North Carolina Coastal Federation

What it reported doing in 2024

Over the past 43 years, the North Carolina coastal federation has worked alongside coastal communities to protect and restore the unique North Carolina coast. As a member supported non-profit the coastal federation's goals are obtained through a variety of programs and partnerships with people from all walks of life. Through efforts for clean coastal waters, living shorelines, thriving oysters, effective coastal management, and marine debris removal, the federation and North Carolina's coastal communities continue to work together for a healthy coast!(continued on schedule o)in our work to protect the North Carolina coast, we focus in the following areas: water qualityintense rainstorms cause flooding and water quality degradation as the runoff funnels pollutants to our coastal waters. Impacts are magnified by the altered landscape that channels rain instead of absorbing it.the nature-based stormwater strategies action plan released by the coastal federation in 2021 recommends specific policies and actions to reduce pollution and flooding caused by new land development; existing development and infrastructure; highways and streets; and working lands such as farms and commercial forests.in 2024, we restored more than 10 acres of wetlands and installed water quality improvements protecting bradley creek, stump sound, and lake mattamuskeetliving shorelinesnorth carolina's 12,000 miles of estuarine shoreline provide some of the most productive habitats in the world for fish and shellfish. Unfortunately, the erosion of these shorelines is increasing because of rising sea levels, concentrated waves from boats, more extreme storms, and poorly planned development practices. Erosion control structures like bulkheads are not as effective as living shorelines in protecting shorelines. By installing buffers using salt marsh, oyster reefs, and other natural materials, living shorelines control erosion while protecting the natural beauty and productivity of our estuaries.the coastal federation remains committed to making living shorelines the go-to approach for managing shoreline erosion. We have secured public and private funding that will help us provide increased financial incentives to landowners for living shorelines. In 2024, we restored 3.75 miles of living shorelines at 43 locations along the coast.oystersour native eastern oyster (crassostrea virginica) is one of the most important species in our estuaries. Oysters benefit North Carolina's coastal ecology and economy. These benefits can be summarized and referred to as the three "fs", for short: food, filter and fish habitat. They filter water, provide food for humans and create reefs that build homes for more fish. These environmental benefits, in turn, support jobs and provide economic opportunities for coastal communities.oyster populations, worldwide, are at record lows. Despite some recovery in recent years, in North Carolina it is estimated that oysters are at about 15-20% of historic harvest levels. Oyster harvest is currently the best measure of the oyster population in our state. In 2024, we restored 40 acres of oyster reefs. Effective coastal managementour coastal management goal is deeply intertwined with, and supports our work for clean water, living shorelines, thriving oysters, and a coast that is free of marine debris. We work with a multitude of stakeholders to engage them in sound coastal management decisions based on the best science and technology. In addition, we partner to secure adequate funds so that decisions can be implemented and enforced, and support and strengthen the legal foundation that enables us to protect and restore our coast.coastal resiliency is at the foundation of this goals work, recognizing that now is the critical time to prepare for the future. This means ensuring natural defenses are sound, waters are safe for fishing and swimming and we are free of emerging contaminants and other threats like offshore oil and microplastics. In 2024, we r

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 81.9%; rating input score 82
• Program expense ratio: 94.1%; rating input score 94
• Fundraising efficiency: $40.15 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 72; 72nd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd 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: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • 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; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 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: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 13.4%; rating input score 74; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.56; rating input score 70; 70th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.14; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 3.5%; rating input score 64; 64th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 16.8% per year; rating input score 100; 86th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 13.7% per year; rating input score 100; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 3.3% per year; rating input score 100; 25th percentile among comparable filings