Ncasi Foundation

What it reported doing in 2024

The ncasi foundation accomplishes its mission through sponsored research, independent studies, and outreach. Ncasi foundation sponsored work on "working forests, forest sustainability, and at-risk species through collaborative conservation." the purpose of this project is to quantify the role of working forest landscapes in conserving species-at-risk and maintaining aquatic and terrestrial communities. Specifically, we seek to examine species from multiple taxonomic groups over an extended time horizon in a landscape dominated by certified, private forests managed primarily for timber production.ncasi foundation sponsored technical work to "improve the science and risk assessment processes in national ambient air quality standards (naaqs) reviews." this work will identify more more robust methodologies to ensure the science used to inform future ambient air rulemakings, aimed to protect human health and welfare, is of high quality and provides the appropriate strength and weight of evidence necessary to base decisions on future ambient air quality standard levels.ncasi foundation sponsored work on "pollinator pathways across landscapes: floral occurrence, pollinator richness, and plant/pollinator interactions in the Oregon coast range." the purpose of this project is to conduct surveys of pollinators and plants they utilize in the Oregon coast range. Data collected will aid in development of seed mixes used in pollinator habitat enhancement projects on the siuslaw national forest and nearby private industrial property within the same watersheds.ncasi foundation sponsored work on "fisher conservation in Oregon under the candidate conservation agreement with assurances (ccaa) program." ten landowners in Oregon have entered into candidate conservation agreements with assurances (ccaa) with the us fish and wildlife service prior to the proposed threatened listing of the fisher in Oregon and California. Part of their individual agreements with usfws stipulates that each ccaa permit holder contribute funds towards fisher conservation to be used for research or habitat enhancement. Projects will address fisher distributions, population trends, habitat relationships, and other activities that inform fisher conservation.ncasi foundation sponsored work on "center for advanced forestry systems (cafs) program." funding committed by cafs member universities will be used to support multi-year research projects consistent with cafs technology roadmap; development and refinement of decision-support tools; and synthesis of science on priority topics such as forest health, carbon, and emerging technologies relevant to forest industry.ncasi foundation sponsored work on "identifying science-based conservation opportunities for humbodt martens: fine-scale habitat use, movement, and demography in landscapes that differ in forest composition." this is a multi-faceted telemetry study paired with non-invasive techniques to evaluate critical information gaps for humboldt martens. This study will provide much needed science to help with identifying 4(d) rule related management opportunities and recovery efforts for federal partners.ncasi foundation sponsored work on "marten and fisher surveys." the purpose this project is to provide an initial assessment of the effects of fire on populations, distributions, and habitat refugia of the martens, fishers and other members of the carnivore community directly following an unprecedented fire.ncasi foundation sponsored work on "a unified approach to evolving fia's estimation capacity." this project will develop and execute a strategic plan for enhanced integration of remote sensing information into the fia program with special emphasis on small area estimation techniques. It will precisely define fia information user needs, conduct research into new estimation techniques, and deliver estimation capacity to users through development.ncasi foundation sponsored work on "factors influencing occupancy and distributi

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 85.8%; rating input score 86
• Program expense ratio: 97.9%; rating input score 98
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 99.8%; rating input score 100; 41st percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 77.8%; rating input score 78; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 12.5%; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.64; rating input score 23; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.23; rating input score 41; 41st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 7.7%; rating input score 38; 38th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 16.3% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 20.4% per year; rating input score 100; 88th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 23.2% per year; rating input score 100; 88th percentile among comparable filings