Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness

What it reported doing in 2024

See schedule o.no boundaries to the boundary waters - we reached over 8,000 students in vrtual programming nationally, 4,000 students in in-person programming in Minnesota, and supported 200 students in overnight wilderness trips in the boundary waters. We started a student leadership cohort, called sparks, offered to students who had participated in overnight programs and were interested in furthering thier experience. In this cohort, students gained leadership experience, learned about careers in the environmental field, and practiced their outdoor recreation skills. In northeastern Minnesota, we launched "boundary waters is our backyard", which focuses on our current education programs in schools and tribal communities in ne Minnesota, and provides them with opportunities to incorporate day trips and overnights in and near the bwca throughout their school year. Wilderness advocacy - in fy25, litigation activity for polymet and twin metals was reduced, when compared to pastfiscal years, due to court-ordered stays. That said, the friends completed appellate briefing and, along with its partners, presented oral argument at the d.c. Circuit with respect to a lawsuit by twin metals challenging the biden administration's cancellation of its mineral leases. That appealwas eventually held in abeyance in mid-2025. With respect to policy-related matters, the friends researched and drafted comments on the u.s. Forest service's proposed bwca permit fee increases and researched and joined policy-related sign-on letters, including those on the roadless rule and the fix our forests act. The friends also engaged in efforts to undercut federal legislative efforts to fast-track the twin metals project in trump's "big beautiful bill." the friends identified that many aspects of h.r. 3195 would not satisfy the byrd rule and researched and drafted a memo with a concise but powerful articulation of why the provisions of hr 3195 that dealt with twin metals were inappropriate for the budget reconciliation process. We also organized our volunteers and supporters to send 1,291 emails to the Minnesota governor and state legislators, held 58 meetings with elected officials on our issues, hosted a day at the state capotol attended by over 200 people, and held a public hearing on sulfide mining attended by more than 300 people. In Washington dc, we had 176 congressional office visits and organized our supporters sending 52,000 emails to congress. Northern communities - in ely and grand marais, friends has connected with more than 500 people in each community through hosted events and participation in community events. Friends uses these events to not only bring awareness to our organization and the boundary waters, but to give folks an opportunity to learn more and engage with wilderness topics, such as through speakers hosted during ely dark sky week. In addition to cultivating engagment around the boundary waters, friends seeks to make community connections and give back. Our ely "tree fest" gave away 300 tress to the community for planting. Our boundary waters is our backyard program goes hand in hand as we increase opportunities for local youth to immerse themselves in the wilderness area. In grand marais, we have only been here about a year, but there is interest and engagement across the community in our mission to strengthen the community and connect folks to the boundary waters.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 49.4%; rating input score 49
• Program expense ratio: 66.9%; rating input score 67
• Fundraising efficiency: $8.16 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.3%; rating input score 92; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 28.6%; rating input score 83; 83rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.98; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.06; rating input score 68; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 5.6%; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 13.4% per year; rating input score 100; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 15% per year; rating input score 100; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 15.7% per year; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings