The Quebec-labrador Foundation Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

I. Conservation and stewardship in 2025, qlf's conservation and stewardship initiatives consisted of the sounds conservancy marine research program; biodiversity conservation; stewardship of protected areas, the maritimes; connectivity conservation & restoration in partnership with the staying connected initiative; and global stewardship initiatives. A. The sounds conservancy marine research program the sounds conservancy is an established marine research program along the six sounds, estuaries, and coastal waters of southern new england and New York. From south to north, the sounds are long island, fishers island, block island, Rhode Island, martha's vineyard, and nantucket. The program is dedicated to conserve, protect, and steward the sounds and its coastal waters, and support marine research, environmental policy, and environmental education within this geography. Each year, qlf awards marine research grants to graduate students and seasoned practitioners. As well, each year, qlf staff update the sounds conservancy's 200-page electronic publication, which documents the work by the fellows over recent decades. A number of sounds conservancy fellows have worked closely with staff as co-authors on a series of publications and books on the sounds and coastal waters of new england, forage fish, and the sounds conservancy.b. Biodiversity conservation - the overarching goal of qlf's biodiversity conservation program is to encourage local communities to take an active role as citizen scientists, promote initiatives that secure sustainable development, steward and conserve ecosystems, and lead biodiversity conservation initiatives as a strategy to mitigate the impacts of a changing climate. Recovery of aquatic species, threatened and endangered in 2022, the department of fisheries and oceans canada awarded qlf a four-year grant to establish a recovery plan for aquatic species considered threatened and endangered in the labrador straits off newfoundland and labrador. The program is directed by a senior consultant, based in Massachusetts, who is widely recognized for her pioneering work in biodiversity conservation and community-based conservation. C. Stewardship of protected areas, the maritimes - the goal of this program is to ensure the stewardship of dozens of protected areas in the maritime provinces of new brunswick, nova scotia, and prince edward island. Managed by staff based at the headquarters in ipswich, Massachusetts, the program is directed in partnership with the nature trust of new brunswick, nova scotia nature trust, and island nature trust, prince edward island. Staff and partner organizations conduct a series of provincial species surveys to assess the impact of climate change on seabirds, sea ducks, and migratory birds, and macro-invertebrate species that serve as indicators of water quality and ecosystem health. Those data contribute to regional longitudinal studies on biodiversity and ecosystem health that define current and future strategies and management plans for the conservation, stewardship, and restoration of biodiversity across the maritimes. D. Connectivity conservation & stewardship in partnership with the staying connected initiative qlf is a lead partner in the staying connected initiative, a cross-border, public-private collaboration established to conserve, restore, and steward a well-connected forest landscape for native wildlife and communities in the northern appalachian-acadian/wabanaki region of northern new england and eastern canada. This eco-region encompasses more than 80 million areas and is globally significant as one of the largest areas of mixed temperate forest in the world, and a gateway for species migrating north in response to climate change impact. Program partners are deploying an innovative approach to connectivity conservation and stewardship working with indigenous leaders and communities in the region to conserve and protect 30% of terrestrial and aquatic habitat by 2030. As

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 74.4%; rating input score 74
• Fundraising efficiency: $5.13 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 93.8%; rating input score 94; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • 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: 83.3%; rating input score 83; 19th 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: -1.7%; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.83; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.15; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 34.5%; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -3.1% per year; rating input score 0; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -2% per year; rating input score 0; 9th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -1.4% per year; rating input score 0; 13th percentile among comparable filings