River Alliance of Wisconsin does not meet the following 4 Standards for Charity Accountability:
Standard 1 (Oversight of Operations and Staff)
Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fund raising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.
River Alliance WI does not meet this Standard because its board of directors does not:
- Review the performance of the Chief Executive Officer at least once every two years.
- Ensure that the organization‘s arrangements with outside fundraising firms are made in writing.
- Receive a copy of the organization’s IRS Form 990.
- Receive information about the financial arrangements made with outside fundraising consultants hired in 2019.
Standard 6 (Board Policy on Effectiveness)
Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.
River Alliance WI does not meet this Standard because:
- The organization's effectiveness assessment policy does not specify that this assessment will take place at least once every two years.
Standard 7 (Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness)
Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.
River Alliance WI does not meet this Standard because:
- The organization has not completed an effectiveness assessment in the last two years.
Standard 18 (Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy)
Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.
River Alliance WI does not meet this Standard because:
- Although the organization shares personal information about its donors with others, it does not provide a means (such as a check off box) in its direct mail appeals for donors to opt out of having their information shared.
River Alliance of Wisconsin meets the remaining 16 Standards for Charity Accountability.
River Alliance of Wisconsin (River Alliance WI) reports that it advocates for locals waterways in Wisconsin. The organization partners with local watershed groups to implement grassroots organizing, communication strategies, and invasive species programs. River Alliance WI educates boaters and anglers about aquatic invasive species and their effect on the ecosystem in Wisconsin rivers and lakes. The organization also works with farmers through its Alliance for Water Stewardship certification process to assist in their water management. In 2019, River Alliance WI states that it had 1,700 advocacy actions, educated 2,000 boaters and anglers about aquatic invasive species, and held 14 events across Wisconsin.
For the year ended September 30, 2019, River Alliance of Wisconsin's program expenses were:
| Program services |
$550,887 |
| Total Program Expenses: |
$550,887 |
-
Chief Executive
Raj Shukla, Executive Director
-
Compensation*
$93,363
-
Chair of the Board
Mary Vollbrecht
-
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Retired, Department of Natural Resources Wisconsin
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Board Size
9
-
Paid Staff Size
8
*2018 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Invitations to fund raising events, Membership appeals, Planned giving arrangements, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.)
Fundraising costs were 14% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $932,162 are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
The following information is based on River Alliance of Wisconsin's audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2019.
| Source of Funds |
| Total Income |
$795,504 |
- Programs: 72%
- Fundraising: 17%
- Administrative: 11%
| Total Income |
$795,504 |
| Program expenses |
$550,887 |
| Fundraising expenses |
$131,640 |
| Administrative expenses |
$86,628 |
| Other expenses |
$0 |
| Total expenses: |
$769,155 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses |
$26,349 |
| Beginning Net Assets |
$516,129 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets |
$0 |
| Ending Net Assets |
$718,048 |
| Total Liabilities |
$36,740 |
| Total Assets |
$754,788 |