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.”

“Voluntary settlement agreement to remove coal ash ponds that threaten the saluda river. Consulted on creation of surface water models for major basins throughout sc. Assisted farmers and homeowners improve water quality in several saluda sub-watersheds.”

“- 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 court's 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 and catalyzing efforts to extend the trail by 4+ miles, leading to a 2.5 million commitment by the city of greenville to advance construction. - successfully advocating for land use plans and policies in duncan and inman, municipalities in spartanburg county, to improve walkability - successfully advocating for limits on the amount of phosphorus discharged from wastewater plants into the saluda river - restoring nearly 3,000 feet of trout habitat along the south saluda river - negotiating a comprehensive relicensing agreement for duke energy's keowee-toxaway hydroelectric project - launching greenville b-cycle, a bike-share program in downtown greenville, in partnership with greenville health system, and successfully managing and expanding the system over the past several years. - creating and successfully advocating for the adoption of the stormwater banking program, a market-based initiative for cleaner water that provides incentives for better development in the city and county of greenville. - securing a voluntary agreement from duke energy to remove coal ash improperly stored along the saluda river. - leading coordination of blueway trail mapping throughout sc and catalyzing river access accross the upstate.”