Northeast Washington Wolf-Cattle Collaborative

“Every meeting has a note taker which are then sent out to the Directors for correction/approval.”

“Our conflict of interest policy (in bylaws) requires officers, board members, employees not be related (blood or marriage) to each other or those with personal services contracts. This is enforced by understanding that our 5 board members are not related and as we bring on personal services contractors, they are not related to any board member.”

“Our governing documents and financial statements are available upon request. The Northeast Washington Wolf-Cattle Collaborative is registered as a non-profit organization with the Washington Secretary of State Corporations and Charities Division and can we can be found on their website, and our documents can be requested and we will fulfill requests.”

“In 2022, revenue came only from Washington Department of Agriculture grants. Batches of invoices for riders were sent to Washington Department of Agriculture approximately every two weeks. The amount in Lines 1E, and also 12, represents only payment of invoices for work that was recorded in daily logs and GPS units. There were no other sources of revenue in 2022. In certain instances it took longer to invoice for certain riders given their schedules and where they lived.”

“Line 25: A portion of the total expenses includes insurance, office/administrative materials, and activities contractors were paid for that were not range riding such as helping hire new personnel and sorting remote camera pictures, all of which are not able to be reimbursed using Washington Department of Agriculture grant money. Again, revenue was derived only from invoicing for range riding that occurred in the calendar year for 2022. Some of the payments from the grant system for riding in 2022 came in after the new year, in 2023.The amount of riding submitted for invoice in 2022 that received payment in the fiscal year 2023 was greater than that submitted in 2021 but receiving payment in 2022. This payment lag across fiscal years, combined with the non-riding activities undertaken and paid for and other expenditures, all caused calendar-year expenses to be higher than revenue.”

“Part XII, lines 2a and 2b: We have no reenue or assets that can be used to hire an independent accountant consistently on a yearly basis.”

“range riders in the 2022 grazing season which occured between May through October, 2022. The riders were on horse, all terrain vehicles, and in vehicles for 7,405 person-days. Approximately 5,750 days were in the high wolf-cattle conflict areas of the Kettle Mountains, Ferry County, Washington. There 1,660 days of work conducted in Pend Oreille County, Washington, also a high wolf-cattle conflict area. This was accomplished on at least 140,000 acres where approximately 1,000 cow-calf pairs grazed from May-October, 2022. All areas worked in 2022 are within wolf territories.”

“Part VII, Section A, Line 5: The administrator (on Line 1a) is the Wolf Program Lead for Conservation Northwest (CNW), Seattle, WA. He is allowed compensation by CNW for services rendered to the Northeast Washington Wolf-Cattle Collaborative in order to successfully place contracted range riders on the ground. Conservation Northwest is not a "supporting organization", and the Northeast Washington Wolf-Cattle Collaborative Board of Directors act independent of any outside group. We follow Washington Department of Agriculture rules which do not allow for administrative expenditures. The funds awarded from the Wolf-Livestock Management grant created within the Washington Department of Agriculture can only be used to fund expenditures directly related to range riding, such as labor (riding), daily log cards, and GPS (Global Position System) units.”

“Part XII, Lines 2a and 2b: We have no revenue or assets that can be used to hire an independent accountant consistently on a yearly basis.”

“The governing body handles all areas of governing.”

“The governing body received a copy of the 990 prior to filing. The Board Administrator gave the final approval to file the 990.”