2025-06-11T12:58:49-05:00 2024-12-31 205788602 Glaser and Company LLC 1859 Summerville Ave Suite 800 Charleston SC 29405 990 2024-01-01 582359979 The Kiawah Island Natural Habitat Conservancy Inc KIAW 8437682029 80 Kestrel Court Kiawah Island SC 29455 Peggy Barnes Chair 8437682029 2025-06-11 1 1 Erik Glaser CPA P00724565 8438490179 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Peggy Barnes 80 Kestrel Court Kiawah Island SC 29455 4434579 0 X www.kiawahconservancy.org X 1997 SC We measure, manage, improve, and advocate for the ecological health of Kiawah Island and (see Sch. O) its environs. 25 21 9 150 0 0 2126006 4339442 0 0 8956 4780 -16855 -53167 2118107 4291055 0 5282 0 0 689245 810905 0 0 239474 808977 2774533 1498222 3590720 619885 700335 5538175 4989510 1383755 134755 4154420 4854755 X The Kiawah Conservancy provides the vision, leadership and resources necessary to preserve and enhance Kiawah Island's unique balance of nature and development. We are an independent, research driven non-political, not-for-profit organization. 0 0 3039485 5282 The organization currently maintains 79 properties and conservation easements totaling over 3,869 acres on and around Kiawah Island, South Carolina. The organization maintains these owned properties and easements for the expressed purpose of keeping land in their natural undeveloped state for perpetuity. The organization has stewardship responsibility for all conservation properties including the maintenance of established nature trails, a native plant demonstration garden, and demonstration rain gardens outfitted with educational signage.The Organization has been accredited by the land trust accreditation commission since February 16, 2017, with its accreditation renewed in 2023. This important distinction independently confirms that the organization continually operates according to the highest standards in land conservation and nonprofit management. In particular, it assures that the organization fulfills its responsibility to conserve its land and easements in perpetuity.The organization's habitat improvement plan has an objective to consistently foster the efforts of sea island property owners in implementing and maintaining optimum habitat to support the future of the area's native wildlife. The Organization, working in concert with other organizations on Kiawah, Seabrook, and Johns Islands, provides resources, landscaping tips, access of professionals and assessment forms to assist owners with this plan. 67711 The organization conducts numerous research studies to educate the residents of Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, and Johns Island, South Carolina, as well as to further its mission.Bird Banding and Understory PreservationThe Kiawah Island Banding Station (KIBS) is supported by the Kiawah Conservancy and operated by the Town of Kiawah Island. Annual banding and monitoring efforts include:Fall Migration MonitoringFall migration monitoring began in 2009 at the west end of Kiawah Island at the KIBS. In 2015, an additional station was created at the East End of Kiawah Island. Mist nets are operated by the Town Wildlife Biologist and seasonal interns supported by the Kiawah Conservancy. The nets are operated daily from mid-August through November. They are opened 30 minutes before sunrise and closed approximately six hours later. Groundwater Table StudyThis long-term study was initiated in 2019 to monitor groundwater conditions on Kiawah Island. A series of 24 groundwater monitoring wells were installed and will be monitored overtime, with data being compared alongside other non-invasive subsurface monitoring devices to create a map of the groundwater table and develop annual water budgets. The study is being conducted by the Kiawah Conservancy in collaboration with the Town of Kiawah Island, the College of Charleston, and the Kiawah Island Community Association. Marsh Vulnerability StudyProject which initiated efforts to monitor the tidal marsh wetlands surrounding Kiawah Island by mapping the historical changes of the vegetated shorelines, built structures, and various plant communities within the marsh. This project is coordinated by the Kiawah Conservancy in collaboration with the Town of Kiawah Island and the College of Charleston. The Kiawah Conservancy continues to monitor tidal marsh wetlands by building upon the data initially collected. This data is provided to municipal governments in the region at no cost to assist in marsh management planning. Resilience ProjectA project to investigate the use of nature-based solutions to benefit human and wildlife communities on Kiawah Island by engaging with stakeholders to identify potential practices and address barriers to coastal resilience. The project received federal funding from the Emergency Coastal Resilience Fund 2019 through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The Nature-Based Solutions Manual for Kiawah Island was produced through this project to illustrate the use of stormwater mitigation and marsh restoration practices. Ongoing monitoring and research efforts are conducted to identify and inform on prospective resilience projects. This includes the implementation of restoration and enhancement projects within the watershed area which provide public benefits. Ecological Health InitiativeAn effort to identify indicators for each habitat present on Kiawah Island to research and monitor to provide a comprehensive understanding of ecosystem health. The framework developed through this initiative serves to guide the Conservancy's research, monitoring, and restoration efforts. The Conservancy will release a report and provide a presentation to the community each year to provide an assessment of ecological health through comparisons to assessments in previous years. 49330 The production, publication, and distribution of education material, social media presence, and the ongoing maintenance of the organization's website; the purpose of which is to educate property owners, visitors, building contractors and architects, landscapers and landscape architects, and more, about the importance of preserving the natural environment of Kiawah, Seabrook, and Johns Islands.ROOTS, the Kiawah Conservancy's semi-annual magazine, is mailed to all supporters of the organization. This publication communicates key initiatives, upcoming educational events, conservation and preservation efforts, and other key elements in support of the organizations mission.Additionally, the Kiawah Conservancy produces a host of brochures, booklets, and other documents in support of its mission. 3156526 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 37 0 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 X 25 21 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 SC X X Amy Spivey 8438046089 701 East Bay Street Suite 410 Charleston SC 29403 Peggy Barnes Chair 4.00 X X 0 0 0 Kim Anuszkiewicz Vice Chair 2.00 X X 0 0 0 Tom Lindstrom Treasurer 2.00 X X 0 0 0 Doreen Chapman Assistant Treasurer 2.00 X X 0 0 0 Diana Mezzanotte Secretary 2.00 X X 0 0 0 Ty Cobb Legal Advisor 0.50 X 0 0 0 Roland Hoffman Immediate Past Chair 0.50 X 0 0 0 John Bretzke Trustee 0.50 X 0 0 0 Leigh Cobb Trustee 0.50 X 0 0 0 Anne Cotton Trustee 0.50 X 0 0 0 Paul Creamer Trustee 0.50 X 0 0 0 Arthur Glenn Trustee 0.50 X 0 0 0 Mark Griesbaum Trustee 0.50 X 0 0 0 Amy Wald-Guilkey Trustee 0.50 X 0 0 0 Karen Madoff Trustee 0.50 X 0 0 0 Bill Richardson Trustee 0.50 X 0 0 0 Mary Alice Roberts Trustee 0.50 X 0 0 0 Tobi Rozen Trustee 0.50 X 0 0 0 Michael Shalosky Trustee 0.50 X 0 0 0 John Shipee Trustee 0.50 X 0 0 0 Joe Sweeney Trustee 0.50 X 0 0 0 Chip Wendler Trustee 0.50 X 0 0 0 Ed Wile Trustee 0.50 X 0 0 0 Vickey Wile Trustee 0.50 X 0 0 0 Pam Wilson Trustee 0.50 X 0 0 0 Donna Windham Executive Director 40.00 X 138866 0 8225 138866 0 8225 1 0 0 0 0 908481 1302850 2128111 76944 4339442 4780 4780 90357 908481 143524 -53167 -53167 4291055 0 0 -48387 5282 5282 138866 41660 27773 69433 574884 487936 58933 28015 39460 28602 5011 5847 3493 1726 879 888 54202 40263 6416 7523 103339 100919 2420 25806 25806 130291 99137 28213 2941 12011 4360 835 6816 32064 16152 15012 900 101507 37967 420 63120 53777 35547 13671 4559 41411 40466 945 18375 12203 6172 Land Conservation 1968000 1968000 Donor cultivation and e 199035 149792 756 48487 Independent study progr 67711 67711 Miscellaneous 21206 18803 2403 3590720 3156526 194720 239474 1017804 1261181 205830 126266 82250 41200 57029 60378 580972 414128 124621 166844 4050641 3333641 5538175 4989510 33755 134755 1350000 1383755 134755 X 3304811 4645544 849609 209211 4154420 4854755 5538175 4989510 700335 0 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 979904 1484439 1449483 2126006 4339442 10379274 979904 1484439 1449483 2126006 4339442 10379274 537648 9841626 244 310 12 8956 4780 14302 64770 87963 72050 97706 90357 412846 10806422 0.91070 0.86950 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED X 18 3722.25 0 0 0 1 1 1151.00 52165 356683 9470 3396 10433 359116 298353 298353 80 596786 247750 50603 298353 167750 80000 247750 57750 110000 167750 0.51230 0.48770 0.00000 0 0 14178 2249 11929 515097 411879 103218 51697 51697 166844 Conserved Land and Easements 3333641 3333641 4467957 33378 33378 4434579 -143524 -143524 4291055 3767622 33378 143524 176902 3590720 0 3590720 Part II, Line 5: Each conservation easement and fee-simple property is visited at least once per calendar year. During annual site visits, monitoring is conducted by ground inspections and a monitoring form is completed that provides documentation regarding each property's overall condition. The documentation associated with each property (as outlined above), including prior years' monitoring forms, should be reviewed prior to each property's annual monitoring visit. Annual monitoring of conservation easements and fee lands is managed by the Land Preservation Specialist. The Land Preservation Specialist, or similar stewardship staff, is responsible for performing annual monitoring duties and completing monitoring forms. Monitors, including interns, should have a background in ecology or the biological sciences and familiarity with Kiawah Island's natural environment. Staff and interns tasked with completing monitoring visits are also made familiar with LTA Standards and Practices 11-12 and the Conservancy's portfolio of conservation easements and fee lands. Volunteers may accompany the Land Preservation Specialist or stewardship staff during site visits. Conservation easement monitoring utilizes each property's respective Conservation Easement Monitoring Form an information sheet(s) that is unique to each conservation easement property, tailored to reflect reserved rights and restrictions associated with each specific easement property, which also includes landowner contact information. The form is generated from a Conservancy template. A Fee-Simple Preserved Property Monitoring Form is used to document conditions at each of the Conservancy's fee-simple properties.Annual site visits allow the Land Preservation Specialist and stewardship team (which may include interns, volunteers and/or Trustees) to monitor the condition of the property and document any changes to the property, including potential violations of conservation easement terms or activities that may otherwise impair the important conservation values associated with the property. Any changes with legal documents (including property ownership) are also documented within each year's monitoring report. Annual monitoring also allows the Conservancy the ability to make certain that fee-simple lands are being kept and preserved in a natural state. During site visits to fee-simple properties, potential land management practices are identified (e.g., to improve wildlife habitat). Monitors are to inspect properties and document their observations. If the Land Preservation Specialist and stewardship team document potential violations on conservation easement properties or activities that may impair the natural habitat of fee-simple properties, the activity is documented in writing within the space provided on the monitoring report. Additionally, photographs and maps (or GPS location points) may be attached to provide further support of documented physical changes on conservation properties. In the event of a suspected violation of a conservation easement, staff will follow the Conservancy's Conservation Easement Violation Response Policy. Any extra supporting documentation, such as written correspondence with landowners or other information that is acquired with respect to a protected property shall also be added to the property's stewardship file, along with the completed monitoring report. To aid in its land stewardship responsibilities and make certain that adjacent property owners are aware of existing conservation easements and protected fee properties, the Conservancy provides letters (with maps) to establish awareness of conservation lands throughout the community. Upon completion of each year's annual site visits, all monitoring forms are returned to the Executive Director for review and signature. Additionally, stewardship forms are reviewed by the reservation and Stewardship Committee and the Land Preservation Specialist. The Land Preservation Specialist presents a comprehensive stewardship report to the full Board of Trustees at its annual meeting each year. Conservation Easement Violation Response Policy The Kiawah Conservancy must, as a holder of conservation easements, enforce the legal agreements for which it is responsible. In addition to protecting the conservation value of the subject property, enforcement is needed to generate public confidence in the Kiawah Conservancy's mission to conserve wildlife habitat, to uphold the Conservancy's legal authority to enforce its conservation easements, and to maintain the Conservancy's ability to accept future donations of conservation easements and its tax-exempt status. The Conservancy's failure to enforce its conservation easements could jeopardize its 501(c) (3) status if it were shown that the Conservancy relinquished its enforcement rights to benefit private individuals. The Conservancy's response to a violation should match the severity of the violation. Minor or technical infractions (i.e., failure to provide notice, litter, minor cutting of vegetation) may warrant a written acknowledgment of the violation from designated staff to the landowner. More egregious transgressions (i.e., construction, large scale clearing) require a swift and formal response. Part II, Line 9: It is the policy of the conservancy to record conservation property at cost, if purchased, or at fair market value, if donated or purchased at a price under the property's fair market value at the time of purchase. If the property is subsequently impaired, whether due to application of restrictive covenants on the deed or other reasons, the Conservancy determines the fair market value and records an impairment loss for the difference between the recorded value and the fair market value, generally at the same time of acquisition. The carrying value of property acquired or contributed and easements granted to the Conservancy generally reflect the market value after the application of restrictive covenants and/or easements at the time of acquisition. Due to their use as collateral, restrictive covenants have not been applied to the properties at 141 Red Cedar Lane, 25 Arrowhead Hall, 9 Airy Hall, and 133 Conifer Lane. The Conservancy has applied restrictive conservation covenants on the deeds of the majority of the conservation properties it owns. This results in an impairment to the fair market value of the property since future use and development rights change significantly after the recording of the restrictive covenants. In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the Conservancy records an impairment loss when the carrying amount of a longlived asset is not recoverable. For the year ended December 31, 2024 no impairment loss was recorded, beyond those recognized at time of acquisition. The fair value of the Conservancy's property is subject to risks connected to the fluctuation in the real estate market of the region. Part V, Line 4: To provide funds for the Conservancy's mission going forward. Part XI, Line 4b - Other Adjustments: Event expenses -143,524. Part XII, Line 2d - Other Adjustments: Event expenses 143,524. X X X X X X X SC Legacy Gala 998838 908481 90357 8157 114003 1250 20114 998838 908481 90357 8157 114003 1250 20114 143524 -53167 1 South Carolina Environmental Law Project 407 Church St Unit E Georgetown SC 29440 571031430 501c(3) 5282 0 General support 1 X 5 42459 Fair Market Value X 1 26000 Fair Market Value X Supplies 1 6560 Fair Market Value X Metal detector 1 1925 Fair Market Value 0 0 0 Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 2 Ty Cobb, Trustee and Leigh Cobb, Trustee are spouses. Vickey Wile, Trustee and Ed Wile, Trustee are spouses. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11b The copy of the form 990 is provided to the board of trustees for a review and comment period prior to filing the return. Once this comment period is over, and the audit committee chairman has reviewed with management, the form 990 is approved for issuance. The 990 is then filed with the IRS. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c Board members must disclose any conflict of interests on an annual basis.This information is reviewed annually by the board and during the interim prior to entering transaction negotiations for conservation property. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15 The process for determining compensation includes obtaining comparative data and having it approved by the board of trustees. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 The organization makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available upon written request.