Whale Foundation Inc

“- INVESTMENT INCOME - 27,846 of the total investment income of 32,090 for 2020 represents both net realized and unrealized gains on investments for the year. The organization is unable to break out realized from unrealized gains as the investment reports of the brokerage firm do not include this level of detail and cannot provide it upon request.”

“- The organization received a Paycheck Protection Program PPP loan of 6490 from the U.S. Small Business Administration as part of the federal governments pandemic relief programs. The loan was spent on payroll and other approved expenses, as required. The loan was fully forgiven and is accounted for in the financial statements as a government grant. The organization also received a one-time gift of 71,000 from a single donor in 2020, an unusually large gift for which the organization is extremely grateful.”

“- REVIEW OF FORM 990 After the Form 990 is drafted and reviewed by the organizations outside accountant, the Executive Director responsible for the bookkeeping and the Treasurer who provides reconciliations and oversight review the draft 990 in detail along with the detailed workpapers. It is then sent to the entire Board of Directors for their review before being finalized and e-filed.”

“- CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY The organization has a written Conflict of Interest policy. It is reviewed and signed annually by members of the Board, as well as new board members if installed mid-year. Any potential conflicts of interested are documented. If board members have a conflict, they are excused from voting on any related matter.”

“- COMPENSATION The compensation of the organizations sole employee, the Executive Director, is reviewed and voted upon annually by the Board of Directors at the time of the annual budget approval. Board members serve without compensation, as volunteers.”

“PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE The Whale Foundation was created in honor of Curtis Whale Hansen to provide confidential access to mental and physical health care professionals and a network of support services designed to restore, promote, and celebrate the well-being of the Grand Canyon river guiding community. The organization celebrated its 24th year in 2020. Services provided include a confidential 24/7 helpline, mental health referrals and counseling, medical/physical health care screening and annual health fair, assistance with medical lab fees and medical insurance premiums, educational scholarships, financial assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic and economic downturn, career mentorship and several annual community events. For more information, please visit www.whalefoundation.org.”

“PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS - MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT The Whale Foundation offers free, confidential counseling services to individuals in the Grand Canyon river guiding community to address some of the challenges and uncertainties facing many river guides. In recent years, our clients have seen professional counselors for help with family/interpersonal issues, substance abuse concerns, anxiety and depression, grief or loss, on river and work related issues and transition issues. During the year, 58 clients sought assistance through the confidential 24/7 helpline staffed by licensed counselors. Many were then referred to licensed, case management counselors. On-going counseling sessions with 12 counselors totaled 287 hours during the year, without charge to clients, up 12 from 2019. The organization received reduced rates from the counseling professionals. Quarterly articles describing these available services and the other services described below were published throughout the year in Grand Canyon River Guides publication, Boatmans Quarterly Review.”

“PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS - MEDICAL/PHYSICAL HEALTH SUPPORT The Whale Foundation offers an annual health fair with physical health screenings, in addition to health insurance stipends for individuals. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the health fair was planned but cancelled for 2020. Normally it is held during the annual March Guides Training Seminar at Marble Canyon, AZ, hosted by Grand Canyon River Guides, a nonprofit organization, with over 70 clients participating in free physical health screenings provided by a dozen health care professionals. Usually over 4000 of these services were provided without charge to the organization and are reflected in the financial statements. Clients receive follow-up lab work at no charge. During 2020, 17 clients received stipends averaging 535 each and totaling 9,100 to help secure and maintain health insurance policies.”

“PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS - EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT Since 2004, the Whale Foundation has offered annual educational scholarships, named in honor of iconic river guide Kenton Grua, to Grand Canyon river guides seeking to further their education outside of the field of guiding, whether for a degree, certification or course. In 2020, the organization awarded scholarships of 2,000 each to four guides, and 1,000 each to two guides, totaling 10,000 and matching the total award for 2019.”

“PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS - PANDEMIC RESPONSE/THROW BAG FUND new in 2020 Expenses 89,878 The Covid-19 pandemic had a major effect on the Grand Canyon River Guiding community in 2020. The river corridor was closed to trips from March through mid-June, putting hundreds of river guides out of work. Many were not able to return at all during the season, once it was re-opened. The Whale Foundation teamed up with Grand Canyon Youth and Grand Canyon River Guides both longtime Flagstaff-based nonprofit organizations to assist the river guiding community via several projects 1 Through the newly created Throw Bag Fund, the three organizations raised over 71,000 and distributed those funds to approximately 70 guides in dire need. The Whale Foundatoin acted as the managing agency for this project by creating the application and distribution criteria, collecting the donations and distributing the funds 2 The Whale Foundation gathered information about unemployment assistance, pandemic protocols and other important topics from various sources and made it available to the guiding community through its website 3 The Whale Foundation hosted several online community gatherings to bring people together and keep them informed about the rapidly changing dynamics and 4 the organization assisted in the publication of a special pandemic edition of the Boatmans Quarterly Review created to share information and experiences throughout the community.”

“PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS - OUTREACH/OTHER Expenses 412 The organization continued to maintain its website and improve the information available to its constituents. The organization continued to co-sponsor with Grand Canyon River Guides a diversity training session attended by 24 guides in March 2020. The training provided skills to avoid and/or manage unprofessional or harmful situations, including harassment, bullying, sexual misconduct, and racial or gender discrimination. The Whale Foundation also joined a coalition of other Grand Canyon related organizations Grand Canyon Trust, Grand Canyon Youth, Grand Canyon River Guides and others to begin work to improve social justice and equity in the Grand Canyon guiding community.”