Wildearth Guardians

“Approximately a week prior to filing the form 990, a draft in pdf format is sent to all board members along with an email calling their attention to portions of the forms. Comments and corrections are strongly encouraged. In addition, the associate director and accountant discuss the entire draft form with the preparer in advance of filing.”

“In addition to requiring board members, staff and regular contractors to proactively notify the full board of any conflicts, all board members, staff, and regular contractors must sign a annual form which a) affirms that they have received a copy of the policy; b) read and understood it; c) agreed to comply with the policy; d) understood that wildearth guardians is a charitable organization and must engage in activities which accomplish one or more of its tax-exempt purposes; and e) list all relationships with wildearth guardians' vendors, service recipients, funders, employees and contractors. All potential conflicts are reviewed by the board of directors without the presence of the interested party.”

“The board of directors reviews and approves the executive director's annual salary, with no participation by the executive director or other interested persons. The executive director's salary is established using comparable data for similarly qualified persons in functionally comparable positions at similar nonprofits; consideration of roles and responsibilities of the executive director; and cost of living data. Comparable market data is obtained from salary surveys and form 990s filed by comparable not-for- profit organizations. Discussions and decisions regarding the compensation are documented in executive committee meeting minutes. The executive director also receives reimbursements for routine, reasonable, and documented expenses incurred during the year under an accountable plan. The executive director travels throughout our service area. The organization has a travel policy that caps reimbursement levels and requires low-budget travel.”

“A line item budget is approved by the board of directors annually. The board approves the overall salaries and benefits expenses. Discussions and decisions regarding the budget are documented in board meeting minutes. The executive director reviews and approves the salaries of other officers or key employees, with no participation by the interested persons, in accordance with the annual budget approved by the board of directors. The executive director establishes salaries using comparable data for similarly qualified persons in functionally comparable positions at similar nonprofits; consideration of roles and responsibilities of the officer or key employee; and cost of living data. Comparable market data is obtained from salary surveys and form 990s filed by comparable not-for-profit organizations. Carol norton is listed as an officer due to form 990 definitions as the senior financial staff person; she is not an officer under state law.”

“We consider requests on a case-by-case basis.”

“Volunteers assisted in stream team, an annual river restoration event held at different riparian locations, by helping to plant native trees and shrubs. Volunteers also assisted during fundraising events by checking attendees in, setting up and cleaning up after events, and general office help such as copying, mailing, etc. Members of the board of directors also serve in a volunteer capacity.”

“A larger climate change mitigation and adaptation strategy. 2013 specific accomplishments: planted our millionth tree started a youth conservation corps (ycc) program re-vegetated and/or protected more than four miles of stream and rivers to include the rio grande, rito penas negras, san antonio creek, and rito de los indios.”

“Wetland habitats are all considered endangered ecosystems. While advocating to end activities that threaten to destroy our public wildlands in the american west, we also work to ensure that they remain biologically intact and ecologically functional by actively restoring previously damaged lands, waters, and ecosystems. Our accomplishments mean not only greater protection for wild landscapes but also the wildlife, water and air that make them the treasures we cherish. 2013 specific accomplishments: proposed that more than 400 miles of critical trout waters in colorado receive the highest levels of protection from the state. Reached a resolution agreement with the forest service in utah that will save imperiled wildlife and plants and keep clean air clean and safeguard 1.7 million acres from damaging oil and gas drilling. Increased road decommissioning recommendations from 8 miles to 212 miles in the helena national forest in montana. (212 miles is the number in the final rod.) documented the return of numerous wildlife species to areas restored through road decommissioning; collected and analyzed data proving that wildlife species benefit from road decommissioning in the northern rockies. Increased the capacity of land managers to restore watersheds by helping expand the use of categorical exclusions to cover certain types of road decommissioning. Conducted an independent review of the forest service legacy roads and trails program, documenting that this watershed restoration program is achieving its intended goals to restore water quality and watershed health while creating green jobs. In the pacific northwest, wildearth guardians ensured that restoration work in national forests keeps a focus on healthy streams and rivers, rather than solely "vegetation management" (i.e., timber).”

“Footed ferret and lesser prairie chicken, the fauna and flora of the west form the very threads in the vibrant tapestry of life. We work to preserve that tapestry, rather than let it unravel. 2013 specific accomplishments: generated over 30,000 public comments decrying the federal government's proposal to remove endangered species act protections for the gray wolf. Continued multi-year legislative campaign to ban animal trapping in new mexico. Received positive endangered species act listing findings, critical habitat designations or recovery plans for the jemez mountain salamander, new mexico meadow jumping mouse, caribbean electric ray, jaguarundi, jaguar, gunnison sage grouse, lesser-prairie chicken, yellow billed cuckoo, and wolverine, among other imperiled species.”

“Climate and energy program: our vision is simple - a future 100 percent powered by renewable energy by 2035. To get there, the goal of our climate and energy program is reform that prioritizes energy efficiency and conservation, phases out fossil fuels, and embraces environmentally appropriate clean power sources. The tragedy of the gulf oil spill was a disturbing reminder of just how much we stand to lose by relying on fossil fuels. That's why wildearth guardians' goal has been and continues to be simple: to help clean energy take root by exposing the true cost of fossil fuels. 2013 specific accomplishments: - safeguarded chaco canyon, the cultural heart of the southwest, and other special places in the west from the impacts of oil and gas drilling and fracking; - defended clean air from the impacts of coal-fired power plants in new mexico, colorado, utah, and wyoming; - engaged in public, legal, and political advocacy to ensure that federal agencies limited the negative environmental impacts of coal mining in the rocky mountain region; - broadly worked to ensure the climate change impacts of fossil fuel development were addressed by federal land management agencies, total expenses: 293,793 other programs: publications and outreach: 2013 expenses = 135,665 wild rivers: 2013 expenses = 91,248 events: 2013 expenses = 51,994”

“Acquisition of wildlands cpr 258,148 acquisition of utah environmental congress 65,692 loss on disposal of book inventory -106,172”