Dan River Basin Association

“The organization has members, but the organization does not have shareholders.”

“The members of the organization elect the governing body (board of directors). The board of directors elects the officers.”

“Organizational decisions are subject to the board of directors' approval.”

“The board of directors of the dan river basin association reviewed the final draft of 2024 990 at a special board meeting in april 2025. Form 990 was prepared by gardner & company, cpa firm in conjunction with drba staff and input from board members. The document was distributed to the board members prior to the board meeting in april. Board members were asked to forward questions to shawn gorman, treasurer. Board members approved the 990 prior to submission.”

“The organization distributed a copy of the conflict of interest policy by email with a request that each board member discloses actual or potential conflicts of interest and sign and return a copy of the policy to the executive director. This distribution and request were made by email in february 2024. This request was repeated to remind board members that had not returned their signed policies later in february 2024. All board members have signed the conflict of interest policy. This information was assimilated into the 990 form as related party transactions and potential conflicts of interest have been disclosed in this filing.”

“The executive committee meets periodically to review the performance of the executive director and evaluate the competitiveness of the compensation package and the organization's capability to retain its staff while evaluating information from other regional nonprofits as it relates to their disclosed compensation package information.”

“The organization's bylaws, other governing documents, policies, and audited financial statements are available for review by appointment at the headquarters office location of the organization at 413 church street, suite 401, eden, nc 27288. The organization's form 990 tax return is posted on another's website, www.guidestar.org, for review annually.”

“Environmental education (ee) more than 10,000 youth and adults from 11 counties participated in drba's ee programs held in-classroom and outdoors in 2024. All of drba's ee programs reach youth at schools and after-school programs with high number of underserved youth. In 2024, drba provided its award-winning in-classroom and field programs such as trout in the classroom, streamside trees in the classroom, growing kids & trees and at more than 40 schools. In addition, drba sponsored and participated in 14 public events and workshops in both nc and va. Workshops included virginia save our streams training, rain barrrel workshop, and citizen water quality monitoring trainings, drba also installed a nationally certified monarch waystation at patrick henry elementary school. In 2024, the volunteer environmental educators (vee) program doubled its volunteer trainers, who are certified to provide drba's ee programs, to 24 volunteers. In addition, drba also designed and managed a city-wide anti-litter campaign and participation in educating the public about reforestation practices at ballou park, both in danville, va. Drba also designed and presented a watershed awareness event in milton, nc.”

“Outdoor recreation in 2024, drba completed 8 trail, river access and park projects which included new trails and overlook decks at fisher farm park and m.c. Martin park in va. A new adaptive fishing dock for other-ability users was constructed at the smith river sports complex, the first dock for users with physical disabilities along the smith river in henry county, va. Drba started 8 outdoor asset projects including renovation of chinqua-penn walking trail and philpott fitness trail. Drba planned and hosted over a dozen outdoor events during the dan river weekend event in nc and another dozen events for its monthly, public, free first saturday outings. Over these events, more than 600 people participated in 2024. Five dan river state trail river access designations were made in stokes county, nc and 6 kayak safety classes were hosted for beginner paddlers. Drba's tails on trails campaign, sponsored by purina in rockingham county, nc had five hikes and an interactive online map of dog friendly trails and parks was completed.”

“Stewardship & outreach in 2024, drba hosted and/or managed 5 land and water cleanups in the watershed engaging more than 800 volunteers and provided tools and coordination for an additional 12 cleanup events held by volunteer groups in the region. Hundreds of trees were planted as riparian buffer and 54 volunteers participated in drba's citizen water quality monitoring monthly program using the same protocols as virginia and north caolina water quality departments. Drba also partnered with southern environmental law center to maintain the ban on uranium mining in virginia, explore options to pipeline development in eden, nc and worked to defeat a bill that would decrease water quality regulations in rural southern virginia. Drba participated in 14 public events and festivals including eden riverfest, smith riverfest and the regional latino event, sovala. Drba managed a kayak pool at the smith riverfest helping both youth and adults learn how to safely paddle. Drba hosted a "inspired by nature" webinar which featured local artists and how they incorporate the outdoors into their art. Drba staff continued to serve on several committees and boards of organizations. Drba staff were also virtual guest lecturers and speakers for more than 26 regional and national organizations. Drba staff also worked with the department of noth carolina wildlife resources commission and nc department of natural cultural resources to reintroduce the logperch into the mayo river in nc and the master naturalists to improve the bog turtle habitat in patrick county, va. Drba also conducted water sampling in partnership with nc wildlife resources commission and va department of conservation and recreation.”