Save the Bay

“FORM 990 IS PREPARED BY AN OUTSIDE TAX PROFESSIONAL. THE FORM IS REVIEWED BYTHE ORGANIZATION'S MANAGEMENT AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. THIS GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS DISCUSSES THE CONTENTS OF THE RETURN WITH THE OUTSIDE TAX PROFESSIONAL. After a full review, the final version of the tax return is provided to all members of the organization's voting body. A representative of management authorizes the final return which is then e-filed with the Internal Revenue Service.”

“Members of the board of directors review all potential conflicts of interest at least annually. The executive director and all board members are required to disclose (in writing) potential conflicts and any related party affiliations. Loans between the organization and members of management and the board are strictly prohibited. The organization seeks full transparency on all relationships. Any potential conflicts (in fact or appearance) are discussed openly and resolved in accordance with the organization's policies and procedures.”

“Members of the board of directors review the compensation of the executive director periodically in accordance with irs rules and regulations. Efforts are made to secure compensation data from industry sources in order to determine competitiveness and appropriateness of salaries. Every effort is made to ensure that the process is thorough and transparent in accordance with irs guidelines and the organization's policies and procedures.”

“COMPENSATION OF OTHER PERSONNEL AND KEY EMPLOYEES IS REVIEWED PERIODICALLY BY MEMBERS OF MANAGEMENT (Generally by the Executive Director). EFFORTS ARE MADE TO SECURE COMPENSATION DATA FROM INDUSTRY SOURCES IN ORDER TO DETERMINE COMPETITIVENESS AND APPROPRIATENESS OF SALARIES AND ALL RELATED BENEFITS. ALL DECISIONS ARE THEN reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors and DOCUMENTation is placed IN PERSONNEL FILES.”

“All of the organization's governing documents, financial statements and other legal filings are maintained in a secure environment and held available for inspection by Tax Authorities and the General Public. Tax Returns are posted annually to Save the Bay's website (www.savesfbay.org) and www.guidestar.org (where they are available for viewing as electronic copies), and are also available for a physical inspection at the organization's office in Oakland, California.”

“OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: Restore Bay Habitat (continued) state and federal funds. Our community-based restoration program assists Federal, state and local landowners of shoreline parcels to improve vital wetland habitat, including replanting ecotone transition with native plants areas at former salt ponds in Hayward, Redwood City and Menlo Park, and shoreline sites in Novato, Oakland and Palo Alto. At these sites and our five native plant nurseries, volunteers conduct hands-on wetland restoration and stewardship activities. This year volunteers grew and planted more than 30,000 plants in our nurseries and at restoration sites, also removing invasive plants and trash. We enlisted more than 6,000 volunteers in these activities, including more than 1,500 middle and high school students and teachers and thousands of adults from community groups, businesses, and the general public. We conducted educational shoreline stewardship experiences and classroom preparation for students and teachers, with a growing percentage from low-income households and with transportation subsidies to reduce a barrier to their participation. We provided a variety of deeper science learning programs and continued to make our watershed education curriculum available free to teachers on-line. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 5: Education and Outreach (continued) web site, and we introduced many individuals and businesses to the Bay through our calendared events. Our presence in the regional news media remains high, with significant print, radio and television coverage of our work on many issues, and on our education and restoration programs. Interest and participation in the organization continues to grow, with more than 50,000 members and supporters. We continue to upgrade our technology to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our data management and customer relations, external communications, cultivation of supporters and development of resources. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 6: Bay Smart Communities (continued) change. We enlisted environmental justice, community leaders and city officials to support Bay Smart Communities. We worked with key regulatory agencies and cities to reduce bay pollution from stormwater runoff, to meet mandated targets for reducing trash and other pollution flowing to the Bay, toward the ultimate goal of zero trash in stormwater flowing to the Bay by 2022. We improved cities compliance with trash regulations and strengthened the regulations themselves. We also worked to create new public financing for urban stormwater pollution reduction, including implementation of stormwater fee by communities after the state of California clarified procedures for doing so. We encouraged state water pollution agencies to enforce permit requirements for removal of trash from state roads by Caltrans, to prevent pollution of the Bay.”