E. Financial Forms / Documents Library of Materials: Expense reimbursement   1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.   Expense reimbursement for Staff and Volunteers is available upon prior approval when no other sources of reimbursement are available. All Volunteers encouraged to seek reimbursement from their employer prior to requesting reimbursement from OPE. All expenses require prior approval. Approval may be granted by an email or phone request to an OPE staff member. OPE is a tax-exempt organization. All staff and volunteers are to seek tax exempt status with each vendor using the Blanket Certificate of Exemption as proscribed by the IRS. OPE will typically not reimburse for sales tax paid (see above). Pre-approved reimbursement is available for: Reasonable and necessary out of pocket expenses such as supplies purchased directly in support of an OPE program. Reasonable travel expenses (including meals and vehicle travel at IRS approved rates) where (a) the travel is necessary for an exclusively OPE purpose; (b) the meeting or event is more than one hour travel from home; and (c) the travel, both directions, and the length of the event would exceed 10 hours in length.     NOTE: Reimbursement must be requested by completing the Expense Report Form and submitting it with all receipts to the OPE office within 30 days of the expense. All organizations face hurdles, some become great, some stumble and sway, others just fade away. Great organizations are able to create a culture of excellence. They create a way of doing business that sees past the short term day-to-day struggle to a long-term, sustainable vision of excellence.