2024-11-14T12:31:21-05:00 2023-12-31 351344820 DULIN WARD & DEWALD INC 9921 DUPONT CIRCLE DR W 300 FORT WAYNE IN 468251610 990 2023-01-01 351809569 LITTLE RIVER WETLANDS PROJECT INC LITT 2604782515 8315 W JEFFERSON BLVD FORT WAYNE IN 46804 DENNIS WHITE DIRECTOR 2604782515 2024-11-14 true false CARRIE B MINNICH CPA P00449902 2604232414 2024-11-14 2023 2024-10-15 13:58:12Z X CAMMY SUTTER 8315 W JEFFERSON BLVD FORT WAYNE IN 46804 369474 false X LRWP.ORG X 1990 IN LITTLE RIVER WETLANDS PROJECT'S (LRWP) MISSION IS TO RESTORE AND PROTECT WETLANDS IN THE HISTORIC WATERSHED OF THE LITTLE RIVER, A MAJOR TRIBUTARY OF THE WABASH RIVER, AND TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT ENCOURAGE GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF WETLANDS AND OTHER NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS. LRWP PROTECTS 1,300 ACRES OF RESTORED AND NATURAL HABITAT INCLUDING WETLANDS, FORESTED WETLANDS, SEDGE MEADOWS AND PRAIRIES. IT PROVIDES STEWARDSHIP CARE OF ITS FOUR WETLAND NATURE PRESERVES IN ALLEN COUNTY: ARROWHEAD MARSH, ARROWHEAD PRAIRIE, EAGLE MARSH (756 ACRES) IS "THE LARGEST INLAND URBAN WETLAND RESTORATION IN THE U.S.", BUTTONBUSH BOTTOMS, AND IN HUNTINGTON THE LITTLE RIVER LANDING PRESERVE. LRWP ALSO WORKS WITH PROPERTY OWNERS WHO WISH TO CONSERVE THEIR LAND, AND LRWP HOLDS 140 NATURAL ACRES IN A CONSERVATION EASEMENT. WETLANDS BENEFIT NEARBY COMMUNITIES AND AREAS DOWNSTREAM BY ENHANCING FLOOD CONTROL, CLEANSING GROUNDWATER, AND OFFERING RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL. BIRD WATCHING, HIKING, AN 12 12 11 125 1289 389951 327967 0 659 3554 7910 32882 398520 364403 0 0 244547 270380 0 58886 160060 186441 404607 456821 -6087 -92418 3446912 3320432 4626 15453 3442286 3304979 X TO RESTORE AND PROTECT WETLANDS IN THE HISTORIC WATERSHED OF THE LITTLE RIVER, A MAJOR TRIBUTARY OF THE WABASH RIVER, AND TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT ENCOURAGE GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF WETLANDS AND OTHER NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS. false false 351275 SEED TO MARSH: A COMMUNITY EFFORT IN 2023, THE LITTLE RIVER WETLANDS PROJECT (LRWP) ORGANIZED A DIVERSE RANGE OF EVENTS, ENGAGING APPROXIMATELY 9,451 PARTICIPANTS ACROSS ALL AGE GROUPS. AMONG THESE WERE 100 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOCUSED ON STEWARDSHIP, COMMUNITY SCIENCE, AND PROGRAM SUPPORT, RALLYING 991 VOLUNTEERS, MANY OF WHOM WERE REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WERE 200 EVENTS INCLUDING PUBLIC HIKES, YOUTH SEED TO MARSH PROGRAMS, AND LARGE COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVES, SUPPORTED BY VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING 13 TRAIL GUIDES WHO GENEROUSLY DONATED OVER 300 HOURS GUIDING SCHOOL GROUPS. THE SEED TO MARSH PROGRAM, A FLAGSHIP PROGRAM OF LRWP, AIMS TO EDUCATE PARTICIPANTS ON NATIVE PLANTS, RESTORATION, AND PROVIDE HANDS-ON INVOLVEMENT IN PRESERVATION EFFORTS. INTEGRATED INTO ALL YOUTH PROGRAMS AT EAGLE MARSH, THIS INITIATIVE INVOLVES ACTIVITIES SUCH AS INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL, SEEDLING TRANSPLANTATION, AND SEED COLLECTION. COLLABORATIONS WITH SCHOOLS LIKE CANTERBURY HIGH SCHOOL, CONCORDIA LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL, MLK MONTESSORI, AND CARRIAGE HOUSE HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN GROWING NATIVE PLANTS FOR LRWP'S RESTORATION PROJECTS, COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTION, AND SCHOOL PLANTINGS. THE COMBINED EFFORTS OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND GROWING PARTNERS SIGNIFICANTLY SUPPORT LRWP'S STEWARDSHIP TEAM. IN 2023 ALONE, APPROXIMATELY 7000 WORTH OF NATIVE SEEDS WERE COLLECTED, REDUCING THE NEED FOR PURCHASING SEEDS AND PLANTS. THE PROGRAM'S EXPANSION MARKED MILESTONES INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF LRWP PRESERVE-SOURCED SEED MIXES, INCREASED PLANT AVAILABILITY FOR GIVEAWAYS AND PLANTINGS, AND PLANS TO MAP RARE PLANTS FOR FUTURE SEED COLLECTION. BESIDES RESTORING LRWP PROPERTIES WITH LOCALLY-SOURCED FLORA, THE PROGRAM ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO REDUCING HABITAT FRAGMENTATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. INVASIVE SPECIES POSE A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO LRWP PRESERVES, DISRUPTING ECOLOGICAL BALANCE AND DIMINISHING BIODIVERSITY. INVASIVE SPECIES OFTEN FORM MONOCULTURES, FAILING TO SUPPORT ALL LIFE STAGES OF IMPORTANT NATIVE SPECIES. WITHOUT PROACTIVE REMOVAL EFFORTS, THE QUALITY OF WETLAND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE ECOSYSTEMS WOULD RAPIDLY DECLINE, JEOPARDIZING WILDLIFE POPULATIONS AND COMMUNITY INTEREST IN THE PRESERVES. ONGOING REMOVAL EFFORTS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIVE PLANTINGS REMAIN CRUCIAL FOR PRESERVING THE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF THE LAND, SUPPORTING DIVERSE WILDLIFE POPULATIONS. LRWP'S RESTORATION EFFORTS, HEAVILY SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITY, HAVE LED TO AN INCREDIBLE DISPLAY OF NATIVE WILDFLOWERS AND THE PRESENCE OF HUNDREDS OF ANIMAL SPECIES, ATTRACTING VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE STATE TO ENGAGE IN RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING ON OUR SITES. 351275 true true false false false false true false false true true false false false false false true false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 2 0 true 11 true true true false false false false false false false false false false false X 12 12 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true false false X X AMBER BAUER 2604782515 8315 W JEFFERSON BLVD FORT WAYNE IN 46804 AMY SILVA 2023 EXEC DI 40.00 X 60809 0 10214 WILLIAM ETZLER PRESIDENT 6.00 X X 0 0 0 BRIAN TROUTT TREASURER 1.00 X X 0 0 0 PHIL BLOOM DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JOHN GOSS DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MARK JORDAN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 AMBER KIMMELL DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 TODD LAUBHAN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 THOM MAHER DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 SUSIE MEYER DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JULIA RHODES DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 KAREN SURGUINE DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 DENNIS WHITE DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 60809 10214 false false false 21907 25400 280660 327967 832 832 2722 2722 2722 2722 2640 21907 2862 -222 -222 3498 2209 1289 1289 SALE OF EASEMENT 110000 31815 31815 31815 364403 31815 1289 3332 71023 42614 3551 24858 177918 157362 3251 17305 4390 4267 123 17049 14014 429 2606 24352 24352 25 25 770 770 13454 9433 1254 2767 8817 6509 1494 814 44308 37708 3300 3300 8520 7048 1154 318 8945 2782 5974 189 20617 20617 12462 11301 1032 129 PRESERVE EXPENSES 25414 25414 OTHER EXPENSES 9522 2201 721 6600 EDUCATION AND OUTREACH 9235 9235 456821 351275 46660 58886 76862 57264 310558 226810 92780 93940 6714 3617 3141049 203819 2957949 2937230 548 1501 1571 3446912 3320432 4626 15453 4626 15453 X 3342048 3223862 100238 81117 3442286 3304979 3446912 3320432 -92418 134 -45023 X false true X true false X 277340 212330 320382 389951 327967 1527970 277340 212330 320382 389951 327967 1527970 281396 1246574 1295 819 795 628 832 4369 1289 1289 9430 37 736 2151 31815 44169 1577797 148787 0.79010 0.76940 X PART II, LINE 10 OTHER INCOME 43,293 PRODUCT SALES 876 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED X 1 140.00 1 false 15.00 300 1464 177 70 1571 1742 -181 71 26 1464 1504 335 71 26 1742 1526 155 74 103 1504 1437 270 78 103 1526 1.00000 true false 2754557 2754557 201576 60779 140797 43934 19351 24583 140982 123689 17293 2937230 364945 134 408 542 364403 364403 457229 408 408 456821 456821 SCHEDULE D, PAGE 1, PART II, LINE 9 EXPENSES INCURRED REPRESENT STAFF SALARIES WHICH ARE NOT IDENTIFIED SEPARATELY IN THE INCOME STATEMENT BUT ARE INCLUDED IN EMPLOYMENT COSTS OF THE PRESERVES DEPARTMENT. THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT IS INCLUDED ON THE BALANCE SHEET IN LAND, BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT. SCHEDULE D, PAGE 2, PART V, LINE 4 EARNINGS CAN BE USED TO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION. FROGAPALOOZA 24547 21907 2640 2862 24547 21907 2640 2862 2862 -222 FORM 990 - ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO RESTORE AND PROTECT WETLANDS IN THE HISTORIC WATERSHED OF THE LITTLE RIVER, A MAJOR TRIBUTARY OF THE WABASH RIVER, AND TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT ENCOURAGE GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF WETLANDS AND OTHER NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS. FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A SEED TO MARSH: A COMMUNITY EFFORT IN 2023, THE LITTLE RIVER WETLANDS PROJECT (LRWP) ORGANIZED A DIVERSE RANGE OF EVENTS, ENGAGING APPROXIMATELY 9,451 PARTICIPANTS ACROSS ALL AGE GROUPS. AMONG THESE WERE 100 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOCUSED ON STEWARDSHIP, COMMUNITY SCIENCE, AND PROGRAM SUPPORT, RALLYING 991 VOLUNTEERS, MANY OF WHOM WERE REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WERE 200 EVENTS INCLUDING PUBLIC HIKES, YOUTH SEED TO MARSH PROGRAMS, AND LARGE COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVES, SUPPORTED BY VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING 13 TRAIL GUIDES WHO GENEROUSLY DONATED OVER 300 HOURS GUIDING SCHOOL GROUPS. THE SEED TO MARSH PROGRAM, A FLAGSHIP PROGRAM OF LRWP, AIMS TO EDUCATE PARTICIPANTS ON NATIVE PLANTS, RESTORATION, AND PROVIDE HANDS-ON INVOLVEMENT IN PRESERVATION EFFORTS. INTEGRATED INTO ALL YOUTH PROGRAMS AT EAGLE MARSH, THIS INITIATIVE INVOLVES ACTIVITIES SUCH AS INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL, SEEDLING TRANSPLANTATION, AND SEED COLLECTION. COLLABORATIONS WITH SCHOOLS LIKE CANTERBURY HIGH SCHOOL, CONCORDIA LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL, MLK MONTESSORI, AND CARRIAGE HOUSE HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN GROWING NATIVE PLANTS FOR LRWP'S RESTORATION PROJECTS, COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTION, AND SCHOOL PLANTINGS. THE COMBINED EFFORTS OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND GROWING PARTNERS SIGNIFICANTLY SUPPORT LRWP'S STEWARDSHIP TEAM. IN 2023 ALONE, APPROXIMATELY 7000 WORTH OF NATIVE SEEDS WERE COLLECTED, REDUCING THE NEED FOR PURCHASING SEEDS AND PLANTS. THE PROGRAM'S EXPANSION MARKED MILESTONES INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF LRWP PRESERVE-SOURCED SEED MIXES, INCREASED PLANT AVAILABILITY FOR GIVEAWAYS AND PLANTINGS, AND PLANS TO MAP RARE PLANTS FOR FUTURE SEED COLLECTION. BESIDES RESTORING LRWP PROPERTIES WITH LOCALLY-SOURCED FLORA, THE PROGRAM ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO REDUCING HABITAT FRAGMENTATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. INVASIVE SPECIES POSE A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO LRWP PRESERVES, DISRUPTING ECOLOGICAL BALANCE AND DIMINISHING BIODIVERSITY. INVASIVE SPECIES OFTEN FORM MONOCULTURES, FAILING TO SUPPORT ALL LIFE STAGES OF IMPORTANT NATIVE SPECIES. WITHOUT PROACTIVE REMOVAL EFFORTS, THE QUALITY OF WETLAND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE ECOSYSTEMS WOULD RAPIDLY DECLINE, JEOPARDIZING WILDLIFE POPULATIONS AND COMMUNITY INTEREST IN THE PRESERVES. ONGOING REMOVAL EFFORTS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIVE PLANTINGS REMAIN CRUCIAL FOR PRESERVING THE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF THE LAND, SUPPORTING DIVERSE WILDLIFE POPULATIONS. LRWP'S RESTORATION EFFORTS, HEAVILY SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITY, HAVE LED TO AN INCREDIBLE DISPLAY OF NATIVE WILDFLOWERS AND THE PRESENCE OF HUNDREDS OF ANIMAL SPECIES, ATTRACTING VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE STATE TO ENGAGE IN RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING ON OUR SITES. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B THE LRWP TREASURER ALONG WITH CONTRACTED CPA REVIEWS THE DRAFT FORM 990 AS PREPARED BY THE ACCOUNTING FIRM OF DULIN WARD AND DEWALD, AND SUBMITS TO THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THEIR REVIEW PRIOR TO FILING. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C BASED ON RESPONSES FROM BOARD TO ANNUAL SURVEY. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A PERSONNEL COMMITTEE REVIEWS COMPARABLE SALARY DATA FOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF SIMILAR SIZE NON-PROFITS IN THE AREA TO DETERMINE BASE SALARY OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. THE SAME TYPE OF SALARY DATA IS USED FOR DETERMINING SALARIES AND HOURLY RATES FOR FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME EMPLOYEES, RESPECTIVELY. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 18 THE ORGANIZATIONS IRS FORM 990 IS FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS IS AVAILABLE AT IRS.GOV AND GUIDESTAR.ORG. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT THE ORGANIZATION'S OFFICE DURING BUSINESS HOURS.