Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

“An easement on 724.2 acres granted to the conservation fund on march 20, 2006 was assigned by the conservation fund to the western pennsylvania conservancy and amended and restated to update language, remove subdivision rights, require a resource management plan, and create highest, standard, and minimum protection areas. A 2011 easement was modified to add the correct percentages between the u.s. Dept. Of agriculture and western pennsylvania conservancy for distribution in the event of an extinguishment or condemnation. The easement was also modified to record the natural resources conservation services' (nrcs) acceptance document. Also, one-half of western pennsylvania conservancy's interest in the easement was conveyed to westmoreland county as required by the natural resources conservation services. A 2013 easement was re-recorded to include the correct right-of-way with the legal description and survey (the required right-of-way was accidentally omitted from the original easement). In addition, the natural resources conservation services' acceptance document was recorded. A 2012 easement was changed to add the correct percentages between the u.s. Dept. Of agriculture and western pennsylvania conservancy for distribution in the event of an extinguishment or condemnation. Also, the natural resources conservation services' acceptance document was recorded.”

“The conservancy acquires, protects and holds land for conservation purposes. Land is valued at cost, or in the case of donated land, at fair value on the date of the contribution. The conservancy capitalizes certain costs incurred during the time the land is being acquired and protection activities are underway. The costs include development, land improvements, legal fees, and miscellaneous other items. Grants received as reimbursement for land costs on projects where the conservancy does not intend to hold the land for long-term purposes reduce the cost of the land. The conservancy holds certain conservation easements and deed restrictions (easements). The conservancy obtains easements by the sale of a piece of land owned by the conservancy, where part of the agreement is that the conservancy retains the conservation easement on the land. The conservancy also obtains easements from third parties by donation, or by reservation of rights upon sale of land, under which a third party maintains its ownership of the underlying land. Easements acquired through donation and easements established by reservation of rights are not recorded in the financial statements. Additionally, the conservancy obtains easements through purchases directly from owners. Purchased easements are recorded at cost and reduced to a carrying value of $1 by the amount of any restricted grants received specifically for the easement purchases and by expensing the amount of the easement purchase funded by unrestricted revenue.”

“Fallingwater was designed in 1935 by frank lloyd wright as a weekend home for the edgar j. Kaufmann family of pittsburgh. Constructed between 1936 and 1939, it combined innovative engineering and design with modern materials in a way that helped instill modernism as a powerful movement in america. Dramatically cantilevered over the waterfall, the house was constructed of reinforced concrete and native sandstone quarried on the site. It is comprised of a series of reinforced concrete trays stacked one upon the other and separated by stone piers. The first floor consists of the living, dining and kitchen areas; the second and third levels have a total of four bedrooms each with a bath and terrace. Climbing the hill behind the house is the guest house and servants quarters. Upstream from fallingwater is a crypt designed by edgar kaufmann, jr. And constructed in 1953. The crypt is "wrightian" in style with bronze doors by alberto giacometti. Fallingwater's art collection is comprised of more than 950 works of art including prints, paintings, sculpture, furniture, ceramics, art glass, and miscellaneous household objects. Of particular significance in the collection are the 169 pieces of original walnut furniture, custom designed by frank lloyd wright for fallingwater. These pieces represent one of the most complete ensembles of wright designed, site-specific furniture. The remaining artifacts on display were collected by the kaufmann family and represent an eclectic range of objects. They underline the family's belief in the power of good design to enrich the quality of modern life, a belief shared by frank lloyd wright. In addition to works of art, there are 1,340 family books, including an important collection of architectural books. The fallingwater archives contain: 396 photographs (1880-1996) of the bear run region, fallingwater and surrounding property, construction of the house, and members of the edgar j. Kaufmann family; 875 photographs of western pa by regional photographer luke swank; 1,100 documents (1934-1989) relating to the kaufmann family's ownership and association with fallingwater; 16 maps of the surrounding area, 3 original pencil drawings by victor hammer; 150 copies of drawings produced by wright for the kaufmanns (the originals were placed at columbia university's avery library by edgar kaufmann, jr. Prior to his gift of fallingwater to wpc); 108 publications related to the house and family; 60 minutes of black and white film footage that includes home movies of the family, the bear run property prior to the construction of fallingwater, and films of the construction itself; 5 video tapes and 25 oral history interviews of former kaufmann employees and friends, and approximately 1,000 pieces of original kaufmann correspondence. A national historic landmark, fallingwater is an international treasure. In a 2000 survey, the american institute of architects' members voted fallingwater the building of the century, by a 3 to 1 margin, and the state of pennsylvania named fallingwater a commonwealth treasure. It is the only major wright-designed building to have come into the public domain intact, complete with the building, landscape, original wright-designed furnishings, and family's art collection. Fallingwater and its collections are an invaluable public resource. With close to 160,000 visitors a year, the museum serves as an educational and cultural institution for the international community.”

“The conservancy's endowment consists of various investment funds established primarily for the financial needs of the organization and its purpose. The endowment includes only donor-restricted endowment funds and accumulated income thereon. Certain endowment earnings are donor restricted for a particular program. In accordance with state law, on an annual basis, the board, in writing, elects a spending rate of between 2% and 7%.”

“The conservancy has been granted an exemption from federal income taxes under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code. The internal revenue service (irs) has classified the conservancy as other than a private foundation. The conservancy is subject to income tax on certain income that is considered unrelated business income, if earned. The conservancy annually files a form 990, and the form 990 is subject to examination by the irs generally for three years after it is filed. The conservancy has assessed the tax positions it has taken or expects to take in its tax returns and no liability has been determined to be necessary.”

“Adjustment in charitable gift annuities 47,438. Rental expenses 136,965. Cost of goods sold 907,343.”

“Rental expenses 136,965. Cost of goods sold 907,343.”