Upstate Forever

“The taxpayer's articles and by-laws state that they are a membership organization.”

“Yes - approximately one third of the board are elected for three-year terms by the members at the annual meeting.”

“Yes, members approve changes to the by-laws at the annual meeting.”

“A draft copy of the return was emailed to all board members prior to filing. The board was given one week to review and comment on the form 990.”

“The executive committee regularly reviews, and ensures compliance with, the conflict of interest policy.”

“All compensation is reviewed and approved by the executive committee prior to submitting the budget to the board.”

“All compensation is reviewed and approved by the executive committee prior to submitting the budget to the board.”

“The governing documents are available upon request at the organization's office.”

“Conservations easements donated to the organization are recorded at a zero value in the financial statements and form 990. Conservation easements that are purchased are shown as an expense in the financial statements and form 990. The funding source that enables the purchase of these easements is shown as a revenue in the financial statements and form 990.”

“-assisting farmers and homeowners improve water quality in several watersheds. -drafting and successfully advocating stormwater banking programs in greenville county and the city of greenville. -engaging over 650 students and volunteers in a tree tagging campaign, highlighting the fiscal and environmental benefits provided by trees.”

“-managing a project for revitalizing the hwy 29 corridor between greenville and spartanburg.”

“- assisting conservation partners in the protection of special places across the upstate, such as stumphouse mountain in oconee county, nine times in pickens county and tall pines in greenville county. - successfully advocating for implementation of the federal courts consent decree to address the pcb contamination in lake hartwell and the twelve mile river - successfully advocating for disapproval of the proposed mega-landfill in spartanburg county - obtaining the leed platinum certification for the renovation of our main office in greenville and regularly providing tours of the features - releasing an eye-opening growth projection study for the upstate that shows what the region will look like in 2030 if current development patterns and policies remain unchanged - managing the saluda-reedy watershed consortium project, one of the most comprehensive watershed studies in the country - playing an essential role in securing and opening the swamp rabbit trail that connects downtown greenville to travelers rest - obtaining additional public support for expanding existing parks and greenways and building new ones through our successful advocacy that resulted in the adoption of hospitality taxes in greenville and spartanburg counties - successfully advocating for limits on the amount of phosphorus discharged from wastewater plants into the saluda river - successfully advocating for the enactment of progressive local ordinances relating to tree protection, riparian buffers, clustered developments, and pedestrian and bicyclist safety - restoring nearly 3,000 feet of trout habitat along the south saluda river - partnering with the furman universitys community conservation corps and the city of greenville to retrofit 45 low-income homes in greenville county - negotiating a comprehensive relicensing agreement for duke energys keowee-toxaway hydroelectric project”