| FORM 990 - ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
IT IS OUR MISSION AT HURON PINES TO CONSERVE AND ENHANCE NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S NATURAL RESOURCES TO ENSURE HEALTHY WATER, PROTECTED PLACES AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES. FOR ALOMST 50 YEARS, OUR WORK ACROSS THE FORESTS, LAKES AND STREAMS OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN HAS HELPED IMPROVE ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. WHEN WE ENGAGE PEOPLE IN CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP, WE SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE, EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES RICH WITH PROTECTED NATURAL RESOURCES. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 1, PART I, LINE 6 |
VOLUNTEER IN-KIND ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE BOARD'S ROLE IN GOVERNANCE OF THE ORGANIZATION, PARTICIPATION BY VOLUNTEERS WITH SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE THAT HELP WITH RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES AND ASSISTANCE TO STAFF AND OUR PARTNERS WITH SPECIFIC PROFESSIONAL-LEVEL NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION HELP. MANY OTHER VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES OCCUR WHEN THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMES OUT AND HELPS WITH PROJECTS BY PROVIDING LABOR. THOSE TYPE OF ACTIVITIES INCLUDE STREAM BANK EROSION CONTROL PROJECTS, CONDUCTING RESOURCE INVENTORIES, INSTALLING PLANTINGS TO PROMOTE CONSERVATION, CLEANING UP NATURAL AREAS, AND REMOVING INVASIVE SPECIES. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A |
HEALTHY WATER PROGRAM: THE PRIORITIES OF OUR HEALTHY WATER PROGRAM ARE ALIGNED WITH THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF THE PLACES AND COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. WE INSPIRE STEWARDSHIP THROUGH EDUCATION, RECREATION AND ACCESS; PROMOTE ECONOMIC GROWTH THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT; AND ENSURE CLEAN WATER THROUGH MONITORING, PROTECTION AND RESTORATION. HURON PINES HAS INVENTORIED EVERY WATERWAY IN OUR 4.5-MILLION-ACRE SERVICE AREA TO ASSESS STREAM HEALTH, PRIORITIZE CRITICAL NEEDS AND SHARE DATA FOR PUBLIC USE BY INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE. CONNECTED WATERWAYS RESTORE NATURAL RIVER FLOW, CONTROL EROSION, PROVIDE FISH WITH ACCESS TO THE UPSTREAM HABITAT THEY NEED TO FLOURISH AND IMPROVE TOURISM AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY BY PROMOTING RECREATION. THE FUTURE HEALTH OF OUR RIVERS AND LAKES ALSO DEPENDS ON PROTECTING THE QUALITY OF WATER THAT DRAINS INTO THEM. THAT IS WHY HURON PINES IS WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES TO REDUCE POLLUTION CAUSED BY STORMWATER RUNOFF THROUGH EDUCATION, CITY PLANNING, AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4B |
PROTECTED PLACES PROGRAM: THROUGH CAREFUL PRIORITIZATION, PLANNING AND EXECUTION HURON PINES PROTECTS AND RESTORES SOME OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S MOST ICONIC PLACES INCLUDING THE JACK PINE PLAINS OF THE AU SABLE RIVER, THE DUNES OF NEGWEGON STATE PARK, THE SHORES OF LAKE HURON AND THE FORESTS OF PIGEON RIVER COUNTRY. THESE WILD PLACES PROVIDE THE IDEAL HABITAT FOR THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES LIKE HINES' EMERALD DRAGONFLY, PIPING PLOVER, PITCHER'S THISTLE, EASTERN MASSASAUGA RATTLESNAKE AND KIRTLAND'S WARBLER. HURON PINES ENGAGES COMMUNITIES AND CONSERVATION PARTNERS ACROSS THE REGION TO SUPPORT THESE THREATENED SPECIES. ONE WAY WE DO THIS IS BY LEADING THE HURON COASTAL AND HURON HEARTLAND INVASIVE SPECIES NETWORKS, WHICH BRING TOGETHER REGIONAL PARTNERS TO IMPROVE WILDLIFE HABITAT THROUGH INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT AND NATIVE HABITAT RESTORATION. HURON PINES ALSO ENGAGES IN DIRECT LAND PROTECTION THROUGH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, OWNERSHIP OF OUR OWN NATURE PRESERVES AND BY ASSISTING COMMUNITIES AND PARTNERS WITH THE ACQUISITION OF LAND FOR PROTECTION AND PUBLIC USE. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4C |
VIBRANT COMMUNITIES PROGRAM: THE HEALTH OF OUR REGION DEPENDS ON ESTABLISHING STRONG ADVOCATES FOR NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION. IN ORDER TO SUPPORT CONSERVATION THAT IS DRIVEN BY ENGAGED AND EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES, WE MUST BUILD CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT. BY WORKING DIRECTLY WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS, MUNICIPALITIES AND CONSERVATION PARTNERS, HURON PINES WILL HELP COMMUNITIES BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE, BEST PRACTICES AND FUNDING MECHANISMS NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE LONG-TERM HEALTH OF THE REGION FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. WITH PROGRAMS LIKE HURON PINES AMERICORPS AND ONGOING EFFORTS TO CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS OF ALL AGES, WE ARE DEVELOPING TOMORROW'S COMMUNITY LEADERS, INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES AND POLICY MAKERS, RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF MICHIGAN'S NATURAL RESOURCES. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4D |
MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B |
AN INDEPENDENT CPA PREPARES THE FORM 990 AND MEETS WITH A DESIGNATED COMMITTEE. AFTER THE COMMITTEE HAS RECEIVED A COPY AND MET WITH THE INDEPENDENT CPA, THE FORM 990 IS TAKEN TO THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR APPROVAL. ALL CHANGES ADDRESSED BY THE BOARD ARE MADE AND A DESIGNATED OFFICER SIGNS FORM 8879-OP AUTHORIZING THE CPA TO E-FILE THE RETURN. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C |
ON AN ANNUAL BASIS A QUESTIONNAIRE IS GIVEN TO BOARD MEMBERS ASKING THEM TO DISCLOSE ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST. THE QUESTIONNAIRES ARE DATED AND FILED. BOARD MEMBERS EXCLUDE THEMSELVES FROM VOTING ON ANY BOARD ITEMS WHERE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST HAS BEEN DISCLOSED. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A |
WHEN THE CURRENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS HIRED IN 2003, THE BOARD REFERRED TO A REGIONAL NON-PROFIT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION SURVEY THAT WAS DONE BASED UPON ANNUAL BUDGET SIZE. AT THAT TIME, WE DETERMINED THAT THE ORGANIZATION'S COMPENSATION PACKAGE WAS GENERALLY CONSISTENT WITH THE MIDDLE TIER OF THAT RANGE AND WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY MADE ANNUAL COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS SINCE THAT TIME. THE BOARD HAS AN ANNUAL EVALUATION PROCESS TO ASSESS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S PERFORMANCE. NO OTHER OFFICERS RECIEVE COMPENSATION AND THE ORGANIZATION DOES NOT HAVE ANY OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 |
HURON PINES GOVERNING DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THIS FACT IS DISCLOSED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS IN OUR NEWSLETTER. |
| FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9 |
GRANT INCOME - PPP 0 |
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.