Santa Monica Mountains Fund

“No prior review was conducted. The Fund's Executive Director has placed a draft 990 Review Policy before the Board of Directors for consideration at their next Board Meeting.”

“Form 990 is available for public inspection via the Internet through the California Attorney General's Registry of Charitable Trusts website, as well as Guide Star. The Fund does summarize it's financial statements on its website and a publicly distributed annual report.”

“OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: Park Stewardship and Other Special Initiatives: The Santa Monica Mountains Fund (SMMF) has provided yearly support for various volunteer programs that support the National Park Service and its partner park organizations in the Santa Monica Mountains, such as the Mounted Volunteer Program, the Mountain Bike Unit, and a variety of other volunteer activities. In 2017, SMMF began working with the park on a new initiative called the "Nature Neighbor" program and put at the park's disposal an Urban Park Conservationist to work with citizens living in and around the mountains, to promote park-friendly practices: top priority for the immediate future is educating park neighbors about the potential accidental poisoning of park animals and raptors through the indiscriminate use of rodenticides. Other activities for the year included direct support for events recognizing the contributions of volunteers; refreshments for volunteers during day-long work events;the purchase of a new horse for the mounted ranger patrol program; and support for a promising seasonal ranger recruit's training; support for public outreach services, such as an automated on-line park event calendar. The Fund also took on operational responsibility for the park's reception and receiving desk, including mail management and information for visitors to the Headquarters' Office Building in Thousand Oaks; thereby saving the park some $20,000 annual in labor cost and freeing-up a position for assignment to more core NPS duties. Finally, the Fund made a $1,000 gift to the National Park Service's Employee and Alumni Association, which is specifically authorized by the U.S. Department of the Interior to help in such situations, to provide support of NPS personnel in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands who lost homes and possessions during Hurricane Maria.”

“To reclassify income from non-government entities on Form 990 Part VIII, Statement of Revenue, line 1e to line 1f.”