Rainforest Alliance Inc.

“The Rainforest Alliance has an executive committee consisting of seven directors of the Board of Directors (the "Board"). Pursuant to the Bylaws, the Chair of the Board serves as the Chair of the executive committee. During the time between Board meetings, the executive committee can exercise all powers of the Board that may be delegated in connection with the management of the business affairs and property of Rainforest Alliance, except as restricted by law or the Certificate of Incorporation. The Executive Committee meets at the discretion of the Chair of the Board and reports all actions to the Board.”

“The cfo initially reviews the organization's draft form 990. The general counsel reviews the draft 990 with respect to any questions involving legal matters. The draft form 990 is distributed to each of the organization's officers and directors in advance of filing. Each officer and director is asked to review the draft form 990 and raise any questions or comments. The cfo oversees any revisions before the final form 990 is filed.”

“A copy of our conflict of interest policy, along with a conflict of interest disclosure statement, is furnished to each director, officer and staff member of the rainforest alliance upon undertaking the duties of such office, and annually thereafter for the term of such person's service to the organization. Any disclosures are reviewed by an internal committee made up of the president, cfo and the general counsel, and are reported on a quarterly basis to the audit and risk committee. The audit and risk committee has among its responsibilities the duty of reviewing and making determinations with respect to all transactions, agreements, or arrangements involving directors, officers, and key employees. In addition, a detailed form 990 disclosure statement is distributed annually to members of the committee that awards kleinhans fellowships and the rainforest alliance's directors, officers and key employees. It requests disclosures that are required to be reported on form 990 about any transactions between the organization and those who serve it in various volunteer and paid capacities, and about any transactions among those persons.”

“The organization has developed salary administration guidelines (the "guidelines") that apply in setting the compensation of all of its employees, including its president, officers, and key employees. Under the guidelines, the organization utilizes several salary surveys with similarly sized, international non-profit organizations to ensure that its salaries are within the range of those of comparable organizations. Generally, the midpoint of the organization's salary ranges falls within the salary range averages of comparable non-profit organizations. Performance reviews are then used to establish an individual employee's compensation within the range set by comparability data. The executive committee of the board of directors approves modification of compensation that extends to substantially all employees. The guidelines also require the executive committee to review and approve separately the compensation of the president and cfo, unless such individuals receive a modification of compensation that extends to substantially all employees. To ensure ra pay scales are consistent, fair and competitive, ra regularly engages the mercer group to conduct a global review of its domestic and international pay scales. The most recent review was completed in 2014, with the next review expected to occur in the next fiscal year.”

“The Organization's governing documents and financial statements are available to the public upon written request to management. In addition, the Organization's audited financial statements, 990s, conflict of interest and whistleblower policies, and summaries of all of its policies and procedures to ensure independence, are available on its Website.”

“FOUNDED IN 1987, THE RAINFOREST ALLIANCE'S MISSION IS TO CONSERVE BIODIVERSITY AND ENSURE SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS BY TRANSFORMING LAND-USE PRACTICES, BUSINESS PRACTICES, AND CONSUMER BEHAVIOR. WE ENVISION A WORLD WHERE PEOPLE CAN THRIVE AND PROSPER IN HARMONY WITH THE LAND. THE CORE OF OUR APPROACH LIES IN LEVERAGING MARKET DEMAND FOR SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS TO CONSERVE BIODIVERSITY AND ENHANCE LOCAL LIVELIHOODS. FROM LARGE MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS TO SMALL, COMMUNITY-BASED COOPERATIVES, WE INVOLVE PRODUCERS, BUSINESSES AND CONSUMERS ALL ALONG THE VALUE CHAIN IN EFFORTS TO BRING RESPONSIBLY PRODUCED GOODS AND SERVICES TO A GLOBAL MARKETPLACE IN WHICH THE DEMAND FOR SUSTAINABILITY IS GROWING STEADILY. SINCE OUR FIRST EFFORTS IN CENTRAL AMERICA NEARLY 30 YEARS AGO, THE RAINFOREST ALLIANCE HAS GROWN INTO A GLOBAL INNOVATOR OF MARKET-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR CONSERVATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING IN MORE THAN APPROXIMATELY 80 COUNTRIES. THE RAINFOREST ALLIANCE IS ACTIVE IN MULTIPLE SECTORS - INCLUDING FORESTRY, AGRICULTURE, TOURISM AND CARBON/CLIMATE - PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CERTIFICATION SERVICES TO PRODUCERS, WHILE WORKING WITH BOTH LOCAL ENTERPRISES AND DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL BUYERS TO INCREASE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS. INITIATIVES: Climate, Nature and Communities in Guatemala (CNCG) - In the third year of this cross-programmatic project, the Rainforest Alliance continues to build on its long track record of achievement in Guatemala, collaborating with small-and medium-sized forestry enterprises and other NGOs to help halt the country's deforestation crisis. With funding from USAID, CNCG has achieved many of its project objectives, including increasing sales in production forestry value chains by $13.38 million USD; facilitating $66 million USD worth of sales of timber and non-timber forest products by small- and medium-sized forestry enterprises; and promoting the sustainable management of 476,415 HECTARES (HA) of land. Additionally, CNCG ASSISTED SMALL- TO MEDIUM- SIZED FORESTRY ENTERPRISES IN OBTAINING $1.6 MILLION IN BANK LOANS, SUBSTANTIALLY EXCEEDING TARGETS. Over the past year, the project has been pivotal in forging a partnership between Chiquita Banana and a group of indigenous Maya smallholder cooperatives (FEDECOVERA) in Guatemalas Verapaces region. As a result, Chiquita is now sourcing certified pinewood pallets that are grown, harvested, and processed by FEDECOVERA. This deal is important not only for this particular group of cooperatives, but also because it proves that smallholder forestry operations can meet the demand of global brands like Chiquita. CLAIMS, TRACEABILITY & TRADEMARKS (CTT) In collaboration with the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), CTT rolled out a new Chain-of-Custody (CoC) policy on October 1, 2015. To participate in the Rainforest Alliance certification scheme, all companies (except producers) were required to file an application. By the end of the fiscal year, CTT had received more than 1,500 applications, a 300% increase in the number of companies in compliance with our CoC Policy for tracking certified product through the supply chain. EVALUATION & RESEARCH (e&R) E&R released the first SAN/Rainforest Alliance Impacts Report. The report summarizes the effects of SAN/Rainforest Alliance farmer training and certification through a review of nearly two-dozen scientific studies and audit data from over 200 certified farms and farmer groups. Furthermore, E&R and the SAN collectively agreed on a concrete set of actions for FY17 to advance systems and processes that will vastly improve system-wide monitoring, evaluation, and assurance over the long term. OTHER NOTABLE FY16 ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: AS PART OF THE SCHERMAN FOUNDATION PROJECT IN RWANDA, PRELIMINARY WATER-QUALITY MEASUREMENTS HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE SAN/RA CERTIFICATION SYSTEM IS IMPROVING WATER QUALITY THERE. COMMUNICATIONS Communications helped the Rainforest”

“The organization had signature authority over bank accounts in the following countries: bolivia, canada, cameroon, costa rica, ecuador, ghana, guatemala, indonesia, kenya, mexico, nicaragua, peru, united kingdom.”

“FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES - OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - There are certain countries in which Rainforest Alliance operates that mandate employer contributions for pension benefits and for the cost of the health care for employees that are citizens of that country. These are paid as part of the employer taxes and contributions. GIVEN THAT THE AMOUNTS ARE PAID AS PART OF PAYROLL TAXES, BUT REPRESENTS BENEFITS TO THE EMPLOYEES, RA HAS INCLUDED THESE AS EXPENSES AS OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFITS IN THE STATEMENT OF FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES.”

“OTHER CHANGES IN NET ASSETS - The Organization operates in several countries and incurs foreign translation gains/losses. Included in line 9 is $116,564 of foreign transaction losses.”

“FOREIGN DISREGARDED ENTITIES - The Organization filed a form 8832 for disregarded entity status with respect to all its foreign subsidiaries. The Internal Revenue Service has approved the election for treatment of disregarded entity status on the following entities: Rainforest Alliance LTD (UK) - EIN # 98-1051166 Rainforest Alliance Trading LTD (UK) - EIN # 98-1069583 Rainforest Alliance (Ghana) - EIN # - 98-1051463 Foundation Rainforest Alliance (Spain) - EIN # 98-1051394. The Organization has not receive a determination with respect to the remaining foreign subsidiaries. The Organization will continue to treat them as foreign disregarded entities within form 990, including the filing of form 8858 for each one.”

“RA-Cert has certified nearly 5,000 acres (2,004 ha) of banana farms in Belize, a particularly significant achievement because the plantations in question are located in a part of the country where the natural ecosystems are heavily threatened due to land pressures. The certification area for melon and watermelon also grew by 1,483 acres (600 ha) in the first quarter of the fiscal year. In Colombia, our work with a local NGO (The Foundation) is helping us to advance sustainable tourism in the country, including conducting our first tourism training there. RA-Cert expanded its work in Africa.”

“The Rainforest Alliance has pioneered sustainable forestry on a global scale through the promotion and implementation of sustainable management practices. These activities have helped to make working forests sustainable, and to sustain and enhance the livelihoods that are derived from them. Our TREES sustainable forestry program works with forest communities and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to help them harvest and produce forest products in a sustainable way, and sell those goods to conscientious consumers in the global marketplace. As the program name indicates, we do this by focusing on (TR)aining, (E)xtension, (E)nterprises and (S)ourcing activities (TREES). In the past year, TREES successfully closed out our flagship effort in SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY FORESTRY IN LATIN AMERICA- A COMPLEX AND FAR-REACHING project that was funded by the Multilateral Investment Fund/Inter-American Development Bank. The project engaged more than 100 SMEs in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Peru, and RESULTED IN THE PUBLICATION OF 10 IMPORTANT CASE STUDIES-BOTH IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH-THAT EXAMINED VARIOUS FACETS OF COMMUNITY FORESTRY IN THE REGION. In particular, the reports looked at forest conservation through certification, market development, and the strengthening of small- and medium-sized forest enterprises. The case studies buttress our community forestry model, which aims to empower local communities to manage their forests for sustainability and profitability. Other notable FY16 achievements include the following: The Avery Dennison sustainable forestry project in Honduras created nearly 200 jobs and generated more than $149,000 USD in sales from the production of guitar necks for North America Wood Products, a US-based company. Our TREES program worked hand in hand with Ejido Caoba, a forestry cooperative in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, to help its members negotiate and complete their first direct sale of certified wood to Europe. A shipment of mahogany was sold to a Spanish company that fabricates parts for high-quality musical instruments, and we supported this sale by providing Caoba day-to-day advice and the services of a consultant to ensure that the ejidos certified mahogany was milled according to the companys specifications. The deal provides a new model for building an economically robust forest economy in a region that has seen a worrisome decline in income over the last decade. At the very end of the fiscal year, we also helped Caoba reach a similar deal with an American company that will earn the co-op 2.5 to 4.2 times more for its certified mahogany than what it would have received if it had been sold locally.”

“Arcos Dorados, the company that owns and operates 2,021 McDonalds restaurants in Latin America, has agreed to use its already successful Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee program in Brazil as a model, and replicate it in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela-sourcing 100% of its coffee from Rainforest Alliance Certified Farms. Other notable FY16 achievements include the following: The first labeled 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified beef product-by the Dutch firm Zandbergen World's Finest Meat-was launched in Cologne at Anuga, Europe's largest trade fair. Rainforest Alliance Certified hamburgers became available in the web shop of the Netherlands largest retailer, Albert Heijn, as well as in one of the companys stores. Kroger agreed to source certified roses for the Kentucky Derby garland. EDEKA German Retail launched 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified orange Juice, a first for the Rainforest Alliance. LIDL introduced its own brand of Rainforest Alliance Certified orange Juice in December. Rainforest Alliance Certified bananas are now available in three additional Dutch supermarkets: Dekamarkt, Dirk van den Broek, and Superunie. We finalized Danones 2020 sustainable-fruit strategy. Royal Cup agreed to roast a 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee blend for the Ritz-Carlton. Dutch Railways now has 100% certified coffee in booths in all railway stations. Zoegas, Nestls roast and ground coffee brand, will go Rainforest Alliance Certified on all of their products in the Nordics. Rickys, a Canadian restaurant chain, has decided to switch to Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee in all 75 of its locations. Tiffany & Co. signed on for a grant for a smart source wood-product project. we collaborated with patagonia to help the company source certified NATURAL RUBBER FOR USE IN ITS WETSUITS.”

“4d line 1 - Sustainable Agriculture The Sustainable Agriculture Program is the leading model for the effective implementation of social and environmental best management practices on farms. Our goal is to promote sustainable agriculture worldwide through an internationally credible, proactive, and responsive certification system that remains accessible to both large agribusinesses and small farmers alike. The SAN Standard for sustainable agriculture, which forms the basis of Rainforest Alliance certification, is updated periodically to ensure that it keeps up with the latest scientific findings, farming practices, and technological advances. To update the standard, the SAN and the Rainforest Alliance undertake an exhaustive process that involves several rounds of public consultation and field-testing, as well as input from hundreds of stakeholders around the world. In March 2016, the SAN General Assembly approved the 2017 SAN Standard, which will be rolled out in FY17 via a training program thats designed to inform the one-million-plus farmers in our network about the revisions. Other notable FY16 achievements include the following: Our work in palm oil continues to expand: A new consortium known as CORE-WHICH WAS FOUNDED OUT OF THE UNILEVER/PROFOREST PROJECT ON PALM OIL INDONESIA-PROVIDES THE RAINFOREST ALLIANCE WITH A CHANCE TO turn palm and other commodities away from destructive activity. We supported and facilitated the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oils (RSPO) approval of a High Conservation Value approach in its principles and criteria, and the presentation of our palm strategy during a regional RSPO meeting in Costa Rica has generated new interest in palm (and coffee) certification among area farmers. Several smallholder groups and estates that were trained under the UNILEVER TEA "GLOBAL ORIGINS' PROJECT" ACHIEVED RAINFOREST ALLIANCE certification. One particularly noteworthy example is Kaliboja, the first group of Indonesian tea smallholders to earn a certificate. Under an agreement with tea company Teekanne, we worked with herbal tea suppliers across Albania, Chile, China, Nigeria, Senegal, Turkey, and the US. These activities expanded the reach of our work by taking us into very dry environments, which require us to reinforce the soil-management aspects of our training, and make sure that producers have the knowledge and tools they need to improve soil fertility, structure, and moisture. Our presence in West Africa has been strengthened through our participation in various GEF/UNEP cocoa-related fora in Cte dIvoire, Ghana, and Nigeria. We have also been implementing a climate-smart agriculture project in Ghana with great success. As part of the $8.5-million three-year Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Cocoa Revolution project in Indonesia, we carried out a hugely successful Landscape-Lifescape Assessment. The results have led to innovations that will provide important insights on the economic systems of cocoa producers and their reliance on the natural landscape, as well as increasing the inclusion of women and the poor in these initiatives. It has become a model to be replicated in new projects and proposals. 4d line 2 - Communications and Education Program The Rainforest Alliance's Education Program works to prepare the next generation to be good global citizens and stewards of the planet. We develop innovative learning materials and provide professional development to help teacher leaders implement our environmental education curricula at local schools around the world. FY16 highlights include: During the 2015-2016 school year, the Rainforest Alliances Education program engaged more than 125 teachers and 1,900 students in the United States, Guatemala, and Mexico. The Rainforest Alliances Learning Site received 3.69 million page views during FY16, bringing our lifetime total to 28.3 million views. We shared our Climate Educator Guide with teachers in communities in Chiapas and Oaxaca, Mexico, where we conducted”

“4d line 5 - Sustainable Finance Small- and medium-scale farms and forestry enterprises typically need loans in order to make the renovations or improvements necessary to meet the SAN or FSC standards, and/or to maintain these certifications once they achieve them. The Rainforest Alliance helps these producers identify their financial needs and supporting them with technical assistance in business and financial management. We also work to educate financial institutions about the investment needs of sustainable producers. This past year, with funding from Alterfin, ResponsAbility, and SECO, we successfully launched a finance project with smallholder cocoa farmers in Cte dIvoire to help with cocoa farm renovation and rehabilitation. This project is allowing us to test the delivery of capacity-building services tailored to providing producers with financing packages, as well as improving training in record-keeping. The project is a small-scale example of how blended finance solutions can transform productive landscapes. Additional FY16 achievements in sustainable finance: We presented our technical end-of-project evaluation on the Multilateral Investment Fund/Inter-American Development Bank (FOMIN/BID) Sustainable Forestry project. One of the case studies that was published as part of this project examined our efforts to expand access to finance among sustainable forestry concessions in Guatemalas Petn region. The study found that community forestry enterprises can successfully apply for, execute, and repay credits, provided they are supported to make foundational improvements in the areas of legal compliance, transparency, accounting systems, and overall financial administration. Four new sustainable finance-training modules were integrated into the Rainforest Alliances service packages. Financial training and financing needs were documented for 50 enterprises and 1,000 producers in the Rainforest Alliances networks. Commitments were secured from four corporate partners to improve access to finance and/or support financial skill-building within their supply chains. 4d line 6 - Sustainable Tourism The Rainforest Alliance's Sustainable Tourism Program is working to help tourism entrepreneurs conserve their environments and contribute to local livelihoods. We are leading a global effort to help define, standardize and scale up sustainable tourism, and we promote higher environmental and social standards for the tourism industry and government tourism policy by partnering with industry associations, nonprofits, and government agencies. We have also been working with small and medium-sized businesses, as well as indigenous and community groups in Latin America, to educate them on the opportunities that exist to incorporate on-site conservation measures into their operations, thereby minimizing their impact on local wildlife and landscapes. FY16 highlights: We provided supervision and technical support for the conclusion of activities under the Mitsubishi Foundation project in Mexico. We offered on-site technical assistance to 46 tourism operations in Costa Rica as part of the conclusion of a Citi Foundation project. The project reached more than 140 micro- and small enterprises, helping them become more competitive by conserving water, energy, and biodiversity; improving the service options they provide; and respecting local cultures. In Honduras, we provided technical support to the Mesoamerican Reef Tourism Initiative (MARTI), to help them develop five new diagnostic tools specifically tailored to the needs of tourism operations in the Bay ISLANDS INCLUDING PROVIDERS OF DIVING SERVICES, MARINE TOURS, FOOD, AND accommodations. The application of these tools will allow these tourism businesses to understand their level of compliance with locally endorsed good practices, and track their improvements over time. We also trained eight local leaders who will be able to assess the enterprises compliance in future years. At the Tourism & Bio”

“Description:consultants total fees:7049193”