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.”

“Hydrological function. This work is part of a larger climate change mitigation and adaptation strategy. In 2015, we planted approximately than 100,000 native trees and native forage species including: bebbs, strapleaf and coyote willow, aspen, cottonwood, bog birch, thinleaf alder, and chokecherry.”

“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. 2015 specific accomplishments: --we secured consideration from the environmental protection agency for regulating runoff from forest roads nationwide, which, if implemented, would transform the management of our wild forests and salmon streams across the west. --we challenged national forest logging in federal court of nearly 20 square miles of lynx habitat in colorado, including 2,300 acres of clear- cutting, to increase protection of lynx habitat that is under threat across the contiguous united states. --we convened leading conservation groups in arizona and new mexico to set a vision for the greater gila bioregion, north america's next great conservation landscape and ancestral home to the mexican wolf and jaguar and source of the last undammed river in the southwest, the gila. --along with our partners, we reached a legal agreement with the forest service in colorado to require consideration of wildlife and water quality impacts on 500 miles of roads, thus furthering our vision of an interconnected chain of wild lands along the spine of the continent from mexico to canada.”

“Wildlife: the american west hosts a dazzling array of native wildlife and plants, from the mighty black bear and grey wolf, to minute caddisflies, springsnails, and irises. The diversity of life in the region is a product of varied topography and a multitude of ecological niches that these native species call home. Wildearth guardians works to protect the vast spectrum of native species because they have an inherent right to exist, and because we, like most people, value wildlife, wildlands, and naturally functioning systems. With ecological function and biodiversity come amenities such as clean water, clean air, and natural landscapes to watch wildlife. From common species such as the coyote to rare creatures such as the black- 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. 2015 specific accomplishments: --in response to guardians' petitions, litigation, and our groundbreaking settlement, 10 terrestrial and four marine species received much-needed endangered species act protections. --we are keeping lynx safer in montana by reining in cruel trapping in a settlement with the state that significantly restricts the types of traps and lures that can be used in lynx habitat and requires traps be checked more frequently --we won a decisive victory in the 9th circuit court of appeals against the federal wildlife-killing program, wildlife services, that makes clear we and our allies can hold the program accountable for its cruel and destructive, taxpayer-funded activities. --wolves are much safer thanks to a big win in our challenge to wildlife services' wolf-killing activities in washington state, with the court agreeing wildlife services failed to analyze the broad impacts of killing wolves and ordered the killing stopped. 2015 expenses = 386,322 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. 2015 specific accomplishments: --we secured a historic moratorium on public lands coal leasing, keeping 1.4 billion tons of coal in the ground and preventing the equivalent of 50 percent of all u.s. Carbon pollution from being released. --we scored major victories in federal court, overturning mining approvals in colorado and montana, and building momentum toward bigger reforms. --we built unprecedented momentum to keep our fossil fuels the ground, playing a pivotal role in launching a successful grassroots movement to confront the obama administration's plans to auction public lands for fracking in the american west. --we kept the pressure on utilities in the american west to shutter coal- fired power plants and move beyond coal. --we protected the greater chaco region from fracking, thwarting plans by industry to lease 3,000 acres and launching a campaign to put the brakes on new fracking permits. 2015 expenses = 302,363 wild rivers: we envision free-flowing rivers with sufficient flows of high enough water quality to sustain native fish and wildlife. We also envision rivers with healthy native streamside vegetation, with healthy riverside bosques of cottonwoods and willows. We advocate for a river's endangered fish and wildlife not only because we believe each species has an intrinsic right to exist but also because endangered species can be a surrogate for the need's of the river itself. We aspire for a day in the future when all human communities embrace a stewardship”

“River restoration services 164,504 0 0 other contract services 83,485 1,387 10,750 mapping 19,817 0 0 professional services 28,137 6,547 32 website development services 94,087 0 0”

“Rental expenses netted with revenue 8,675 rental expenses netted with revenue -8,675”