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2016 Annual Report Describing Man’S Glory Most the Extraordinary Success of Their Efforts in the Past Year

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2016 Annual Report Describing Man’S Glory Most the Extraordinary Success of Their Efforts in the Past Year Friends of Saguaro National Park Annual 2016 Report “I see great days ahead, great days possible to men and women of will and vision.” From “America” by Carl Sandburg Pete Gregoire Friends of Saguaro thanks all the members of our Board of Directors and our Advisory Board for their service during the past year. Board of Directors Advisory Board Dave Archer Erik Bakken Karen Fogas IBM and Dell (Retired) Tucson Electric Power Tucson Audubon Society Marsha Badanes Lahsha Brown Bella Furr Attorney (Retired) Native Seeds / SEARCH National Park Service Kevin Bonine, Ph.D. Curt Buchholtz Jack Gibson University of Arizona National Park Foundation Arizona Public Media Shannon Breslin Peter Chesson Barbara Hawke Tucson Electric Power Tucson Mountains Association Arizona Wilderness Coalition Debra Colodner, Ph.D. Chuck Conrad Chris Helms Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Founding FOSNP Board Member Former FOSNP Board Member Kevin Dahl Jim Cook Matt Nelson National Parks Conservation Association Western National Parks Association Arizona Trail Association Dave Hamra, CFP (Treasurer) Melanie Culver Rob Spath Gordian Advisors University of Arizona Arizona Conservation Corps Lisa Harris, Ph.D. (President) Morgan Darnold Russell True Harris Environmental Group BBVA Compass Bank White Stallion Ranch Libby Howell (Vice President) Dottie Davis Virginia Van Der Veer Pima Community College Founding FOSNP Board Member Tanque Verde Ranch Graeme Hughes Kirk Emerson Meg Weesner Visit Tucson Friends of Redington Pass National Park Service (Retired) Dan Kimball National Park Service (Retired) David Rabb IT & Software Development Joe Theobald, Ph.D. (Secretary) Raytheon Missile Systems (Retired) Don Wilson Raytheon Missile Systems Ex-Officio Darla Sidles (Superintendent) Saguaro National Park Leah McGinnis (Interim Superintendent) Saguaro National Park Andy Fisher (NPS/FOSNP Liaison) Saguaro National Park Robert Newtson (Executive Director) Friends of Saguaro National Park From the Executive Director Bob Newtson Executive Director Dear Friends: Celebrating the NPS Centennial in 2016, we were reminded of the Native American proverb that says, “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” The American visionaries who created the National Park Service a century ago understood that wisdom – and the dedicated men and women of the NPS are still guided by it today. Those of us in the nonprofit community are privileged to be able to help the National Park Service in its work. Today, there are more than 200 park partner nonprofits – ranging from large national organizations like NPCA and the National Park Foundation, to community-based partners like Friends of Saguaro, working to raise money and recruit volunteers for individual park units. Since our creation 20 years ago, Friends of Saguaro has raised over $4.5 million to help support Saguaro National Park . and each year, hundreds of community volunteers devote thousands of hours of service. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Friends of Saguaro provided Saguaro National Park with a record-breaking level of project support in 2016 – more Pete Gregoire than $484,000 to support the innovative Next Generation Ranger Corps, improve recreational trails, assist with buffelgrass control, fund ongoing resource conservation projects, and extend multi-faceted environmental education programs to more than 15,000 youth throughout the community. And, also in 2016, a record number of 1,260 volunteers donated 38,146 hours of service to the Park – time and talent valued by Independent Sector at $898,720. Limited federal budgets have meant that federal appropriations alone are not enough to sustain America’s national parks – community and private sector support for specific parks, and their programs, has become absolutely critical. Nonprofit park partners like Friends of Saguaro help bridge a portion of this funding gap, and provide vital financial support for essential programs. “Think where We’re grateful for the generous engagement and support of our donors and volunteers, and it is my pleasure to transmit this 2016 Annual Report describing man’s glory most the extraordinary success of their efforts in the past year. begins and ends Sincerely, and say my glory was I had such Robert Newtson friends.” Executive Director William Butler Yeats Purpose of Saguaro National Park Saguaro National Park was created to preserve and protect saguaro cacti; diverse biotic communities (including the Sonoran Desert, associated mountain ecosystems, and Rincon Creek); cultural and archeological features; and scientific, scenic, and wilderness values. The Park provides opportunities for research, education, and public enjoyment, and strives to protect its resources from the effects of the encroachment from urbanization and development. Friends of Saguaro Mission Friends of Saguaro National Park is a nonprofit fundraising partner of the National Park Service, created to help protect wildlife and habitat, preserve cultural resources, promote environmental education, improve recreational trails, enhance visitor experiences, and build environmental stewardship at Saguaro National Park. Our purpose is to help the public Discover Saguaro – by reconnecting youth to nature, and encouraging the exploration and discovery of the resources, heritage and recreational opportunities of the Park…Protect Saguaro – by assisting the preservation and conservation of the natural and cultural resources of the Park, and sustaining its wilderness character…and Support Saguaro – by “The national parks are expressions of strengthening community partnerships, and who we are as a society, and what we building environmental stewardship through deem important.” philanthropy, public education, and volunteerism. Former NPS Director Jon Jarvis “As long as you’re on the side of parks, you’re on the side of angels.” Robert Moses FOSNP Fiscal Management Our metrics of success, as an organization, have always been direct and straightforward: donors engaged…money raised…partnerships sustained…and volunteers involved. By any (and every) measure, 2016 was the most successful year in the 20-year history of Friends of Saguaro National Park. We increased our individual donor base by 8.2% over 2015; we raised more than $786,000 during the year, and provided over $484,000 in project- specific grants to the park; we strengthened our collaborative partnerships; and working with the NPS to support volunteer involvement, we more than doubled the number of Saguaro volunteers in 2016 (resulting in 38,146 hours of service). We balanced our operating budget, and maintained a prudent operating reserve – and we continued to devote at least 85% of our total expenditures to programs, rather than fundraising or overhead costs. For the seventh year in a row, we were recognized by GreatNonprofits (a national group that develops tools to help people rate charities) by being named a “Top-Rated Nonprofit” – and fewer than 1% of all nonprofits nationwide have been able to achieve that distinction. We continued to ensure transparency, and accountability to our stakeholders, by posting our complete audited financials and IRS Form 990 on our website (www.friendsofsaguaro.org). We maintained our coveted “Gold Participation” recognition from GuideStar Exchange – a leading symbol awarded by GuideStar USA, the nation’s premier source of nonprofit information. “We do not inherit And, we sustained collaborative partnerships the earth from in 2016. We continued as one of only 3,500 worldwide nonprofit partners of 1% for the our ancestors, Planet – a network of environmentally-conscious we borrow it member businesses that donate at least 1% of their sales to help create a healthier planet – and from our children.” we continued as one of over 1,750 nonprofit participants in the Giving Library. Native American Wisdom 2016 Financial Summary REVENUES FY 2016 FY 2015 Unrestricted Gifts / Donations $280,372 $ 181,543 Restricted Gifts / Grants $505,946 $ 258,931 TOTAL REVENUES $786,318 $ 440,474 EXPENSES FY 2016 FY 2015 Payroll $ 60,288 $ 60,288 Payroll Taxes $ 5,236 $ 5,346 Expenses for Annual Dinner $ 39,065 $ 35,342 Printing $ 6,591 $ 6,531 Office Rent $ 3,000 $ 3,000 Accounting/Professional Services $ 5,320 $ 4,743 Newsletter $ 6,800 $ 7,108 Phone/Computer/Internet $ 3,156 $ 3,075 Liability Insurance/D&O Policy $ 2,072 $ 1,562 Office Equipment & Supplies $ 2,569 $ 3,448 Postage $ 2,660 $ 3,274 Board & Staff Expenses $ 2,008 $ 2,151 Events $ 5,696 $ 1,511 Property Taxes / Depreciation $ 8 $ 24 Bank / Credit Card Fees $ 3,958 $ 2,078 Awards / Gifts $ 672 $ 218 Dues/Memberships/Donations $ 1,068 $ 1,861 FOSNP Capacity-Building Expenses $ 0 $ 8,693 Operations Expense Subtotal $150,204 $ 150,253 Program Grants to the Park $484,363 $ 270,609 TOTAL EXPENSES $634,567 $ 420,862 2016 Direct Program Grants to the Park included $406,057 for Saguaro’s Next Generation Ranger Corps; $32,213 for Environmental Education programs (including Teacher/Rangers, school transportation reimbursements, Youth Hiking Clubs, Jr. Rangers – including Jr. Rangers at Banner Diamond Children’s Hospital – and the NPS Youth Summit); $11,422 for recreational trail improvement project support; $9,534 for scientific research support (including the Centennial BioBlitz, a springs study, and bat gates in the TMD); $9,341 for NPS Centennial Engagement projects and events; $6,000 for a “Wilderness Forever” project with the Arizona College Prep Academy; $5,329 for volunteer coordination and support; and $3,750 for improvements
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