2025-08-15T18:48:21-04:00 2024-09-30 320394930 STROEMER & COMPANY 14030 METROPOLIS AVE STE 200 FORT MYERS FL 33912 990 2023-10-01 592240895 DING DARLING WILDLIFE SOCIETY INC DING 2394721100 1 WILDLIFE DRIVE SANIBEL FL 33957 ANN MARIE E WILDMAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 2394701100 2025-08-15 true false MARC WHITFIELD CPA P00125986 2394331002 2025-08-15 2023 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z DING DARLING WILDLIFE SOCIETY LAND ANN MARIE E WILDMAN 1 WILDLIFE DR SANIBEL FL 33957 5599056 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. 12 12 11 67 0 4960797 4343056 0 426150 638847 226703 120695 5613650 5102598 60302 63200 0 614200 655406 0 213949 1193972 1710417 1868474 2429023 3745176 2673575 22809826 27398829 109739 107127 22700087 27291702 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 1655882 63200 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 2023-2024. 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: LAND ACQUISITION & RESTORATION UPDATE - THE DDWS OFFICES TEMPORARILY REMAINED AT THE BOONE PROPERTY THAT WAS ACQUIRED ON JANUARY 21, 2022, WHILE THE REBUILDING OF PERMANENT OFFICES AT THE REFUGE IS IN PROGRESS. - THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, FUTURE PLANS FOR THE BOONE PROPERTY WERE DISCUSSED AND DESIGNED WITH ARCHITECTS TO PREPARE FOR WHEN THE TIME TO BREAK GROUND COMES. - ON JUNE 25, 2024, THE "DING" DARLING WILDLIFE SOCIETY PROUDLY ANNOUNCED THEIR CLOSING ON A 21.5-ACRE ACQUISITION OF LAND ADJACENT TO BAY DRIVE THANKS TO A GENEROUS DONATION FROM THE PINE ROCK FOUNDATION OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. - TWO CONSERVATION PLOTS BOOKEND THE BAY DRIVE PROPERTY, WHICH WILL COMPLETE A CRITICAL WILDLIFE CORRIDOR THROUGH MOSTLY UNDEVELOPED LAND PLANTED WITH MANGROVES AND OTHER NATIVE VEGETATION AND FREQUENTED BY A MYRIAD OF WILDLIFE. WILDLIFE & RESEARCH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE DDWS SUPPORTED VARIOUS CRITICAL PROJECTS TO BENEFIT WILDLIFE AND RESEARCH AT THE REFUGE. - WILDLIFE: USFWS BIOLOGICAL TECHNICIAN AVERY RENSHAW CONTINUES TO MONITOR PERSISTING POPULATIONS OF BOBCATS, GOPHER TORTOISES, NESTING BIRDS, AND OTHER SPECIES IN THE REFUGE. IN THE 2023-24 FISCAL YEAR, DDWS CONTINUED SUPPORTING THE SALARY FOR THE ROLE CURRENTLY HELD BY AVERY RENSHAW, THUS FURTHERING THIS IMPORTANT WORK. - WATER QUALITY RESEARCH: THROUGH PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT, THE SOCIETY PURCHASED WATER QUALITY MONITORING EQUIPMENT WHICH ALLOWS THE REFUGE TO CONTINUE TO DOCUMENT CHANGES IN OUR WATERS. 45/82 LEGACY SOCIETY - ESTATE PLANNING IS A THOUGHTFUL WAY TO ENSURE THAT YOUR PHILANTHROPIC VALUES ENDURE BEYOND YOUR LIFETIME. THE 45/82 LEGACY SOCIETY WAS ESTABLISHED TO ASSIST THOSE INTERESTED IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE BEYOND THEIR LIFETIME. - THE 45/82 LEGACY SOCIETY IS MADE UP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO DESIGNATE THE "DING" DARLING WILDLIFE SOCIETY AS A BENEFICIARY IN THEIR ESTATE PLANS. THIS PAST YEAR, THE 45/82 SOCIETY GAINED SEVERAL NEW MEMBERS AND WE THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR VISION OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR "DING" DARLING AND CONSERVATION. - TWO MEMBERS OF THE 45/82 LEGACY SOCIETY INCLUDE JIM & PATTY SPRANKLE, LONG-TIME SUPPORTERS AND VOLUNTEERS OF "DING" DARLING. THEY GENEROUSLY INCLUDED "DING" DARLING IN THEIR ESTATE PLANNING SO THAT THE REFUGE THEY LOVE SO MUCH WOULD CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THEIR SUPPORT. WOODRING HOMESTEAD - THE 6.57-ACRE WOODRING HOMESTEAD, LOCATED ON WOODRING POINT WHERE RALPH AND JEAN CURRENTLY LIVE, HAS BEEN A FAMILY HOME FOR THE WOODRINGS SINCE 1888. THE CURRENT RESIDENCE, WHICH DATES BACK TO 1916, REPRESENTS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE "FLORIDA CRACKER" STYLE OF ARCHITECTURE- ONE OF THE LAST OF ITS KIND ON THE ISLAND. IN AN AGREEMENT THAT TOOK PLACE 10 YEARS AGO, DDWS WORKED WITH LEE COUNTY 20/20, THE REFUGE AND THE WOODRINGS TO PRESERVE THE HOMESTEAD AND SURROUNDING LAND AS PART OF THE REFUGE COMPLEX. EDUCATION & OUTREACH - THE DDWS AND THE LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT WORKED EFFECTIVELY TOGETHER DURING THE 2023-24 FISCAL YEAR IN BRINGING SCHOOL KIDS BY BUS TO THE REFUGE FOR ONSITE FIELD TRIPS. - THESE FIELD TRIPS WERE INVALUABLE TO INSTILL THE LOVE OF NATURE AND PASSION FOR PROTECTING OUR WILD SPACES WITH OUR YOUNG GENERATION. THIS PARTNERSHIP TRULY SHOWS THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION. - OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE 4,000 STUDENTS VISIT THE REFUGE EACH YEAR. THE REFUGE SAW APPROXIMATELY 4,300 STUDENTS IN THE 2023-24 FISCAL YEAR. THE ON-SITE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP WITH LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT PRIORITIZES TITLE 1 SCHOOLS WITH A GOAL OF FOUR FIELD TRIPS FROM LEE CO SCHOOLS EACH WEEK. AN ADDITIONAL 10,000 STUDENTS WERE TAUGHT THROUGH OUR WOW (WILDLIFE ON WHEELS) PROGRAM. URBAN INITIATIVE - DDWS CONTINUED WORKING WITHIN OUR OFF-ISLAND COMMUNITIES TO BRING THE REFUGE AND CONSERVATION MESSAGING TO SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES UNABLE TO GET TO THE ISLAND AND REFUGE EASILY. - THROUGH THE WILDLIFE ON WHEELS (WOW), WE EXPANDED OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS THANKS TO OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS SCHOOL DISTRICT. WHEN NOT SPENDING A WEEK OR MORE AT THE VARIOUS SCHOOLS, WOW VISITED LOCAL CHURCHES, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND THE REFUGE FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH. - DDWS SUPPORTED THE REFUGE'S "DING" DARLING DAY CONSERVATION CARNIVAL AT LAKES PARK IN APRIL 2024. THE CELEBRATION FURTHERED THE REFUGE'S MISSION TO REACH AND CONNECT WITH UNDERSERVED URBAN COMMUNITIES WHILE CELEBRATING EARTH DAY. 1655882 true true false false false false false true false true true false false false false true true false false false false false false false true false false true true false false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false true 64 0 11 true false false false false false true true false false false false false false false false X 12 12 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true true false X X X JOY ROBERTSON 2394721100 1 WILDLIFE DRIVE SANIBEL FL 33957 ANN MARIE E WILDMAN EXECUTIVE DI 40.00 X 98269 0 13960 SARAH ASHTON PAST PRESIDE 1.00 X 0 0 0 JIM BIRMINGHAM BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 BARBARA BLUEDORN SECRETARY 1.00 X X 0 0 0 MARVELL BRADLEY BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 ROBIN COOK BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 NANCY FELKER BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 PHYLLIS GRESHAM BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 WILLIAM HARKEY PRESIDENT 1.00 X X 0 0 0 MARK HEIMAN SECRETARY 1.00 X 0 0 0 DAVID JEFFREY BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 WENDY KINDIG PAST PRES 1.00 X 0 0 0 RICHARD LEVINSON BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 BILL MILLAR VICE PRESIDE 1.00 X X 0 0 0 STUART SERGEANT BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 BILL VALERIAN TREASURER 1.00 X X 0 0 0 98269 13960 false false false BENCHMARK GENERAL CONTRACTORS 16836 MCGREGOR BLVD FORT MYERS FL 33908 PAVILION CONSTR 385826 TECHOPS SPECIALTY VEHICLES LLC 218 A LOG CANOE CIRCLE STEVENSVILLE MD 21666 ROVING RANGER 104878 2 444699 3898357 248288 4343056 632564 632564 3812 12670 -8858 -8858 -8858 6283 6283 6283 6283 18975 444699 157745 -138770 -103961 593092 326043 267049 267049 OTHER INCOME 1274 1274 1274 5102598 -7584 801935 X 30000 30000 33200 33200 145000 81846 34532 28622 381951 215594 90963 75394 19799 11176 4715 3908 66003 37256 15719 13028 42653 24076 10158 8419 68110 68110 107054 87443 16653 2958 107730 107730 13834 13834 3315 3315 7721 1429 5792 500 4489 4489 112493 8700 103793 20811 20811 REFUGE RESTORATION 399843 399843 WOW EXPENSES 140876 140876 OTHER PROGRAM SUPPORT 116316 116316 ROVING RANGER 108913 108913 498912 359214 58578 81120 2429023 1655882 559192 213949 612075 308849 300000 71604 390122 249461 37902 41970 7356576 269871 4905469 7086705 15626474 19471609 937784 168631 22809826 27398829 104349 101923 5390 5204 109739 107127 X 17664128 19583952 5035959 7707750 22700087 27291702 22809826 27398829 X 2673575 2231530 -313490 X false true X true false X 2155932 4499892 4903836 4960797 2618056 19138513 2155932 4499892 4903836 4960797 2618056 19138513 3329196 15809317 159555 215502 246718 439735 632564 1694074 773061 810776 1211975 274152 593092 3663056 24495643 203605 0.64540 0.77090 X SUPPORTING SCHEDULE 1,725,000 PART II, LINE 10 GROSS SALES OF INVENTORY 3,069,964 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 346779 X false 2038071 218148 770155 5176 1480888 1669197 134561 240822 6509 2038071 1171985 767022 -254714 9000 6096 1669197 905909 98835 171451 4210 1171985 546866 287329 74896 3182 905909 0.24410 0.75590 true false 2309500 2309500 3480146 141402 3338744 282709 282709 13089 13089 1271132 128469 1142663 7086705 X 7413935 2231530 79807 2311337 5102598 5102598 2508830 79807 79807 2429023 2429023 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 67,137 RENTAL EXPENSES 12,670 SCHEDULE D, PAGE 4, PART XII, LINE 2D FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 67,137 RENTAL EXPENSES 12,670 CAPITALIZED CONSTRUCTION COST 0 GO WILD 237975 222970 15005 12525 9290 24344 TARPON TOURNAME 165846 161876 3970 62400 50 14327 1 58150 58150 7199 7797 19813 461971 442996 18975 62400 19774 17087 58484 157745 -138770 false NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE 1001 CONNECTICUT AVE NW 905 WASHINGTON DC 20036 501(C) 30000 SCHOLARSHIPS 15 33200 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. X 4 184738 FMV X 2 14075 FMV X 1 49475 FMV false true false 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 2023-2024. 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: LAND ACQUISITION & RESTORATION UPDATE - THE DDWS OFFICES TEMPORARILY REMAINED AT THE BOONE PROPERTY THAT WAS ACQUIRED ON JANUARY 21, 2022, WHILE THE REBUILDING OF PERMANENT OFFICES AT THE REFUGE IS IN PROGRESS. - THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, FUTURE PLANS FOR THE BOONE PROPERTY WERE DISCUSSED AND DESIGNED WITH ARCHITECTS TO PREPARE FOR WHEN THE TIME TO BREAK GROUND COMES. - ON JUNE 25, 2024, THE "DING" DARLING WILDLIFE SOCIETY PROUDLY ANNOUNCED THEIR CLOSING ON A 21.5-ACRE ACQUISITION OF LAND ADJACENT TO BAY DRIVE THANKS TO A GENEROUS DONATION FROM THE PINE ROCK FOUNDATION OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. - TWO CONSERVATION PLOTS BOOKEND THE BAY DRIVE PROPERTY, WHICH WILL COMPLETE A CRITICAL WILDLIFE CORRIDOR THROUGH MOSTLY UNDEVELOPED LAND PLANTED WITH MANGROVES AND OTHER NATIVE VEGETATION AND FREQUENTED BY A MYRIAD OF WILDLIFE. WILDLIFE & RESEARCH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE DDWS SUPPORTED VARIOUS CRITICAL PROJECTS TO BENEFIT WILDLIFE AND RESEARCH AT THE REFUGE. - WILDLIFE: USFWS BIOLOGICAL TECHNICIAN AVERY RENSHAW CONTINUES TO MONITOR PERSISTING POPULATIONS OF BOBCATS, GOPHER TORTOISES, NESTING BIRDS, AND OTHER SPECIES IN THE REFUGE. IN THE 2023-24 FISCAL YEAR, DDWS CONTINUED SUPPORTING THE SALARY FOR THE ROLE CURRENTLY HELD BY AVERY RENSHAW, THUS FURTHERING THIS IMPORTANT WORK. - WATER QUALITY RESEARCH: THROUGH PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT, THE SOCIETY PURCHASED WATER QUALITY MONITORING EQUIPMENT WHICH ALLOWS THE REFUGE TO CONTINUE TO DOCUMENT CHANGES IN OUR WATERS. 45/82 LEGACY SOCIETY - ESTATE PLANNING IS A THOUGHTFUL WAY TO ENSURE THAT YOUR PHILANTHROPIC VALUES ENDURE BEYOND YOUR LIFETIME. THE 45/82 LEGACY SOCIETY WAS ESTABLISHED TO ASSIST THOSE INTERESTED IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE BEYOND THEIR LIFETIME. - THE 45/82 LEGACY SOCIETY IS MADE UP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO DESIGNATE THE "DING" DARLING WILDLIFE SOCIETY AS A BENEFICIARY IN THEIR ESTATE PLANS. THIS PAST YEAR, THE 45/82 SOCIETY GAINED SEVERAL NEW MEMBERS AND WE THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR VISION OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR "DING" DARLING AND CONSERVATION. - TWO MEMBERS OF THE 45/82 LEGACY SOCIETY INCLUDE JIM & PATTY SPRANKLE, LONG-TIME SUPPORTERS AND VOLUNTEERS OF "DING" DARLING. THEY GENEROUSLY INCLUDED "DING" DARLING IN THEIR ESTATE PLANNING SO THAT THE REFUGE THEY LOVE SO MUCH WOULD CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THEIR SUPPORT. WOODRING HOMESTEAD - THE 6.57-ACRE WOODRING HOMESTEAD, LOCATED ON WOODRING POINT WHERE RALPH AND JEAN CURRENTLY LIVE, HAS BEEN A FAMILY HOME FOR THE WOODRINGS SINCE 1888. THE CURRENT RESIDENCE, WHICH DATES BACK TO 1916, REPRESENTS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE "FLORIDA CRACKER" STYLE OF ARCHITECTURE- ONE OF THE LAST OF ITS KIND ON THE ISLAND. IN AN AGREEMENT THAT TOOK PLACE 10 YEARS AGO, DDWS WORKED WITH LEE COUNTY 20/20, THE REFUGE AND THE WOODRINGS TO PRESERVE THE HOMESTEAD AND SURROUNDING LAND AS PART OF THE REFUGE COMPLEX. EDUCATION & OUTREACH - THE DDWS AND THE LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT WORKED EFFECTIVELY TOGETHER DURING THE 2023-24 FISCAL YEAR IN BRINGING SCHOOL KIDS BY BUS TO THE REFUGE FOR ONSITE FIELD TRIPS. - THESE FIELD TRIPS WERE INVALUABLE TO INSTILL THE LOVE OF NATURE AND PASSION FOR PROTECTING OUR WILD SPACES WITH OUR YOUNG GENERATION. THIS PARTNERSHIP TRULY SHOWS THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION. - OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE 4,000 STUDENTS VISIT THE REFUGE EACH YEAR. THE REFUGE SAW APPROXIMATELY 4,300 STUDENTS IN THE 2023-24 FISCAL YEAR. THE ON-SITE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP WITH LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT PRIORITIZES TITLE 1 SCHOOLS WITH A GOAL OF FOUR FIELD TRIPS FROM LEE CO SCHOOLS EACH WEEK. AN ADDITIONAL 10,000 STUDENTS WERE TAUGHT THROUGH OUR WOW (WILDLIFE ON WHEELS) PROGRAM. URBAN INITIATIVE - DDWS CONTINUED WORKING WITHIN OUR OFF-ISLAND COMMUNITIES TO BRING THE REFUGE AND CONSERVATION MESSAGING TO SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES UNABLE TO GET TO THE ISLAND AND REFUGE EASILY. - THROUGH THE WILDLIFE ON WHEELS (WOW), WE EXPANDED OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS THANKS TO OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS SCHOOL DISTRICT. WHEN NOT SPENDING A WEEK OR MORE AT THE VARIOUS SCHOOLS, WOW VISITED LOCAL CHURCHES, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND THE REFUGE FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH. - DDWS SUPPORTED THE REFUGE'S "DING" DARLING DAY CONSERVATION CARNIVAL AT LAKES PARK IN APRIL 2024. THE CELEBRATION FURTHERED THE REFUGE'S MISSION TO REACH AND CONNECT WITH UNDERSERVED URBAN COMMUNITIES WHILE CELEBRATING EARTH DAY. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B A DRAFT OF THE RETURN IS GIVEN TO THE ORGANIZATION TO REVIEW FOR ACCURACY AND COMPLETENESS PRIOR TO ELECTRONICALLY FILING THE TAX RETURN. 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 FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0 0 74,561 BOONE PROPERTY EXPENSES 49,924 16,642 0 VISTOR CENTER SUPPLIES 55,827 0 0 ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION 40,743 0 0 PUBLICITY EXPENSE 0 39,155 0 BIOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT 31,918 0 0 IM KIND EXPENSE 31,000 0 0 OTHER EVENT EXPENSES 23,105 2,521 1,386 URBAN OUTREACH 26,451 0 0 NATURE STORE EXPENSE 22,923 260 0 CONSERVATION SUPPORT 22,116 0 0 IN KIND PRINTS, PHOTOS, 18,475 0 0 GRANT WRITING 12,953 0 5,173 COMMUNITY CONNECTOR 17,456 0 0 OTHER REFUGE EXPENSES 6,323 0 0 TOTAL 359,214 58,578 81,120 FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9 FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 67,137 RENTAL EXPENSES 12,670 FUNDRAISING EXPENSES -67,137 RENTAL EXPENSES -12,670 CAPITALIZED CONSTRUCTION COST 0