Form 990, Part I, Line 1 Mission or most significant activities |
Conservation Foundation protects land and water for the benefit of people and nature. A nationally accredited land trust, we partner with landowners, businesses, government, and the community to identify critical land parcels and protect them in perpetuity. Our urgent work is accomplished by purchasing natural areas, holding voluntary land conservation agreements, creating, and restoring native habitats, and educating for responsible land and water stewardship. We continue to steward natural areas on twenty-six different properties totaling over 3,040 acres. This includes pine flatwoods restoration on Pine Island in Lee County, Myakka River restoration in Manatee and Sarasota Counties, and scrub restoration in Myakka City. Our work contributes to water quality, flood prevention, wildlife corridor connectivity, habitat protection, and unique public access, benefiting all those who call our region home. This year, we acquired the 69-acre Lewis property completing the 462-acre Myakka Headwaters Preserve in Myakka City, a focus for our habitat restoration and community outreach and education efforts. We also acquired almost nine acres adjacent to Don Pedro Island State Park before it was sold for development using our Land Fund and short-term loans from dedicated supporters. The State of Florida then purchased the property from us as an addition to the State Park. Our youth education programs continue to expand in both the number of partner organizations and counties we reach. We continue to be innovative in how we engage our constituents and increase the public's awareness of the value of land conservation, bringing us ever closer to a future in which the human and natural worlds of Southwest Florida flourish together. |
Form 990, Part I, Line 6 Volunteers |
Volunteers participate in the following ways: Board of Trustees, Board of Advisors, Committees, pro bono legal work, office administration, youth and community education, special event planning and implementation, community outreach events, and land stewardship activities. |
Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11b |
The completed annual Form 990 is reviewed by staff and approved by Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast management. The audit committee then reviews the Form 990 with management staff, recommends to the Board that they accept its recommendation to approve the 990 and authorize management to file the Form 990 with the IRS. The Board then reviews and acts on the audit committee's recommendation. |
Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c |
Board members, staff, and volunteers are required to annually review, acknowledge their understanding of and compliance with, and sign the conflict of interest policy. The board is apprised of the response results and acts on all potential conflicts in accordance with required policy procedures. |
Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15 |
The President's contract and compensation are reviewed annually by the chair and vice-chair. They compare the compensation to industry standards and comparables, share their findings with and solicit input from all the trustees. During the budget process, the finance committee reviews all compensation. The board of trustees approve the budget, including the President's compensation. |
Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 |
Conservation Foundation's governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and audited financial statements, as well as the Form 990, are available for review in the foundation's office. The past five years' Form 990 and audited financial statements, as well as the three-year Strategic Plan are available on the Foundation's website. Form 990 and audited financial statements are also available for review on-line at Guidestar and through the Community Foundation of Sarasota County's Giving Partner website. |
Form 990, Part VIII, line 8 |
The organization's net revenues from the Feast Upon the Fields consist of contribution revenues, sponsorships revenues and ticket sales netted with the related expenses. The net revenue from the Palm Ball and Feast Upon the Fields was $479,593 . Included in this amount is $25,000 in sponsorships and other contributions which for IRS purposes is reported on Form 990, Part VIII, line 1c as contributions. |
Form 990, Part XII, Line 2c Audit review process |
There were no changes to the audit review process. |