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.”

“The entity changed the classification of contributions from major donors and board giving from contributions to membership dues. This resulted in a disparity of how revenue was stated in prior years compared to the current year. Memberships show an increase for 2017 over 2016 while contributions show a decrease.”

“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.”

“Proof blueway maps for the broad and twelve mile rivers, and updated maps for the upper saluda river. Continued monitoring a utility company's compliance with a voluntary settlement agreement to remove coal ash ponds that threaten the saluda river. Assisted farmers and homeowners improve water quality in several saluda sub-watersheds. Collaborated with reedy river water quality group.”

“Signing 121 conservation agreements that protect more than 21,000 acres of critical lands in the region, such as stumphouse mountain in oconee county, nine times in pickens county, key tracts in the blue ridge escarpment, land along highway 11, and a number of beautiful farmlands that collectively help to preserve our greatly threatened natural heritage becoming the first land trust organization in south carolina to receive national accreditation playing an essential role in securing and opening greenville's ghs swamp rabbit trail and catalyzing an extension of the trail from downtown to cu- icar and continuing to play an active role to complete the long-term plan for the trail establishing and operating the greenville b-cycle bike-share program leading coordination of blueway trail mapping throughout sc and catalyzing river access across the upstate mobilizing public opposition to stop duke energy's proposed substation and 45-mile long transmission line across the foothills and blue ridge mountains of the upstate and western north carolina appealed a proposed 254-home subdivision that would have forever altered the character of glassy mountain, a pickens county icon, and worked with the landowners and community members to realize a conservation solution securing a voluntary agreement from duke energy to remove coal ash improperly stored along that saluda river assisting the southern environmental law center in a successful us 4th circuit appeal addressing the 2014 diesel spill in belton, sc successfully advocating for implementation of the federal court's consent decree to remove pcb-contaminated sediment and two dams on the twelve mile river stopping a proposed mega-landfill in spartanburg county and a coal ash landfill in pickens county and promoting waste reduction and recycling through collection events for household hazardous waste and pharmaceuticals releasing an eye-opening growth projection study for the upstate that shows what our region will look like in 2030 if current development patterns and policies remain unchanged managing one of the most comprehensive watershed studies ever undertaken in the country and leading implementation of many recommended solutions throughout the saluda-reedy watershed, resulting in significant water quality improvements which allow residents and industries to continue to use and enjoy lake greenwood advocating successfully for the enactment of hospitality taxes in greenville and spartanburg counties to fund parks and greenways 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 restoring nearly 3,000 feet of trout habitat in the south saluda river advocating successfully for the enactment of progressive local ordinances relating to encouraging more walkable communities, tree protection, stream buffers, clustered developments, big box stores, and parking lots, completing the leed platinum-certified renovation of our greenville office and introducing the earthcraft green building standard to south carolina through our "upstate house" project.”

“Consultants 89,542 4,141 3,000 consultants 155,948 0 0 total 245,490 4,141 3,000”