2024-01-09T11:46:30-05:00 2022-09-30 320394930 STROEMER & COMPANY 14030 METROPOLIS AVE STE 200 FORT MYERS FL 33912 990 2021-10-01 592240895 DING DARLING WILDLIFE SOCIETY INC DING 2394701100 1 WILDLIFE DRIVE SANIBEL FL 33957 BIRGIT P MILLER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 2394701100 2023-08-14 true BIRGIT P MILLER 999009999 MARC WHITFIELD CPA P00125986 2394331002 2024-01-09 2021 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z X BIRGIT P MILLER 1 WILDLIFE DR SANIBEL FL 33957 9818317 false X WWW.DINGDARLINGSOCIETY.ORG X 1988 FL ENHANCE THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEARLY 800,000 ANNUAL JN "DING" DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE VISTORS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVATION AND WILDLIFE PROTECTION. 13 13 15 65 0 4635267 4903836 0 229561 276183 287684 493209 5152512 5673228 70700 72414 0 555487 620331 0 234347 821124 1117001 1447311 1809746 3705201 3863482 15322068 18138588 48017 73835 15274051 18064753 X SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION OPERATIONAL AND INTERPRETIVE WORK OF THE J.N. "DING" DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE AND ENHANCE THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEARLY 800,000 ANNUAL VISITORS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE WILDLIFE WHO DEPEND ON IT FOR SURVIVAL. false false 1174202 72414 FOUNDED IN 1945, THE J.N. "DING" DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE CONSISTS OF NEARLY 8,000 ACRES OF SOME OF THE MOST UNIQUE AND ECOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT ECOSYSTEMS IN THE WORLD. BUDGETS CONTINUE TO DECREASE, AND FEDERAL FUNDING DOES NOT COVER ALL THE NEEDS OF THIS VERY POPULATED REFUGE. AS A RESULT, THE "DING" DARLING WILDLIFE SOCIETY - FRIENDS OF THE REFUGE (DDWS) PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT WHERE FEDERAL FUNDING FALLS SHORT. EVERY YEAR, THE VISITATION TO THE REFUGE INCREASES AND NEARLY ONE MILLION VISITORS EXPLORE THESE PUBLIC LANDS. FOR NEARLY THAN 40 YEARS, THE DDWS HAS SUPPORTED THE REFUGE IN AREAS OF EDUCATION, LAND ACQUISITION, INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE AND EXHIBITS, HABITAT MANAGEMENT, BIOLOGICAL STUDIES, WATER RESEARCH, AND MUCH MORE. OUR ANNUAL REPORT CELEBRATES WHAT PHILANTHROPY MADE POSSIBLE IN 2021-2022. THE PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT WE RECEIVE FROM FOUNDATIONS, BUSINESSES, CORPORATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS MADE IT POSSIBLE TO ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION- CRITICAL WORK AND SOME OF IT IS LISTED BELOW: "WE CONTINUED OUR WORK WITHIN OUR OFF-ISLAND COMMUNITIES TO BRING THE REFUGE AND CONSERVATION MESSAGING TO UNDERSERVED SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBORHOODS. THROUGH THE WOW (WILDLIFE ON WHEELS), WE EXPANDED OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS THANKS TO OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. THIS YEAR, WE EDUCATED MORE THAN 11,000 STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. "THE DDWS HIRED THE SUZANNE DUBUC URBAN OUTREACH COORDINATOR (MARIA SANTIAGO) TO CONTINUE HER WORK IN EXPANDING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH "DING" DARLING. HER WORK SHOWS HOW CONSERVATION AND COMMUNITY NEEDS ARE INTERSECTIONAL, AND HOW WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER IN BUILDING A STRONGER COMMUNITY. "WE SAW 6 NEW PERMANENT ENDOWMENTS ESTABLISHED THAT SUPPORTED AN ARRAY OF AREAS FROM BIOLOGY AND INTERNS TO VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH. THESE ENDOWMENTS HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ALLOWING THE DDWS TO PLAN, KNOWING HOW MUCH WE HAVE IN PERMANENT ENDOWMENTS AND WORKING OFF THE INVESTMENTS. "THE DDWS AND LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT WORKED EFFECTIVELY TOGETHER THIS YEAR IN BRINGING SCHOOL KIDS BY BUS TO THE REFUGE FOR ONSITE FIELD TRIPS -- SOMETHING THAT COULD NOT HAPPEN THE YEAR PRIOR DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. WHILE COVID-19 PROTOCOLS WERE STILL IN PLACE, THESE FIELD TRIPS WERE INVALUABLE TO INSTILL THE LOVE OF NATURE AND PASSION FOR PROTECTING OUR WILD SPACES IN OUR YOUNG GENERATION. THIS PARTNERSHIP CONTINUES INTO THIS FISCAL YEAR WITH AMAZING IMPACTS. IT TRULY SHOWS THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION. "SAFE, IN-PERSON EVENTS PROVED A LONG-AWAITED SUCCESS AFTER THE PREVIOUS YEAR OF VIRTUAL AND CANCELLED GATHERINGS. THE DDWS' ANNUAL FUNDRAISER, GO WILD FOR "DING," PAID HOMAGE TO DDWS' 40TH ANNIVERSARY WITH THE YEAR OF THE ANHINGA THEME. THE DDWS BROUGHT BACK PROJECT REFUGE: A COUTURE FASHION SHOW USING TRASH AS A SPECIAL EVENT. MORE THAN 20 ARTISTS CREATED OUTFITS OF RECYCLED MATERIALS THAT THEN WENT ON DISPLAY AT THE VISITOR CENTER AND IN A SPECIAL EXHIBITION AT SHELL POINT RETIREMENT COMMUNITY'S TRIBBY ARTS CENTER IN FORT MYERS. "THE SOCIETY PAID FOR AND SUPPORTED 12 INTERNS THIS LAST FISCAL YEAR TO HELP THE REFUGE ACCOMPLISH ITS CONSERVATION GOALS. THIS INCLUDED TWO FLUENT SPANISH-SPEAKING INTERNS AS PART OF THE WOW EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAM. "THE NATURE STORE 2 ON PERIWINKLE HAD ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR. THIS STORE REACHES A DIFFERENT GROUP OF ISLAND VISITORS WHO DO NOT TYPICALLY MAKE IT UP THE ISLAND TO VISIT THE REFUGE. 100% OF THE PROFITS FROM ALL THREE STORES (REFUGE FLAGSHIP LOCATION, SHOPDINGDARLING.COM, AND NATURE STORE 2) GOES TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION WORK AT THE REFUGE. "WE CONTINUED TO SUPPORT THE REFUGE WITH COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION. DDWS PAID FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DESIGN AND PRINTING OF MAPS, INFORMATIONAL BROCHURES, INTERPRETIVE MATERIALS, AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES. "AS THE TENURE OF OUR SECOND ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, RACHEL PIERCE, ENDED, WE WELCOMED OUR THIRD ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, MIAMI ARTIST JACQUI ROCH. JACQUELINE LED SEVERAL ART PROGRAMS AT THE REFUGE, AROUND THE ISLAND, AND AT MULTIPLE LOCAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS. IT PROVED TO BE ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR OF PROGRAMMING. "WE BROUGHT RENOWNED SPEAKERS FOR OUR LECTURE SERIES AND SUPPORTED A SMALL VIRTUAL FILM SERIES. "OUR TARPON TOURNAMENT CELEBRATED ITS 10TH YEAR OF FISHING. IN THOSE 10 YEARS, MORE THAN 1 MILLION HAS BEEN RAISED TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION AND WATER QUALITY WORK AT THE REFUGE. THANKS TO DOC FORD'S RUM BAR AND GRILLE AND ALL THE SPONSORS FOR MAKING IT THE BEST CONSERVATION TOURNAMENT IN THE AREA. "WE CONTINUED TO FUND A BIOLOGICAL TECHNICIAN FOR THE REFUGE TO HELP WITH WILDLIFE AND WATER QUALITY WORK AND RESEARCH. "WE CONTINUE OUR STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR CONSERVATION PARTNERS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE WATER QUALITY THAT IMPACTS THE REFUGE SO GREATLY. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO SAY THAT THESE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN GETTING ATTENTION. "LAND ACQUISITION EFFORTS CONTINUED WITH THE SUCCESSFUL PURCHASE OF 8.5 ACRES ON SANIBEL. THIS UNIQUE PROPERTY IS ADJACENT TO THE REFUGE AND CONTAINS A LARGE LAKE, WHICH FEEDS DIRECTLY INTO TARPON BAY. "THIS YEAR, THE REFUGE AND DDWS BROKE GROUND ON THE LATEST REFUGE EDUCATIONAL FACILITY, THE ROOST. THE ROOST WILL WELCOME VISITORS TO AN OUTDOOR FLEX SPACE FOR A BROAD SPECTRUM OF EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. PARTIAL CONSTRUCTION WAS DESTROYED BY HURRICANE IAN, BUT WE WILL BE STARTING THE REBUILDING PROCESS SHORTLY. 1174202 true true false false false false false true false true true false false false true true true false false false false false false false true false false true true true false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false true 60 0 15 true false false false false false true true false false false false false false false false X 13 13 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true true false X X JOY ROBERTSON 2394721100 1 WILDLIFE DRIVE SANIBEL FL 33957 BIRGIT P MILLER EXECUTIVE DI 40.00 X 151075 0 10950 SARAH ASHTON PAST PRESIDE X X 0 0 0 BARBARA BLUEDORN BOARD MEMBER X 0 0 0 ROBIN COOK BOARD MEMBER X 0 0 0 NANCY FELKER BOARD MEMBER X 0 0 0 PHYLLIS GRESHAM BOARD MEMBER X 0 0 0 WILLIAM HARKEY VICE PRESIDE X 0 0 0 MARK HEIMAN SECRETARY X 0 0 0 DAVID JEFFREY BOARD MEMBER X 0 0 0 WENDY KINDIG PRESIDENT X X 0 0 0 RICHARD LEVINSON BOARD MEMBER X 0 0 0 WILLIAM MILLAR BOARD MEMBER X 0 0 0 STUART SERGEANT BOARD MEMBER X 0 0 0 BILL VALERIAN TREASURER X X 0 0 0 151075 10950 1 false true false 500652 12286 4390898 1218119 4903836 246718 246718 3427622 3398157 29465 29465 29465 27160 500652 113974 -86814 -70437 1211975 632958 579017 579017 OTHER INCOME 1006 1006 1006 5673228 1006 784763 X 25000 25000 47414 47414 140000 119000 12600 8400 368839 313513 33196 22130 71561 60827 6440 4294 39931 33941 3594 2396 44629 44629 112290 40837 57822 13631 86882 6325 80111 446 11522 11522 6425 4816 1573 36 11274 3878 7122 274 10705 10705 17453 17453 37136 37136 FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 182740 182740 BOONE PROPERTY EXPENSES 151748 75874 75874 NATURE STORE EXPENSE 92491 92491 WOW EXPENSES 91870 91870 259836 258416 1420 1809746 1174202 401197 234347 2174845 2504836 300000 318000 354358 348204 6923 31081 4870994 164887 2523991 4706107 9781727 9956086 180224 274274 15322068 18138588 42470 67082 4790 5903 757 850 48017 73835 X 10054640 12791668 5219411 5273085 15274051 18064753 15322068 18138588 X 3863482 -1072780 X false true X true false X 1406852 7052186 2155932 4499892 4903836 20018698 1406852 7052186 2155932 4499892 4903836 20018698 109552 19909146 61119 127320 159555 215502 246718 810214 863768 840761 773061 810776 1211975 4500341 25329253 40800 0.78600 0.66410 X PART II, LINE 10 GROSS SALES OF INVENTORY 3,288,366 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 346779 X false 1171985 767022 -254714 9000 6096 1669197 905909 98835 171451 4210 1171985 546866 287329 74896 3182 905909 512458 41918 5000 2510 546866 462081 57265 4900 -1988 512458 0.24410 0.75590 true false 4159428 4159428 266672 18684 247988 122912 122912 321982 23291 298691 4706107 SALES TAX PAYABLE 850 850 X 4714422 -1072780 113974 -958806 5673228 5673228 1923720 113974 113974 1809746 1809746 SCHEDULE D, PAGE 3, PART X THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE HAS DETERMINED THAT THE ORGANIZATION IS EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL INCOME TAXES UNDER SECTION 501(C)3 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. THE ORGANIZATION IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT FLORIDA CORPORATION AND THEREFORE IS NOT SUBJECT TO STATE INCOME TAX TAXES. THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE PROVIDES FOR TAXATION OF UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ORGANIZATION REPORTS NO UNRELATED BUSINESS TAXABLE INCOME, HOWEVER, SUCH STATUS IS SUBJECT TO FINAL DETERMINATION UPON EXAMINATION OF THE RELATED TAX RETURNS BY THE APPROPRIATE TAXING AUTHORITIES. THE ORGANIZATION'S TAX FILINGS ARE SUBJECT TO AUDIT BY VARIOUS TAXING AUTHORITIES. CERTAIN INCOME TAX RETURNS FILED BY THE ORGANIZATION REMAIN OPEN TO EXAMINATION BY THESE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. THE ORGANIZATION FOLLOWS ASC TOPIC 740, "INCOME TAXES" IN ACCOUNTING FOR UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS. THE ORGANIZATION HAS EVALUATED ITS TAX POSITIONS AND ANY ESTIMATES UTILIZED IN ITS TAX RETURNS, AND CONCLUDED THAT THE ORGANIZATION HAS TAKEN NO UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THAT REQUIRE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS GUIDANCE. INTEREST AND PENALTIES ASSOCIATED WITH UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS WILL BE RECOGNIZED IN INCOME TAX EXPENSE, IF REQUIRED SCHEDULE D, PAGE 4, PART XI, LINE 2D FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 113,974 SCHEDULE D, PAGE 4, PART XII, LINE 2D FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 113,974 GO WILD 244910 228950 15960 1198 6010 1000 5438 TARPON TOURNAME 223775 223775 60000 12751 1 59127 47927 11200 1350 10463 7835 500 7429 527812 500652 27160 61350 11661 13845 1500 25618 113974 -86814 false NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE 1001 CONNECTICUT AVE NW 905 WASHINGTON DC 20036 501(C) 25000 SCHOLARSHIPS 14 33700 TEACHER GRANTS 9 13714 SCHEDULE I, PAGE 1, PART I, LINE 2 THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE ISSUES A CHECK DIRECTLY TO THE AWARD RECIPIENT, WITH NO RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON THE USE OF THE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS. THERE ARE NO MONITORING PROCEDURES. false false false false false false false false false BIRGIT P MILLER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 151075 10950 162025 X 6 1218119 PUBLICLY TRADED PRICE false false false FORM 990, PAGE 1, ITEM B FUNCTIONAL EXPENSE ALLOCATIONS FOR PAYROLL AND UTILITIES WERE INCORRECLY ALLOCATED. THEY WERE REVERSED ON THE ORIGINALLY FILLED RETURN. FORM 990 - ORGANIZATION'S MISSION SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION OPERATIONAL AND INTERPRETIVE WORK OF THE J.N. "DING" DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE AND ENHANCE THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEARLY 800,000 ANNUAL VISITORS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE WILDLIFE WHO DEPEND ON IT FOR SURVIVAL. FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A FOUNDED IN 1945, THE J.N. "DING" DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE CONSISTS OF NEARLY 8,000 ACRES OF SOME OF THE MOST UNIQUE AND ECOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT ECOSYSTEMS IN THE WORLD. BUDGETS CONTINUE TO DECREASE, AND FEDERAL FUNDING DOES NOT COVER ALL THE NEEDS OF THIS VERY POPULATED REFUGE. AS A RESULT, THE "DING" DARLING WILDLIFE SOCIETY - FRIENDS OF THE REFUGE (DDWS) PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT WHERE FEDERAL FUNDING FALLS SHORT. EVERY YEAR, THE VISITATION TO THE REFUGE INCREASES AND NEARLY ONE MILLION VISITORS EXPLORE THESE PUBLIC LANDS. FOR NEARLY THAN 40 YEARS, THE DDWS HAS SUPPORTED THE REFUGE IN AREAS OF EDUCATION, LAND ACQUISITION, INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE AND EXHIBITS, HABITAT MANAGEMENT, BIOLOGICAL STUDIES, WATER RESEARCH, AND MUCH MORE. OUR ANNUAL REPORT CELEBRATES WHAT PHILANTHROPY MADE POSSIBLE IN 2021-2022. THE PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT WE RECEIVE FROM FOUNDATIONS, BUSINESSES, CORPORATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS MADE IT POSSIBLE TO ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION- CRITICAL WORK AND SOME OF IT IS LISTED BELOW: "WE CONTINUED OUR WORK WITHIN OUR OFF-ISLAND COMMUNITIES TO BRING THE REFUGE AND CONSERVATION MESSAGING TO UNDERSERVED SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBORHOODS. THROUGH THE WOW (WILDLIFE ON WHEELS), WE EXPANDED OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS THANKS TO OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. THIS YEAR, WE EDUCATED MORE THAN 11,000 STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. "THE DDWS HIRED THE SUZANNE DUBUC URBAN OUTREACH COORDINATOR (MARIA SANTIAGO) TO CONTINUE HER WORK IN EXPANDING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH "DING" DARLING. HER WORK SHOWS HOW CONSERVATION AND COMMUNITY NEEDS ARE INTERSECTIONAL, AND HOW WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER IN BUILDING A STRONGER COMMUNITY. "WE SAW 6 NEW PERMANENT ENDOWMENTS ESTABLISHED THAT SUPPORTED AN ARRAY OF AREAS FROM BIOLOGY AND INTERNS TO VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH. THESE ENDOWMENTS HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ALLOWING THE DDWS TO PLAN, KNOWING HOW MUCH WE HAVE IN PERMANENT ENDOWMENTS AND WORKING OFF THE INVESTMENTS. "THE DDWS AND LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT WORKED EFFECTIVELY TOGETHER THIS YEAR IN BRINGING SCHOOL KIDS BY BUS TO THE REFUGE FOR ONSITE FIELD TRIPS -- SOMETHING THAT COULD NOT HAPPEN THE YEAR PRIOR DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. WHILE COVID-19 PROTOCOLS WERE STILL IN PLACE, THESE FIELD TRIPS WERE INVALUABLE TO INSTILL THE LOVE OF NATURE AND PASSION FOR PROTECTING OUR WILD SPACES IN OUR YOUNG GENERATION. THIS PARTNERSHIP CONTINUES INTO THIS FISCAL YEAR WITH AMAZING IMPACTS. IT TRULY SHOWS THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION. "SAFE, IN-PERSON EVENTS PROVED A LONG-AWAITED SUCCESS AFTER THE PREVIOUS YEAR OF VIRTUAL AND CANCELLED GATHERINGS. THE DDWS' ANNUAL FUNDRAISER, GO WILD FOR "DING," PAID HOMAGE TO DDWS' 40TH ANNIVERSARY WITH THE YEAR OF THE ANHINGA THEME. THE DDWS BROUGHT BACK PROJECT REFUGE: A COUTURE FASHION SHOW USING TRASH AS A SPECIAL EVENT. MORE THAN 20 ARTISTS CREATED OUTFITS OF RECYCLED MATERIALS THAT THEN WENT ON DISPLAY AT THE VISITOR CENTER AND IN A SPECIAL EXHIBITION AT SHELL POINT RETIREMENT COMMUNITY'S TRIBBY ARTS CENTER IN FORT MYERS. "THE SOCIETY PAID FOR AND SUPPORTED 12 INTERNS THIS LAST FISCAL YEAR TO HELP THE REFUGE ACCOMPLISH ITS CONSERVATION GOALS. THIS INCLUDED TWO FLUENT SPANISH-SPEAKING INTERNS AS PART OF THE WOW EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAM. "THE NATURE STORE 2 ON PERIWINKLE HAD ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR. THIS STORE REACHES A DIFFERENT GROUP OF ISLAND VISITORS WHO DO NOT TYPICALLY MAKE IT UP THE ISLAND TO VISIT THE REFUGE. 100% OF THE PROFITS FROM ALL THREE STORES (REFUGE FLAGSHIP LOCATION, SHOPDINGDARLING.COM, AND NATURE STORE 2) GOES TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION WORK AT THE REFUGE. "WE CONTINUED TO SUPPORT THE REFUGE WITH COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION. DDWS PAID FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DESIGN AND PRINTING OF MAPS, INFORMATIONAL BROCHURES, INTERPRETIVE MATERIALS, AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES. "AS THE TENURE OF OUR SECOND ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, RACHEL PIERCE, ENDED, WE WELCOMED OUR THIRD ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, MIAMI ARTIST JACQUI ROCH. JACQUELINE LED SEVERAL ART PROGRAMS AT THE REFUGE, AROUND THE ISLAND, AND AT MULTIPLE LOCAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS. IT PROVED TO BE ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR OF PROGRAMMING. "WE BROUGHT RENOWNED SPEAKERS FOR OUR LECTURE SERIES AND SUPPORTED A SMALL VIRTUAL FILM SERIES. "OUR TARPON TOURNAMENT CELEBRATED ITS 10TH YEAR OF FISHING. IN THOSE 10 YEARS, MORE THAN 1 MILLION HAS BEEN RAISED TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION AND WATER QUALITY WORK AT THE REFUGE. THANKS TO DOC FORD'S RUM BAR AND GRILLE AND ALL THE SPONSORS FOR MAKING IT THE BEST CONSERVATION TOURNAMENT IN THE AREA. "WE CONTINUED TO FUND A BIOLOGICAL TECHNICIAN FOR THE REFUGE TO HELP WITH WILDLIFE AND WATER QUALITY WORK AND RESEARCH. "WE CONTINUE OUR STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR CONSERVATION PARTNERS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE WATER QUALITY THAT IMPACTS THE REFUGE SO GREATLY. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO SAY THAT THESE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN GETTING ATTENTION. "LAND ACQUISITION EFFORTS CONTINUED WITH THE SUCCESSFUL PURCHASE OF 8.5 ACRES ON SANIBEL. THIS UNIQUE PROPERTY IS ADJACENT TO THE REFUGE AND CONTAINS A LARGE LAKE, WHICH FEEDS DIRECTLY INTO TARPON BAY. "THIS YEAR, THE REFUGE AND DDWS BROKE GROUND ON THE LATEST REFUGE EDUCATIONAL FACILITY, THE ROOST. THE ROOST WILL WELCOME VISITORS TO AN OUTDOOR FLEX SPACE FOR A BROAD SPECTRUM OF EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. PARTIAL CONSTRUCTION WAS DESTROYED BY HURRICANE IAN, BUT WE WILL BE STARTING THE REBUILDING PROCESS SHORTLY. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B THE DRAFT COPY OF THE FORM 990 IS SENT TO THE EXECUTIVE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR A REVIEW PERIOD OF TWO WEEKS. THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS REVIEW THE DOCUMENT AND SUBMIT ANY QUESTIONS. AFTER THE QUESTIONS ARE SATISFACTORILY ANSWERED AND CHANGES ARE MADE (IF ANY), THE BOARD PRESIDENT SENDS THE DRAFT FORM 990 TO THE REST OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND INFORMS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO APPROVE THE FORM 990 FOR SUBMISSION TO THE IRS. A DRAFT COPY OF FORM 990 IS UPLOADED TO THE DING DARLING WEBSITE AND REPLACED WITH THE FINAL COPY ONCE RECEIVED FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, ALL BOARD MEMBERS SIGN A DOCUMENT STATING THAT THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A ONE MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE IS ASSIGNED TO RESEARCH AREA SALARIES BASED ON JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR SIMILAR POSITIONS HELD. ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, THE BOARD REVIEWS THE JOB PERFORMANCE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AGAINST GOALS ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD THE YEAR PRIOR. CURRENT YEAR'S SALARY IS BASED ON REVIEW. IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022, DDWS UTILIZED A RECRUITING FIRM TO PROVIDE A SALARY SURVEY FOR ITS TOP MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. IT ALSO USES DATA AVAILABLE ONLINE TO DETERMINE THE AVERAGE SALARY PAID FOR A PARTICULAR POSITION IN THIS GEOGRAPHICAL AREA AND THEN DETERMINES COMPENSATION BASED ON THAT AVERAGE. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15B ONE MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE IS ASSIGNED TO RESEARCH AREA SALARIES BASED ON JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR SIMILAR POSITIONS HELD. ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, THE BOARD REVIEWS THE JOB PERFORMANCE OF KEY EMPLOYEES AGAINST THE GOALS ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD THE YEAR PRIOR. CURRENT YEAR'S SALARIES ARE BASED ON THE REVIEW. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 GOVERNING DOCUMENTS ARE MADE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 24E URBAN WILDLIFE 88,483 0 0 VISTOR CENTER SUPPLIES 42,082 0 0 ENVIRONMENTAL EXPENSES 33,735 0 0 LECTURE SERIES 33,474 0 0 WULFRET 25,000 0 0 OTHER REFUGE EXPENSES 21,408 0 0 COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS 6,090 0 0 MISCELLANEOUS 4,811 0 0 BIOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT 3,333 0 0 POST HURRICANE IAN EXPENS 0 1,420 0 TOTAL 258,416 1,420 0 FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9 FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 113,974 FUNDRAISING EXPENSES -113,974