2025-08-06T13:25:15-05:00 2024-12-31 390974031 WEGNER CPAS LLP 2921 LANDMARK PL STE 300 MADISON WI 537134236 990 2024-01-01 391805090 GATHERING WATERS INC GATH 6082519131 211 SOUTH PATERSON STREET 270 MADISON WI 53703 MICHAEL CARLSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 6082519131 2025-08-05 1 1 BRUCE MAYER CPA P00187180 6082744020 2025-08-04 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z MICHAEL CARLSON 211 SOUTH PATERSON STREET 270 MADISON WI 53703 1437890 0 X GATHERINGWATERS.ORG X 1994 WI TO HELP LAND TRUSTS, LANDOWNERS, AND COMMUNITIES PROTECT THE PLACES THAT MAKE WISCONSIN SPECIAL. 12 12 12 30 0 0 1154930 1236443 11965 0 32195 56450 0 0 1199090 1292893 0 0 0 0 748987 898551 1400 0 187683 364112 344003 1114499 1242554 84591 50339 1713420 1744136 260341 233941 1453079 1510195 X GATHERING WATERS (WISCONSIN'S ALLIANCE FOR LAND TRUSTS) STRENGTHENS LAND TRUSTS TO PROTECT WISCONSIN'S SPECIAL PLACES AND GROW HEALTHY, VIBRANT COMMUNITIES. THE STRONGER THE ALLIANCE BETWEEN GATHERING WATERS' STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS, LAND TRUST LEADERS, AND THE BROADER CONSERVATION COMMUNITY, THE MORE SUCCESSFUL WE ARE IN PROTECTING THE LANDS THAT PROVIDE SO MUCH VALUE TO ALL OF US. 0 0 328386 0 0 POLICY AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS: WORK WITH DECISION MAKERS AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE STATE, LOCAL, AND FEDERAL POLICIES THAT SUPPORT THE WORK OF LAND TRUSTS AND THE CONSERVATION OF PRIVATE LAND. SPECIFICALLY, GATHERING WATERS ADVOCATES FOR CONTINUATION OF FUNDING FOR THE KNOWLES NELSON STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM, A PROGRAM OF PUBLIC FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE PRESERVATION OF LAND IN WISCONSIN. IN 2024, GATHERING WATERS CONTINUED ITS EFFORTS TO CONNECT ELECTED OFFICIALS WITH THEIR LOCAL CONSTITUENTS AND WORKED WITH LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR TO IMPROVE HOW THE KNOWLES-NELSON STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM FUNCTIONS AND IS ADMINISTERED AND ADVOCATED AGAINST LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE WEAKENED PROTECTIONS FOR PROTECTED LAND IN WISCONSIN. ALSO IN 2024, GATHERING WATERS ADVOCATED FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE 70,000-ACRE PELICAN RIVER FOREST, THE LARGEST CONSERVATION PROJECT IN MODERN WISCONSIN HISTORY. 320330 0 0 EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC, PROFESSIONALS, AND LANDOWNERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PRIVATE LAND CONSERVATION AND VOLUNTARY TOOLS AVAILABLE TO SET ASIDE PRIVATE LAND FOR CONSERVATION. GATHERING WATERS MAINTAINS AN INTERACTIVE WEBSITE AND PUBLISHES PAPER AND ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. DURING 2024, GATHERING WATERS BEGAN PREPARING FOR ITS BIANNUAL STATEWIDE CONFERENCE FOR LAND TRUSTS AND OTHER CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS TO BE HELD IN MARCH 2025, WITH EXPECTED ATTENDANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 115 PARTICIPANTS; HELD "LAND TRUST DAYS", TO PROMOTE OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEARLY 2,000 PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES ORGANIZED BY WISCONSIN'S LAND TRUSTS ON LAND THAT THEY HAVE PROTECTED; AND HELD VARIOUS AWARD EVENTS HONORING SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY LEADERS IN LAND CONSERVATION. 236612 0 0 TECHNICAL TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE: INCREASED THE CAPACITY OF MORE THAN FORTY WISCONSIN LAND TRUSTS AND CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIP AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, PEER LEARNING, AND WORKSHOPS. GATHERING WATERS WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE LAND TRUST ALLIANCE, A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LAND TRUSTS, TO OFFER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO WISCONSIN LAND TRUSTS. DURING 2024, GATHERING WATERS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES DIRECTLY TO WISCONSIN LAND TRUSTS THROUGH THE LAND CONSERVATION LAW PROGRAM. 29290 0 0 PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT: PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE OF LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION IN WISCONSIN, THROUGH CONSULTATION WITH LAND TRUSTS AND OTHER CONSERVATION LEADERS AND STRATEGIC PLANNING ACTIVITIES. 29290 0 0 914618 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 10 0 12 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 12 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 IL MN WI X MICHAEL CARLSON 6082519131 211 S PATERSON ST SUITE 270 MADISON WI 53703 CAROL ABRAHAMZON CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 BECKY STEINHOFF VICE-CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 JEFF OTTUM SECRETARY 1.00 X X 0 0 0 CAROL FISHER TREASURER 1.00 X X 0 0 0 STEPHANIE VRABEC DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MICHAEL KOUTNIK DIRECTOR (THRU JULY) 1.00 X 15094 0 0 KEVIN THUSIUS DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 VANESSA WISHART DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MATT REETZ IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 MARJIE TOMTER DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 NICOLE VAN HELDEN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 KIERAN COE DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 KIM PEMBLE DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MICHAEL CARLSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00 X 102436 0 23933 117530 0 23933 1 0 0 0 0 10792 1225651 18429 1236443 56447 56447 145000 144997 3 3 3 1292893 0 0 56450 141464 104131 13486 23847 594455 446246 77772 70437 30879 22931 3909 4039 80206 59561 10154 10491 51547 38279 6526 6742 50339 50339 12380 12380 4000 4000 41702 37256 3446 1000 13747 8420 1236 4091 675 522 153 44779 33366 6032 5381 10236 7065 3171 38148 28692 1091 8365 7129 5294 903 932 PUBLICATIONS AND COMMUN 84375 37746 795 45834 DUES, FEES, AND SUBSCRI 26613 22878 1392 2343 9880 7892 978 1010 1242554 914618 140253 187683 40052 24912 289329 167155 377078 302084 14713 23312 673825 715641 106668 331964 211755 179068 1713420 1744136 40820 42736 0 2741 219521 188464 260341 233941 X 864029 964145 589050 546050 1453079 1510195 1713420 1744136 50339 6777 0 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 873897 766836 1146187 1154930 1236443 5178293 873897 766836 1146187 1154930 1236443 5178293 1852716 3325577 5345 3597 2648 32195 56447 100232 5278525 34663 0.63000 0.64940 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 14500 14500 1228054 1242554 199255 49814 0 0 144641 164428 186450 199255 694774 1042161 21000 5000 31100 14500 71600 36160 41107 46613 49814 173694 260541 4000 4000 X X X X 1 210.00 0 0 0 1 1 10.00 500 1 10750 10750 10750 10750 10750 10750 10750 339 339 10750 10750 723 723 10750 0.00000 1.00000 0.00000 0 0 0 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 331964 F 331964 OPERATING LEASE RIGHT-OF-USE ASSET 179068 179068 OPERATING LEASE LIABILITY 188464 188464 1339670 6777 40000 46777 1292893 0 1292893 1282554 40000 40000 1242554 0 1242554 PART II, LINE 5: GATHERING WATERS' POLICY IS TO MONITOR EASEMENTS ANNUALLY, DOCUMENT THE RESULTS OF ANNUAL MONITORING, AND COMMUNICATE THE RESULTS OF ANNUAL MONITORING TO THE LANDOWNER. VIOLATIONS OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ARE RESOLVED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. PART II, LINE 9: GATHERING WATERS RECORDS THE PURCHASE OF EASEMENTS AS AN EXPENSE IN THE YEAR OF PURCHASE. NO ASSET OR LIABILITY IS RECOGNIZED IN CONNECTION WITH EASEMENT PURCHASES. DONATED EASEMENTS ARE NOT ASSIGNED A VALUE IN THE ACCOUNTING RECORDS. PART V, LINE 4: GATHERING WATERS' ENDOWMENT IS A DONOR RESTRICTED ENDOWMENT FUND ESTABLISHED TO FUND INTERNSHIPS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF GATHERING WATERS, WHICH INCLUDES MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, REVIEWS THE FORM 990 PRIOR TO FILING. IN ADDITION, GATHERING WATERS MAKES THE FORM AVAILABLE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT PRIOR TO FILING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REVIEWS CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENTS COMPLETED ANNUALLY BY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND COMMUNICATES TO APPLICABLE BOARD AND STAFF MEMBERS ANY POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ARE EXPECTED TO EXCUSE THEMSELVES FROM PARTICIPATING IN DELIBERATION AND DECISION MAKING ABOUT MATTERS INVOLVING THE CONFLICT. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AUTHORIZES THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S COMPENSATION ANNUALLY, BASED IN PART ON INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM INFORMALLY SURVEYING COMPENSATION PAID BY COMPARABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND ANY OTHER AVAILABLE SURVEYS. MOST RECENTLY, THE COMMITTEE CONSULTED THE 2023 DANE COUNTY NON-PROFIT TOTAL REWARDS SURVEY AND THE LAND TRUST ALLIANCE SALARY 2022 SURVEY. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 GATHERING WATERS' AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FORM 990 ARE AVAILABLE ON THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE; ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY ARE AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST.