2025-10-28T10:57:05-07:00 2024-12-31 Tor Daley CPA 969 Indianhead Rd Weiser ID 83672 990 2024-01-01 814740105 Alaska Whale Foundation ALAS 6504000250 PO Box 1927 Petersburg AK 998331927 Jim Nahmens Treasurer 6504000250 2025-03-28 true true Tor Daley CPA P00291081 9073015003 2025-10-23 X 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Andy Szabo PO Box 1927 Petersburg AK 99833 331469 false X https://www.alaskawhalefoundation.org/ X 2016 AK Alaska Whale Foundation is dedicated to marine mammal conservation through research monitoring and education. 7 7 2 14 0 0 211955 267889 31200 63580 0 0 243155 331469 0 0 92850 120862 0 20546 218843 169470 311693 290332 -68538 41137 478760 546571 26674 478760 519897 Alaska Whale Foundation is dedicated to marine mammal conservation through research monitoring and education. false false 92978 0 29714 Research: The Alaska Whale Foundation continues to conduct research under its Ocean Health Program. The research focuses on establishing causal links between changing ocean conditions, ocean health, and whale health and is conducted in collaboration with the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the University of Alaska Southeast. 92979 0 29714 Ecological Monitoring: The Alaska Whale Foundation continued its long-term monitoring program to track the health and abundance of Southeast Alaskas humpback whales and their underlying marine ecosystem. The whale component of this program was launched in 2016 in collaboration with NOAAs Auke Bay Laboratory Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve and the University of Alaska Southeast following the removal of the population from the Endangered Species List and subsequent observations suggesting declines in population health and abundance. Each year thereafter AWF has added additional monitoring efforts and expanded the program to include a large portion of northern Southeast Alaska every month from June through September. AWF is also part of the Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network. This team of trained responders is authorized to free marine mammals from entanglement and to gather critical information that may reduce the frequency and impact of future entanglements. 46489 0 0 Education: Alaska Whale Foundation provides active learning opportunities and mentorship for graduate students and undergraduate interns through focused training and involvement in both field work and data analyses. Three (3) graduate students and nine (9) interns joined the Alaska Whale Foundation field team in 2024. 232446 true true false 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 false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 1 0 2 true false false false false false false false false false false false X 7 7 false false true false false false false true true false false true true true true false false true false false X Andrew Szabo 6504000250 PO Box 1927 Petersburg AK 998331927 X Andy Szabo Executive Director 40.00 X 92083 0 0 Jim Nahmens President 6.00 X X 0 0 0 Lauren Eckert Vice President 6.00 X X 0 0 0 Lily Herwald Secretary 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Don Holmes Treasurer 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Fred Sharpe Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Grant Riewe Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Buffy Redsecker Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Madison Kosma Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Logan McConnell Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 92083 0 0 false false false 59427 208462 267889 Filming of Whale Documentary 512110 35980 0 0 Educational Interpretive Talks 561520 22600 0 0 Immersive Artistic Workshop 711510 5000 0 0 63580 331469 63580 0 0 92083 55250 27625 9208 19500 19500 0 0 9279 6212 2300 767 201 0 201 0 2604 0 0 2604 169 0 169 0 3245 1883 0 1362 36146 32529 -230 3847 6705 5345 0 1360 37459 37459 0 0 12756 11393 1363 0 Field Work 42885 42885 0 0 Vessel Expenses 10599 10599 0 0 Field Station 6037 6037 0 0 Board Meetings 1268 0 1268 0 9396 3354 4644 1398 290332 232446 37340 20546 26886 134793 1104 45 5929 681027 269249 444796 411778 478760 546571 26674 0 26674 X 478760 519897 478760 519897 478760 546571 41137 X false false false X 0 350390 124814 297328 243155 267889 1283576 0 0 350390 124814 297328 243155 267889 1283576 4328 1279248 0 0 0 1283576 234058 0.99660 1.00000 X 0 0 0 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 115000 115000 287965 57856 230109 278062 211393 66669 411778 Pt VI, Line 4 The bylaws were amended to create a Legacy Board and an advisory group composed of former board members who wish to remain engaged with the Alaska Whale Foundation and continue supporting its mission. Pt VI, Line 11b The organizations Form 990 is uploaded to a secure cloud-based storage platform accessible to all Directors. Directors are requested to review and provide feedback on the form prior to its submission. Before filing, the Finance Committee conducts a thorough review of the prepared Form 990. Any necessary corrections are made and all comments are addressed to ensure accuracy and completeness prior to final submission. Pt VI, Line 12c Alaska Whale Foundation periodically reviews its compliance with the Conflict of Interest Policy to ensure that compensation arrangements and benefits are reasonable. This review is based on compensation survey data and the results of arms-length negotiations. The organization also verifies that transactions conform to the policy, are properly documented, reflect fair market value for goods and services, further the Foundations charitable purposes, and do not result in inurement, impermissible private benefit, or excess benefit transactions. Annual Disclosure and Board Member Responsibilities Approximately 30 days prior to the fall semi-annual Board meeting, a Director sends an email to all Board members reminding them of their obligation to disclose any potential conflicts of interest. Any reported conflicts are addressed in accordance with the Foundations Conflict of Interest Policy. Definition of a Conflict of Interest A potential conflict of interest arises when a director, officer, key person, or their relative or business: May receive a financial benefit from an action taken by the Foundation or a transaction it enters into; or Has another interest that could impair, or appear to impair, their independence or objectivity in fulfilling their duties to the Foundation. Disclosure and Determination Procedures Any individual with an actual or potential conflict of interest must disclose all relevant facts as soon as they become aware of the situation, and always prior to any related action. Disclosure must be made in writing and signed, and submitted to the Board of Directors. Upon receiving a disclosure, the Board will gather relevant information and determine whether a conflict exists. The individual in question must not be present during deliberations or voting on the matter and must not attempt to influence the decision. In making its determination, the Board will consider whether the potential conflict could compromise the integrity of the transaction, result in misuse of the Foundations assets, or raise concerns of bias or impropriety. Related Party Transactions A conflict of interest is automatically deemed to exist in the case of a related party transactiondefined as any transaction, agreement, or arrangement in which a related party has a financial interest and the Foundation or its affiliate is a participant. The Foundation may only proceed with a related party transaction if: The director, officer, or key person has made a good faith disclosure of all material facts; The Board or an authorized committee determines the transaction is fair, reasonable, and in the Foundations best interest; If the related party has a substantial financial interest, the Board or committee must consider alternative transactions (if available), approve the transaction by majority vote of those present, and document the basis for approval, including consideration of alternatives. Failure to Disclose If the Board has reason to believe a member failed to disclose a conflict, it will inform the member of the concern and provide an opportunity to respond. After reviewing the response and conducting any necessary investigation, the Board will determine whether a failure to disclose occurred and take appropriate disciplinary or corrective action. Pt VI, Line 15a A three-board-member committee is selected to form an Executive Director Evaluation Committee. All members are independent of the Executive Director. A survey is sent to the Board of Directors to evaluate the Executive Directors performance. Survey results are reviewed by the Evaluation Committee. The Evaluation Committee meets and discusses the Executive Directors performance and recommendations for an Annual Plan for the following year. The Committee chair drafts an evaluation letter, and the draft is reviewed and approved by the committee. The evaluation letter is then sent to the Board of Directors for review. The chair of the Evaluation Committee meets with the Executive Director to present the evaluation. The Evaluation Committee then meets to review compensation, taking into consideration comparable compensation for similarly qualified persons in functionally comparable positions at similarly situated organizations. The committee makes a recommendation for compensation, which is then sent to the full board for approval. Pt VI, Line 18 Alaska Whale Foundation provides access to its Form 990 and financial statements upon request. Pt VI, Line 19 Governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements are available upon request from the Executive Director and President.