly elected director or directors in charge of its affairs, except upon notice to the Office of the Attorney General or other appropriate agency of this state.
Directors may be removed from office, with or without cause, as permitted by and in accordance with these Bylaws of the laws of this state.
Unless otherwise prohibited by the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws or provisions of law, vacancies on the board may be filled as outlined herein. A person elected to fill a vacancy on the board shall hold office until the next election of the Board of Directors or until his or her death, resignation or removal from office.
Section 15. Nonliability of Directors
The directors shall not be personally liable for the debts, liabilities or other obligations of the corporation.
Section 16. Indemnification by Corporation of Directors and Officers
The directors and officers of the corporation shall be indemnified by the corporation to the fullest extent permissible under the laws of this state.
Section 17. Insurance For Corporate Agents
Except as may be otherwise provided under provisions of law, the Board of Directors may adopt a resolution authorizing the purchase and maintenance of insurance on behalf of any agent of the corporation (including a director, officer, employee or other agent of the corporation) against liabilities asserted against or incurred by the agent in such capacity or arising out of the agent's status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the agent against such liability under the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws or provisions of law.
Article IV - Officers
Section 1. Designation Of Officers
The officers of the corporation shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The corporation may also have such other officers with such titles as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Qualifications
Any person at the age of majority (18 years old) may serve as officer of this corporation.
Section 3. Appointment of Officers and Term of Office
The officers will be elected by the board of directors. The officers shall hold the positions for a term of _three__ (_3_) year(s), or until such time their replacement is elected.
Section 4. Removal and Resignation
Any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Board of Directors, at any time. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors or to the President or Secretary of the corporation. Any such resignation shall take effect at the date of receipt of such notice or at any later date specified therein, and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 5. Vacancies
Any vacancy caused by the death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise, of any officer shall be filled by either the Board of Directors as stipulated above. In the event of a vacancy in any office other than that of President, such vacancy may be filled temporarily by appointment by the President until such time as the vacancy is filled. Vacancies occurring in offices of officers appointed at the discretion of the board may or may not be filled as the board shall determine.
Section 6. Duties of President
The President shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation and shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, supervise and control the affairs of the corporation and the activities of the officers. He or she shall perform all duties incident to his or her office and such other duties as may be required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation or by these Bylaws or which may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors. Unless another person is specifically appointed as Chairperson of the Board of Directors, the President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, by the Articles of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, he or she shall, in the name of the corporation, execute such deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, checks or other instruments which may from time to time be authorized by the Board of Directors.
Section 7. Duties of Vice President
In the absence of the President, or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, the Vice President shall perform all the duties of the President, and when so acting shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions on, the President. The Vice President shall have other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law, by the Articles of Incorporation or by these Bylaws or as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 8. Duties of Secretary
The Secretary shall:
Certify and keep at the principal office of the corporation the original, or a copy, of these Bylaws as amended or otherwise altered to date.
Keep at the principal office of the corporation or at such other place as the board may determine, a book of minutes of all meetings of the directors, and, if applicable, meetings of committees of directors, recording therein the time and place of holding, whether regular or special, how called, how notice thereof was given, the names of those present or represented at the meeting and the proceedings thereof.
See that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law.
Be custodian of the records and of the seal of the corporation and affix the seal, as authorized by law or the provisions of these Bylaws, to duly executed documents of the corporation.
Exhibit at all reasonable times to any director of the corporation, or to his or her agent or attorney, on request therefore, the Bylaws, and the minutes of the proceedings of the directors of the corporation.
In general, perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as may be required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation or by these Bylaws or which may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 9. Duties Of Treasurer
The Treasurer shall:
Have charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all funds and securities of the corporation, and deposit all such funds in the name of the corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as shall be selected by the Board of Directors.
Coordinate and approve the receipt for, monies due and payable to the corporation from any source whatsoever.
Coordinate and approve, disburse, or cause to be disbursed, the funds of the corporation as may be directed by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements.
Coordinate and approve adequate and correct accounts of the corporation's properties and business transactions, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains and losses.
Exhibit at all reasonable times the books of account and financial records to any director of the corporation, or to his or her agent or attorney, on request therefore.
Render to the President and directors, whenever requested, an account of any or all of his or her transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the corporation.
Prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify, or cause to be certified, the financial statements to be included in any required reports.
In general, perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as may be required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation of the corporation or by these Bylaws or which may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 10. Compensation
The salaries of the officers, if any, shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. In all cases, any salaries received by officers of this corporation shall be reasonable and given in return for services actually rendered to or for the corporation.
Article V - Committees
Section 1. Executive Committee
The Board of Directors may, by a majority vote of its members, designate an Executive Committee consisting of 3 board members and may delegate to such committee the powers and authority of the board in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation, to the extent permitted, and except as may otherwise be provided, by provisions of law.
By a majority vote of its members, the board may at any time revoke or modify any or all of the Executive Committee authority so delegated, increase or decrease but not below two (2) the number of the members of the Executive Committee and fill vacancies on the Executive Committee from the members of the board. The Executive Committee shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings, cause them to be filed with the corporate records and report the same to the board from time to time as the board may require.
Section 2. Other Committees
The corporation shall have such other committees as may from time to time be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors. These committees may consist of persons who are not also members of the board and shall act in an advisory capacity to the board.
Section 3. Meetings and Action of Committees
Meetings and action of committees shall be governed by, noticed, held and taken in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws concerning meetings of the Board of Directors, with such changes in the context of such Bylaw provisions as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the Board of Directors and its members, except that the time for regular and special meetings of committees may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors or by the committee. The Board of Directors may also adopt rules and regulations pertaining to the conduct of meetings of committees to the extent that such rules and regulations are not inconsistent with the provisions of these Bylaws.
Article VI - Execution of Instruments, Deposits and Funds
Section 1. Execution of Instruments
The Board of Directors, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, may by resolution authorize any officer or agent of the corporation to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Unless so authorized, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable monetarily for any purpose or in any amount.
Section 2. Checks and Notes
Except as otherwise specifically determined by resolution of the Board of Directors, or as otherwise required by law, checks, drafts, promissory notes, orders for the payment of money and other evidence of indebtedness of the corporation shall be approved by the Treasurer and by the President of the corporation.
Section 3. Deposits
All funds of the corporation shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Board of Directors may select.
Section 4. Gifts
The Board of Directors may accept on behalf of the corporation any contribution, gift, bequest or devise for the nonprofit purposes of this corporation.
Article VII - Corporate Records, Reports and Seal
Section 1. Maintenance of Corporate Records
The corporation shall keep at its principal office:
a. Minutes of all meetings of directors, committees of the board and, if this corporation has members, of all meetings of members, indicating the time and place of holding such meetings, whether regular or special, how called, the notice given and the names of those present and the proceedings thereof;
b. Adequate and correct books and records of account, including accounts of its properties and business transactions and accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains and losses;
c. A copy of the corporation's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws as amended to date.
Section 2. Corporate Seal
The Board of Directors may adopt, use and at will alter, a corporate seal. Such seal shall be kept at the principal office of the corporation. Failure to affix the seal to corporate instruments, however, shall not affect the validity of any such instrument.
Section 3. Directors' Inspection Rights
Every director shall have the absolute right at any reasonable time to inspect and copy all books, records and documents of every kind and to inspect the physical properties of the corporation and shall have such other rights to inspect the books, records and properties of this corporation as may be required under the Articles of Incorporation, other provisions of these Bylaws and provisions of law.
Section 4. Right To Copy And Make Extracts
Any inspection under the provisions of this Article may be made in person or by agent or attorney and the right to inspection shall include the right to copy and make extracts.
Section 5. Periodic Report
The board shall cause any annual or periodic report required under law to be prepared and delivered to an office of this state or country of this corporation, to be so prepared and delivered within the time limits set by law.
Article VIII - IRC 501(c)(3) Tax Exemption Provisions
Section 1. Limitations on Activities
No substantial part of the activities of this corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided by Section 501 (h) of the Internal Revenue Code), and this corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements), any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Bylaws, this corporation shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Section 2. Prohibition Against Private Inurement
No part of the net earnings of this corporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its directors, officers or other private persons, except that the corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes of this corporation.
Section 3. Distribution of Assets
Upon the dissolution of this corporation, its assets remaining after payment, or provision for payment, of all debts and liabilities of this corporation shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Such distribution shall be made in accordance with all applicable provisions of the laws of this state.
Section 4. Private Foundation Requirements and Restrictions
In any taxable year in which this corporation is a private foundation as described in Section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, the corporation 1) shall distribute its income for said period at such time and manner as not to subject it to tax under Section 4942 of the Internal Revenue Code; 2) shall not engage in any act of self-dealing as defined in Section 4941(d) of the Internal Revenue Code; 3) shall not retain any excess business holdings as defined in Section 4943(c) of the Internal Revenue Code; 4) shall not make any investments in such manner as to subject the corporation to tax under Section 4944 of the Internal Revenue Code; and 5) shall not make any taxable expenditures as defined in Section 4945(d) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Article IX - Amendment of Bylaws
Section 1. Amendment
This corporation may adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of this corporation and except as may otherwise be specified under provisions of law, these Bylaws, or any of them, may be altered, amended or repealed and new Bylaws adopted by approval of the Board of Directors. No such amendments shall be effective until they are also approved by the ACBS Board of Directors.
Article X - Construction and Terms
If there is any conflict between the provisions of these Bylaws and the Articles of Incorporation of this corporation, the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation shall govern.
Should any of the provisions or portions of these Bylaws be held unenforceable or invalid for any reason, the remaining provisions and portions of these Bylaws shall be unaffected by such holding.
All references in these Bylaws to the Articles of Incorporation shall be to the Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Organization, Certificate of Incorporation, Organizational Charter, Corporate Charter or other founding document of this corporation filed with an office of this state and used to establish the legal existence of this corporation.
All references in these Bylaws to a section or sections of the Internal Revenue Code shall be to such sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended from time to time, or to corresponding provisions of any future federal tax code.
Approved by the ACBS Board, Oct. 6, 2019.
Foundation Annual Reports
Foundation Annual ReportsThe foundation is committed to transparency and openness. On this page, you can find all of our previous annual activities and the funds we provided to projects that break new ground.
2023 Annual Report - ACBS Foundation
2023 Annual Report - ACBS FoundationMESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
On behalf of the board of the ACBS Foundation I want to sincerely thank you for the invaluable support that you continue to provide for our shared mission. Our members are at the core of what makes us great and why we have so much potential to make change in the future.
We provide funds to people and projects who would otherwise not have access to funding. Through this, we serve our worldwide community by funding social/community initiatives and CBS research projects related to the environment, improving diversity, equity, and inclusion, and addressing institutional racism in real life contexts. Our work is focused on ending global disparities. We’re proud to say that we’re already making an impact. Some of the steps we achieved over the last year include awarding: 2 Foundation Student Scholarships and 3 Grant Awards.
The ACBS Foundation Board wishes to expressly thank everyone who helped facilitate our work by making a donation, participating in our July fundraiser, or by peer reviewing all of the funding applications that we received. I would particularly like to thank the Foundation’s Grant and Awards committee for their help coordinating and overseeing this year’s peer review process (especially Drs. John Hoch, Michaela Schok, and Yukie Kurumiya).
We look forward to continuing the momentum this year and beyond in order to further support existing CBS activities and explore areas for future development.
Kind regards,
Nigel Vahey
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2022 Annual Report - ACBS Foundation
2022 Annual Report - ACBS FoundationDear ACBS members,
On behalf of the board of the ACBS Foundation I want to sincerely thank you for the invaluable support that you continue to provide for our shared mission. Our members are at the core of what makes us great and why we have so much potential to make change in the future.
We provide funds to people and projects who would otherwise not have access to funding. Through this, we serve our worldwide community by funding social/community initiatives and CBS research projects related to the environment, improving diversity, equity, and inclusion, and addressing institutional racism in real life contexts. Our work is focused on ending global disparities.
As I’m sure you recall, the ACBS Foundation was established thanks to the generous donation of two longtime members, Jason Luoma and Jenna LeJeune. This donation was used as the basis for the Aaron S. Luoma Fund for Global Equity, which funds any initiatives matching its mission via the annual Foundation Grant.
More recently, in December 2022, Mavis Tsai and Barbara Kohlenberg have very generously initiated a second grant award program called the Robert (Bob) J. Kohlenberg Research Award. This fund is specifically designed to support graduate student and early career research focused on advancing knowledge and expertise in Functional Analytic Psychotherapy or its dissemination to the general public via the Awareness, Courage & Love Global Project.
We’re proud to say that we’re already making an impact. Some of the steps we achieved over the last year include:
- Awarding two Foundation Student Scholarships to attend the ACBS Virtual World Conference. To read about the impact the Foundation scholarship had for the 2022 recipients, click here.
- Awarding the second ACBS Foundation grant to Wenqian ZHAO, PhD Candidate of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong SAR, China) and her supervisors (Prof. Wai Tong CHIEN and Prof. Yuen Yu CHONG) for Miss ZHAO’s PhD research on Effectiveness of online ACT-based program for breast cancer survivors on improving body image disturbance. To read more click here.
The ACBS Foundation board wish to expressly thank everyone who helped facilitate this work by making a donation or by peer reviewing all of the funding applications that we received. If you have not done so already, please consider volunteering to be a peer reviewer for our grant applications in 2023. To learn more about the ACBS Foundation, please click here.
We look forward to continuing the momentum this year and beyond in order to further support existing CBS activities and explore areas for future development.
Kind regards,
Nigel Vahey
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2021 Annual Report - ACBS Foundation
2021 Annual Report - ACBS FoundationDear ACBS members,
We want to thank you for supporting the ACBS Foundation in our early days. The ACBS Foundation was established thanks to the generous donation of two longtime members, Jason Luoma and Jenna LeJeune. Our members are at the core of what makes us great and why we have so much potential to make change in the future.
We provide funds to people and projects who would otherwise not have access to funding. Through this, we serve our worldwide community through initiatives for CBS projects related to the environment, improving diversity, equity, and inclusion, and addressing institutional racism in real life contexts. Our work is focused on ending global disparities.
We’re proud to say that we’re already making an impact. Some of the steps we achieved over the last year include:
- Offering two Foundation Student Scholarships to attend the ACBS Virtual World Conference. To read about the impact the Foundation scholarship Funding had for the 2021 recipients, click here.
- Working to expand the Foundation Development Committee and continue our work on a development plan including a pilot fundraising effort with CBS research labs.
- Awarding the first ACBS Foundation grant to Maria Hamdani, University of Akron (USA) and her colleagues (Dr. Vickie Coleman Gallagher, Dr. Grace H. C. Huang and Dr. Kelly Yu-Hsin Liao) for their research on Psychological Flexibility and Adaptive Job and Family Behaviors of Resettled Syrian and Ukrainian Refugees in USA. To read more click here.
Simultaneously, we were able to raise $11,743.68 USD. We wish to expressly thank everyone who helped facilitate this work by making a donation. You too can help. To learn more about the ACBS Foundation, please click here. We look forward to continuing the momentum this year and beyond in order to further support existing CBS activities and explore areas for future development.
Wishing you the best,
Andrew Gloster
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2024 Annual Report - ACBS Foundation
2024 Annual Report - ACBS FoundationMESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear ACBS members,
On behalf of the board of the ACBS Foundation I want to sincerely thank you for the invaluable support that you continue to provide for our shared mission. Our members are at the core of what makes us great and why we have so much potential to make change in the future.
We provide funds to people and projects who would otherwise not have access to funding. Through this, we serve our worldwide community by funding social/community initiatives and CBS research projects related to the environment, improving diversity, equity, and inclusion, and addressing institutional racism in real life contexts. Our work is focused on ending global disparities. This is exemplified by the diverse range of projects listed in the attached 2024 ACBS Foundation report.
As I’m sure you recall, the ACBS Foundation was established thanks to the generous donation of two longtime ACBS members, Jason Luoma and Jenna LeJeune. This donation was used as the basis for the Aaron S. Luoma Fund for Global Equity, which funds any initiatives matching its mission via the annual Foundation Grant.
More recently, Mavis Tsai and Barbara Kohlenberg very generously funded a second grant award program called the Robert (Bob) J. Kohlenberg Research Awards. It is designed to support research focused upon advancing knowledge and expertise in Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) or its dissemination to the general public via the Awareness, Courage & Love Global Project. This funding was originally established to provide dedicated support for early career/graduate researchers, and based upon a second major donation from Mavis Tsai it will soon provide support for established FAP researchers also.
We’re proud to say that we’re continuing to make an impact. Some of the steps we achieved over the last year include:
- Awarding two Foundation Student Scholarships to attend the ACBS World Conference. To read about the impact the Foundation scholarship had for the 2024 recipient - Paula Rodríguez.
- Please see the names of the 2024 awarded grants below.
The ACBS Foundation board wish to expressly thank everyone who helped facilitate this work by making a donation or by peer reviewing all of the funding applications that we received. If you have not done so already, please consider volunteering to be a peer reviewer for this year’s grant applications (with submission deadline March 1st). To learn more about the ACBS Foundation, please click here.
Lastly, I would like to sincerely thank the establishing members of the ACBS Foundation board who completed their service to the board over the past year or so: Prof. Kenneth Fung, Dr. Joann Wright, Dr. Jessica Borushok, and Dr. Andreas Larsson. You have each contributed richly to the long-term development of the ACBS Foundation.
We look forward to continuing the momentum this year and beyond in order to further support existing CBS activities and explore areas for future development.
Kind regards,
Nigel Vahey
2025 Annual Report - ACBS Foundation
2025 Annual Report - ACBS FoundationMESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear ACBS members,
On behalf of the board of the ACBS Foundation I want to sincerely thank you for the invaluable support that you continue to provide for our shared mission. Our members are at the core of what makes us great and why we have so much potential to make change in the future.
We specialize in providing funding to people and projects that focus upon the application of Contextual Behavioral Science (CBS) principles in disadvantaged community settings that typically lack any such funding. In particular, we serve our worldwide community by funding social/community initiatives and CBS research projects related to the environment, improving diversity, equity, and inclusion, and addressing institutional racism in real life contexts. Our work is focused on ending global disparities. This is exemplified by the diverse range of projects listed in the attached 2025 ACBS Foundation report.
Some of the steps we achieved over the last year include:
- Awarding two Foundation Student Scholarships to attend the ACBS World Conference. To read about the impact the Foundation scholarship had for the 2025 recipient - Andrés Beltrán and Amanda McGovern please click here.
- Please see the names of the 2025 awarded grants below.
For those interested in learning more about the ACBS Foundation’s work please click here. The ACBS Foundation board wish to expressly thank everyone who helped facilitate this work whether by making a donation, or by peer reviewing the funding applications that we received. If you have not done so already, please consider volunteering to be a peer reviewer for this year’s grant applications (with submission deadline March 1st). All peer reviewers will be provided with support from our Grants & Awards committee particularly if you are new to the task of peer reviewing.
Lastly, I would like to sincerely thank the following two important members of the ACBS Foundation board who recently completed multiple years of service to the board: Pam Katz who served first as Secretary and then latterly as Vice-President; and also Dr. Vasilis S Vasiliou who served as member-at-large followed by board Secretary. You have both contributed richly to the long-term development of the ACBS Foundation. Based upon the contributions that you and other past members of the ACBS Foundation board have made I am confident that our mission will continue to grow in exciting ways during 2026 and beyond.
Kind regards,
Nigel Vahey
2020 Annual Report - ACBS Foundation
2020 Annual Report - ACBS FoundationDear ACBS members,
2020 was a challenging year for everyone but we hope that you have arrived safely in 2021. During this turbulent year it was an honor and a privilege to get to work toward our common, values-driven goals to support CBS and the lives it touches.
We, the ACBS Foundation Board, worked to further establish the ACBS Foundation so that we can better serve the ACBS community.
Some of the steps we took to achieve this included:
- Offering two Foundation Student Scholarships to attend the World Conference
- Working with a consultant to develop efficient polices and a development plan
- Launching the first ACBS Foundation grant (application deadline March 1, 2021)
Simultaneously, we were able to raise $6,657.03 USD. We wish to expressly thank everyone who donated this year. Their names are included in this 2020 Annual Report.
We look forward to continuing the momentum this year in order to further support existing activities within ACBS and explore areas for future development.
Wishing you the best,
Andrew Gloster
ACBS Foundation Board President
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