Maine Audubon Society

“Two of Maine Audubon's chapters are 501(c)(3) organizations, while the other five do not have separate corporate identities. To date the organization has not developed separate written chapter policies because the relationship with the chapter includes chapter representation on the Maine Audubon Board of Trustees.”

“The 990 will be reviewed by the members of the finance and audit committee of the Board as representatives of the Board with the skills and knowledge to fully understand the documents. They are responsible to report back to the full Board of Trustees.”

“Each new member is given a copy of the conflict of interest policy when he/she first joins the organization or the Board. Once the new trustee or officer has been given a reasonable amount of time to review the policy, he/she signs a statement affirming that he/she has received a copy of the conflict of interest policy, has read and understands the policy, and agrees to comply with the policy. In the event any trustee or officer of the organization believes that he/she has or may have a conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest with respecet to any transactions or decision, the trustee or officer has a duty to disclose the conflict to the Board or a sub-committee of the Board responsible for overseeing the organization's compliance with the policy.”

“Officer compensation is reviewed by Governance Committee with consultation from Director of Finance, who provides salary compensation information from Maine Association of Nonprofits and other compensations studies when available.”

“The organization makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available to the public upon request.”

“Maine Audubon is comprised of seven regional chapters and eight wildlife sanctuaries. Year-round conservation education programming takes place at two centers (Gilsland Farm Audubon Center and Fields Pond Audubon Center), and seasonal programming at two other sanctuaries (Scaraborough Marsh Audubon Center and Borestone Mountain Audubon Sanctuary). Maine Audubon has 10,000 members and reaches 250,000 people of all ages annually via programs, outreach, online and print communications, and visits to our sanctuaries. Our programs are divided into three main areas - education, conservation, and advocacy. We work with many communities and stakeholders to conserve threatened and endangered species; improve stewardship and habitat connectivity; lead community science projects; increase environmental literacy; and support policies and legislation that protects wildlife and wildlife habitat.”

“EDUCATION - Our primary statewide education activities and areas of focus include: (1) conducting outreach programs to schools for students of all ages; (2) hosting and leading field trips and in-depth units of study with schools and other learning communities; (3) family programs and events; (4) naturalist-led walks, talks, and field trip programs for adults; (5) guided boat trips for seeing and learning about seabirds; (6) outreach programs, social media campaigns, and events to promote community science and stewardship priorities; (7) professional development programs for teachers and community leaders; (8) canoe and kayak rentals and guided trips; (9) camp programs for youth; and (10) guided travel programs to birding destinations. Bringing Nature Home: We grow and promote nearly 100 species of hard-to-find Maine native perennials, shrubs, trees, climate-resilient species, and more, and sell them to individuals, businesses, and municipalities throughout the state. We work with municpialities, schools, and private partners to install native plant landscapes in public and other spaces. We also maintain the Maine Native Plant Finder (https://mainenativeplants.org/). Youth and Teen Engagement: We work with Portland and Bangor Public Schools to work across entire grade levels, and have created new curricula that can be used in other school districts. Maine Audubon engaged teens in summer youth stewardship programs in Portland, Lewiston, and Bangor. Vacation and Summer Day Camps: Maine Audubon provided popular, high-quality vacation and summer day camp experiences for youth in Greater Portland and Greater Bangor. Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center: Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center welcomes approximately 10,000 people to engage with nature-based activities (boat tours, walks, and guided or informal educator-led talks) from the center during the season.”

“CONSERVATION: Primary conservation projects include (1) protecting nesting endangered piping plovers and least terns on the beaches of Maine; (2) working with foresters, landowners, and loggers to manage woodlands "with birds and other wildlife in mind; (3) providing outreach, education, and technical and financial resources to road professionals to help them replace malfunctioning culverts and bridges with Stream Smart crossings that improve fish and wildlife movement up, down, and along streams, and reduce risks of flooding and destruction of road infrastructure in the face of more severe storms; (4) engage anglers in a search for wild brook trout in remote ponds and coastal streams that have never been surveyed before to determine where the best, last remaining wild populations occur; (5) engage lakeshore owners, lake associations, and road associations in monitoring common loon populations, protecting water quality and loon habitat, and reducing exposure to lead fishing tackle; (6) engage volunteers in the Maine Loon Restoration Project which aims to increase loon nesting success and decrease loon mortality by placing artificial nests (rafts) and monitoring the productivity of loons on artificial nests, expaning Fish Lead Free programs to reduce lead tackle use and loon lead poisoning; and launching a Look Out for Loons Program to reduce disturbance to loons and increase nesting success; and (7) produce analyses and reports on siting renewable energy projects to minimize impacts to high value species and habitats. Community Science: Maine Audubon's conservation programs engage approximately 2,000 "community scientists," including volunteers for the annual loon count and Loon Restoration project, Stream Explorers program, Song Meter program, and Coastal Birds program. Stream Explorers: Maine Audubon's Stream Explorers program engaged community science volunteers to find and identify macroinvertebrates that might be indicators of water quality. We are partnering with the Lakes Environmental Association (LEA), the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and the Portland Water District to recruit, train, and support volunteers interested in searching streams in the Sebago Lake Watershed for large aquatic insects. Data collected is valuable to help the DEP prioritize which streams should have more in-depth surveys related to water quality. Forestry for Maine Birds and Fish: Our Forestry for Maine Birds program has reached more than 1,600 foresters, landowners, loggers, land trusts, and others with tips for how to manage woodlands "with birds in mind." The concept of improving breeding bird habitat, using active and passive management, is spawning offshoots that include Bird-Friendly Maple (a program that encourages maple producers to manage their sugarbush with birds in mind) and Forests for Maine Fish (a program to help loggers, foresters, and forest landowners manage forests to enhance habitat for fish and watershed wildlife).”

“ADVOCACY: Maine Audubon's major current advocacy priorities include (but are not limited to): Implementing Maine's Climate Action Plan - Maine Audubon is focusing our implementation efforts on: -Increasing conservation lands in the state, with a focus on high biodiversity areas and areas important for habitat connectivity. -Improving land use planning and legal tools to emphasize smart growth and keep vital habitat intact. -Encouraging thoughtfully sited and operated renewable energy development. Advocating for renewable energy and other development that is sited and managed to protect wildlife. We are advising solar developers and policy makers on smart-sited solar, producing tools to help municipalities maximize their role in smart siting, and developing policies that put best siting practices to action across the state. We're also expanding our knowledge and advocacy on offshore wind, advocating for offshore wind that is located, developed, and managed with wildlife in Maine in mind. We are also working to ensure that new development in Maine occurs according to smart growth principles that protect wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity.”

“Consultants: Program service expenses 258,857. Management and general expenses 182,622. Fundraising expenses 400,262. Total expenses 841,741.”

“The process has not changed from the prior year.”