2022-10-14T17:37:49-04:00 2021-12-31 471591889 CEM BOOKKEEPING & TAX SERVICES INC 124 S 2ND ST LIVINGSTON MT 590472604 990 2021-01-01 810495837 WESTERN SUSTAINABILITY EXCHANGE WEST 4062220730 PO BOX 1448 LIVINGSTON MT 59047 LILL ERICKSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 4062220730 2022-10-15 true LILL ERICKSON XXX-XX-XXXX CATHERINE E MOODY P01781256 4063337315 2022-10-14 2021 2022-09-23 18:48:47Z ROGER INDRELAND 170 GLASSTON ROAD BIG TIMBER MT 59011 585213 false X WWW.WESTERNSUSTAINABILITYEXCHANGE.ORG X 1994 MT THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO ADVANCE SUSTAINABILITY IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES THROUGH A SERIES OF PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE BETTER RANCHING PRACTICES. A STRONG FOCUS IS TO PROVIDE RANCHERS WITH THE INFORMATION, TOOLS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND PEER SUPPORT THEY NEED TO MAKE THE TRANSITION TO REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. ADDITIONALLY, WSE INCENTIVIZES THE CONVERSION TO THESE PRACTICES BY CONNECTING RANCHERS TO NATURAL FOOD AND CULINARY OUTLETS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE VOLUNTARY CARBON MARKET. 10 10 11 34 0 507070 423875 52999 151965 268 41 9332 560337 585213 0 0 294321 274774 0 37833 205440 183673 499761 458447 60576 126766 351173 482669 12023 16753 339150 465916 X ADVANCING SUSTAINABILITY IN THE WESTERN AREA OF THE UNITED STATES THROUGH A SERIES OF PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE BETTER RANCHING AND FARMING PRACTICES.A STRONG FOCUS IS TO IMPROVE THE DIRECT LINK BETWEEN LOCAL FOOD PRODUCERS AND LOCAL CONSUMERS, INCLUDING RESTAURANTS. false false 388921 151965 REGENERATIVE RANCHER NETWORK: WSE PROMOTED REGENERATIVE RANCHING PRACTICES THROUGH WEBINARS, WORKSHOPS, AND FIELD TOURS HIGHLIGHTING SPECIFIC PRACTICES AND WORKING ONE-ON-ONE WITH RANCHERS TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES ON THEIR LAND. WSE ORGANIZED AND CO-SPONSORED EIGHT WORKSHOPS AND FIELD DAYS. WSE ALSO CREATED WEBINARS, FEATURING INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED SOIL EXPERTS. IN 2021, 155 LANDOWNERS PARTICIPATED IN THESE EVENTS. WSE ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THE ROLE REGNERATIVE RANCHING PRACTICES PLAY IN NATURE-BASED CARBON CAPTURE TO OVER 1,300 PEOPLE AT THE INTERNATIONAL CARBON SUMMIT IN BOISE, IDAHO, AND ALSO MADE THAT AVAILABLE ONLINE. TO ASSIST RANCHERS IN MAINTAINING THEIR PROGRESS, WE ORGANIZED MONTHLY PEER-TO-PEER ZOOM SESSIONS FOR THEM TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES. OVER 130 RANCHERS PARTICIPATED IN THIS PEER NETWORK. TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPREHENSIVE NATURE OF REGENERATIVE MANAGEMENT AND TO HELP MEASURE THEIR PROGRESS, WSE IS CREATING TWO TOOLS FOR LANDOWNERS, A REGENERATIVE RANCH GUIDE AND A LAND HEALTH DASHBOARD APP. THE RRG IS ON ONLINE ASSESSMENT TOOL THAT OUTLINES THE EIGHT FOCUS AREAS OF REGENERATIVE MANAGEMENT (SOIL, WATER, LAND, LIVESTOCK, GRAZING, ECONOMICS, BIODIVERSITY, AND PEOPLE). IT HELPLS THE LANDOWNER BETTER UNDERSTAND THE BASIC PRINCIPLES, AND PROVIDES A BASELINE VALUATION FOR THEIR OPERATION IN EACH AREA. RANCHERS RECEIVE A REPORT AT THE END WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT. THE LHD APP IS BEING DESIGNED TO DISPLAY INFORMATION ON A RANGE OF ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS RANCHERS CAN USE TO INFORM THEIR MANAGEMENT DECISIONS, SUCH AS WEATHER CONDITIONS, CHANGES TO THE PERCENT OF BARE GROUND, SNOWPACK LEVELS, SOIL MOISTURE AND OTHER RELEVANT DATA. MONTANA GRASSLAND CARBON PROGRAM: TO ECONOMICALLY INCENTIVIZE RANCHERS TO SWITCH TO REGENERATIVE METHODS, WSE ORGANIZES RANCHER PARTICIPATION IN THE GROWING VOLUNTARY CARBON MARKET THROUGH OUR MONTANA GRASSLANDS CARBON INITIATIVE. THE PROGRAM PROTECTS MONTANA'S REMARKABLE NATURAL RESOURCE HERITAGE, CAPTURES DANGEROUS CARBON DIOXIDE OUT OF THE ATMOSPHERE, BOLSTERS THE PROFITABILITY OF FAMILY RANCHES BY REDUCING OPERATING COSTS AND INCREASING LAND PRODUCTIVITY, AND PROVIDES ADDITIONAL INCOME THROUGH CARBON OFFSET PAYMENTS. IN 2021, WSE RECRUITED FIVE RANCHES (TOTALING 76,000 ACRES) TO CONTRACTUALLY COMMIT TO USING REGENERATIVE GRAZING PRACTICES FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS. ACCORDING TO THE PROGRAMS PREDICTIVE MODEL, THESE RANCHES CAPTURE BETWEEN 5,000 TO 80,000 TONS OF CARBON ANNUALLY. THIS TRANSLATES TO 1.3 TO 2.4 MILLION TONS OF CARBON OVER THE 30 YEAR LIFE OF THE CARBON CONTRACTS. RANCHERS RECEIVE ANNUAL CARBON OFFSET PAYMENTS BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF CARBON THEY CAPTURE. THIS ECONOMIC INCENTIVE ENCOURAGES GREATER ADOPTION OF REGENERATIVE METHODS. TO DETERMINE SEQUESTRATION LEVELS, WSE TOOK OVER 500 SOIL SAMPLES ON 70 RANCHES TO DETERMINE BASELINE SOIL CARBON LEVELS AT VARIOUS ELEVATIONS, TOPOGRAPHIES, AND SOIL TYPES. THE PREDICTIVE MODEL USES THIS SOIL CARBON DATA TO ASSESS THE POTENTIAL INCREASE IN CARBON CAPTURE IF REGENERATIVE GRAZING PRACTICES ARE IMPLEMENTED. TO ENSURE THE MODEL AND OUR PROGRAM WILL RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT CARBON CAPTURE, THE PROGRAM IS BEING SCRUTINIZED BY THE VERRA STANDARDS REGISTRY. ONE THE PROJECT IS FULLY VALIDATED AND VERIFIED, IT WILL BE REGISTERED ON THE VERRA EXCHANGE, AND TRADABLE CARBON CREDITS CAN BE SOLD ON THE VOLUNTARY CARBON MARKET. THIS PROGRAM IN THE LARGEST GRASSLAND CATPURE PROJECT IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THE SECOND LARGEST WORLDWIDE. LIVINGSTON FARMERS MARKET: IN ADDITION TO THE MANY ACTIVITIES WITHIN THESE PRIMARY WORK AREAS, WSE OPERATES THE LIVINGSTON FARMERS MARKET. THE MARKET PROVIDES AN OUTLET FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO PROVIDE LOCAL SOURCES OF FOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY LOW INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS AND FAMILIES. IN 2021, WSE OFFERED 142 VENDORS WITH THIS MARKETING OPPORTUNITY FOR SIXTEEN WEEKS DURING THE SUMMER. OUR "SPECIAL DAYS" PROGRAMMING FEATURED MANY OF THE SERVICES PARK COUNTY AGENCIES AND NONPROFITS OFFER TO OUR CITIZENS TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THESE SERVICES, BUILD AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR LOCAL NONPROFITS, AND ATTRACT A BROADER CROSS-SECTION OF OUR COMMUNITY TO THE MARKET. WSE PROVIDED 50 VOUCHERS TO LOW INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS THROUGH THE SENIOR FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM. THIS STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE LOW INCOME SENIORS WITH ACCESS TO LOCALLY GROWN FRUITS, VEGETABLES, HONEY AND HERBS. IN 2021, WSE PROVIDED 92 SENIORS WITH VOUCHERS TO BUY THESE FRESH FOODS FROM OUR VENDORS. WSE ALSO ORGANIZED VOLUNTEER PROXY SHOPPERS TO PROCURE THESE ITEMS FOR THOSE SENIORS UNABLE TO ATTEND. IN ADDITION, WE PILOTED A NEW PROGRAM WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE ELIGIBLE YOUNG FAMILIES WITH VOUCHERS TO PURCHASE FRESH PRODUCE AT THE MARKET. WSE ALSO PARTNERED ON A TRASH REDUCTION PROGRAM BY MANDATING VENDORS ONLY USE LOW-IMPACT, COMPOSTABLE TAKEOUT WARE, PROHIBITING THE USE OF POLYSTYRENE, AND ESTABLISHING A WASTE STATION AT THE MARKET AS THE ONLY PLACE TO DISPOSE OF THE GARBAGE. TO DATE, THIS PROGRAM HAS REDUCED WASTE GENERATED AT THE MARKET BY OVER 75%. 388921 true true false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 0 0 11 true false false false false false false false false X 10 10 false false false false false false false true true false false false true true true true true true true false X X X LILL ERICKSON 4062220730 PO BOX 1448 LIVINGSTON MT 59047 LILL ERICKSON EXECUTIVE DI 40.00 X 77291 0 0 ANDREW ANDERSON DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 MALOU ANDERSON-RAMERIZ DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 CARRIE BALKCOM DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 LARA BIRKES CO-CHAIRMAN 4.00 X 0 0 0 DYLAN HOFFMAN BOARD TREASU 2.00 X 0 0 0 ROGER INDRELAND CO-CHAIRMAN 4.00 X 0 0 0 REBECCA KURNICK DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 MARK LEDGER DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 BRITTANY MASTERS BOARD SECRET 2.00 X 0 0 0 MATT SKOGLAND DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 77291 false false false 423875 423875 CARBON SEQUESTRATION 127910 127910 FARMERS MARKET BOOTH FEES 16026 16026 SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM 7929 7929 RESILIENT RANCHLANDS 100 100 151965 41 41 SALES OF LICENSE PLATES 8540 8540 SALE OF MERCHANDISE 792 792 9332 585213 161338 X 77292 54877 22415 156415 143318 13097 16765 9208 6744 813 24302 21358 1128 1816 6353 6103 250 5280 5280 108781 96396 12385 5835 5835 20069 17586 2237 246 15430 14976 454 14709 14441 110 158 1916 1065 851 5300 3758 1542 458447 388921 31693 37833 69936 259106 269237 211563 61651 49651 12000 12000 351173 482669 12023 16753 12023 16753 X 339150 465916 339150 465916 351173 482669 126766 X false false X 313465 251834 424713 507070 423875 1920957 313465 251834 424713 507070 423875 1920957 522726 1398231 488 1083 1135 268 2974 1923931 643686 0.72680 0.80970 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 61651 49651 12000 12000 FORM 990 - ORGANIZATION'S MISSION ADVANCING SUSTAINABILITY IN THE WESTERN AREA OF THE UNITED STATES THROUGH A SERIES OF PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE BETTER RANCHING AND FARMING PRACTICES.A STRONG FOCUS IS TO IMPROVE THE DIRECT LINK BETWEEN LOCAL FOOD PRODUCERS AND LOCAL CONSUMERS, INCLUDING RESTAURANTS. FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A REGENERATIVE RANCHER NETWORK: WSE PROMOTED REGENERATIVE RANCHING PRACTICES THROUGH WEBINARS, WORKSHOPS, AND FIELD TOURS HIGHLIGHTING SPECIFIC PRACTICES AND WORKING ONE-ON-ONE WITH RANCHERS TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES ON THEIR LAND. WSE ORGANIZED AND CO-SPONSORED EIGHT WORKSHOPS AND FIELD DAYS. WSE ALSO CREATED WEBINARS, FEATURING INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED SOIL EXPERTS. IN 2021, 155 LANDOWNERS PARTICIPATED IN THESE EVENTS. WSE ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THE ROLE REGNERATIVE RANCHING PRACTICES PLAY IN NATURE-BASED CARBON CAPTURE TO OVER 1,300 PEOPLE AT THE INTERNATIONAL CARBON SUMMIT IN BOISE, IDAHO, AND ALSO MADE THAT AVAILABLE ONLINE. TO ASSIST RANCHERS IN MAINTAINING THEIR PROGRESS, WE ORGANIZED MONTHLY PEER-TO-PEER ZOOM SESSIONS FOR THEM TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES. OVER 130 RANCHERS PARTICIPATED IN THIS PEER NETWORK. TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPREHENSIVE NATURE OF REGENERATIVE MANAGEMENT AND TO HELP MEASURE THEIR PROGRESS, WSE IS CREATING TWO TOOLS FOR LANDOWNERS, A REGENERATIVE RANCH GUIDE AND A LAND HEALTH DASHBOARD APP. THE RRG IS ON ONLINE ASSESSMENT TOOL THAT OUTLINES THE EIGHT FOCUS AREAS OF REGENERATIVE MANAGEMENT (SOIL, WATER, LAND, LIVESTOCK, GRAZING, ECONOMICS, BIODIVERSITY, AND PEOPLE). IT HELPLS THE LANDOWNER BETTER UNDERSTAND THE BASIC PRINCIPLES, AND PROVIDES A BASELINE VALUATION FOR THEIR OPERATION IN EACH AREA. RANCHERS RECEIVE A REPORT AT THE END WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT. THE LHD APP IS BEING DESIGNED TO DISPLAY INFORMATION ON A RANGE OF ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS RANCHERS CAN USE TO INFORM THEIR MANAGEMENT DECISIONS, SUCH AS WEATHER CONDITIONS, CHANGES TO THE PERCENT OF BARE GROUND, SNOWPACK LEVELS, SOIL MOISTURE AND OTHER RELEVANT DATA. MONTANA GRASSLAND CARBON PROGRAM: TO ECONOMICALLY INCENTIVIZE RANCHERS TO SWITCH TO REGENERATIVE METHODS, WSE ORGANIZES RANCHER PARTICIPATION IN THE GROWING VOLUNTARY CARBON MARKET THROUGH OUR MONTANA GRASSLANDS CARBON INITIATIVE. THE PROGRAM PROTECTS MONTANA'S REMARKABLE NATURAL RESOURCE HERITAGE, CAPTURES DANGEROUS CARBON DIOXIDE OUT OF THE ATMOSPHERE, BOLSTERS THE PROFITABILITY OF FAMILY RANCHES BY REDUCING OPERATING COSTS AND INCREASING LAND PRODUCTIVITY, AND PROVIDES ADDITIONAL INCOME THROUGH CARBON OFFSET PAYMENTS. IN 2021, WSE RECRUITED FIVE RANCHES (TOTALING 76,000 ACRES) TO CONTRACTUALLY COMMIT TO USING REGENERATIVE GRAZING PRACTICES FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS. ACCORDING TO THE PROGRAMS PREDICTIVE MODEL, THESE RANCHES CAPTURE BETWEEN 5,000 TO 80,000 TONS OF CARBON ANNUALLY. THIS TRANSLATES TO 1.3 TO 2.4 MILLION TONS OF CARBON OVER THE 30 YEAR LIFE OF THE CARBON CONTRACTS. RANCHERS RECEIVE ANNUAL CARBON OFFSET PAYMENTS BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF CARBON THEY CAPTURE. THIS ECONOMIC INCENTIVE ENCOURAGES GREATER ADOPTION OF REGENERATIVE METHODS. TO DETERMINE SEQUESTRATION LEVELS, WSE TOOK OVER 500 SOIL SAMPLES ON 70 RANCHES TO DETERMINE BASELINE SOIL CARBON LEVELS AT VARIOUS ELEVATIONS, TOPOGRAPHIES, AND SOIL TYPES. THE PREDICTIVE MODEL USES THIS SOIL CARBON DATA TO ASSESS THE POTENTIAL INCREASE IN CARBON CAPTURE IF REGENERATIVE GRAZING PRACTICES ARE IMPLEMENTED. TO ENSURE THE MODEL AND OUR PROGRAM WILL RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT CARBON CAPTURE, THE PROGRAM IS BEING SCRUTINIZED BY THE VERRA STANDARDS REGISTRY. ONE THE PROJECT IS FULLY VALIDATED AND VERIFIED, IT WILL BE REGISTERED ON THE VERRA EXCHANGE, AND TRADABLE CARBON CREDITS CAN BE SOLD ON THE VOLUNTARY CARBON MARKET. THIS PROGRAM IN THE LARGEST GRASSLAND CATPURE PROJECT IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THE SECOND LARGEST WORLDWIDE. LIVINGSTON FARMERS MARKET: IN ADDITION TO THE MANY ACTIVITIES WITHIN THESE PRIMARY WORK AREAS, WSE OPERATES THE LIVINGSTON FARMERS MARKET. THE MARKET PROVIDES AN OUTLET FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO PROVIDE LOCAL SOURCES OF FOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY LOW INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS AND FAMILIES. IN 2021, WSE OFFERED 142 VENDORS WITH THIS MARKETING OPPORTUNITY FOR SIXTEEN WEEKS DURING THE SUMMER. OUR "SPECIAL DAYS" PROGRAMMING FEATURED MANY OF THE SERVICES PARK COUNTY AGENCIES AND NONPROFITS OFFER TO OUR CITIZENS TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THESE SERVICES, BUILD AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR LOCAL NONPROFITS, AND ATTRACT A BROADER CROSS-SECTION OF OUR COMMUNITY TO THE MARKET. WSE PROVIDED 50 VOUCHERS TO LOW INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS THROUGH THE SENIOR FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM. THIS STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE LOW INCOME SENIORS WITH ACCESS TO LOCALLY GROWN FRUITS, VEGETABLES, HONEY AND HERBS. IN 2021, WSE PROVIDED 92 SENIORS WITH VOUCHERS TO BUY THESE FRESH FOODS FROM OUR VENDORS. WSE ALSO ORGANIZED VOLUNTEER PROXY SHOPPERS TO PROCURE THESE ITEMS FOR THOSE SENIORS UNABLE TO ATTEND. IN ADDITION, WE PILOTED A NEW PROGRAM WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE ELIGIBLE YOUNG FAMILIES WITH VOUCHERS TO PURCHASE FRESH PRODUCE AT THE MARKET. WSE ALSO PARTNERED ON A TRASH REDUCTION PROGRAM BY MANDATING VENDORS ONLY USE LOW-IMPACT, COMPOSTABLE TAKEOUT WARE, PROHIBITING THE USE OF POLYSTYRENE, AND ESTABLISHING A WASTE STATION AT THE MARKET AS THE ONLY PLACE TO DISPOSE OF THE GARBAGE. TO DATE, THIS PROGRAM HAS REDUCED WASTE GENERATED AT THE MARKET BY OVER 75%. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B THE FORM 990 IS REVIEWED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND BY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ANNUALLY REVIEWS COMPLIANCE WITH THE POLICY. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS REVIEWS THE COMPENSATION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EVERY YEAR. THE LAST REVIEW WAS IN 2021. THE NEXT REVIEW SCHEDULED WILL BE IN 2022. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15B THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EVALUATES ALL THE STAFF AND USES COMPARABLE DATA TO ESTABLISH COMPENSATION LEVELS FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 18 GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST POLICY, TAX RETURNS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE ORGANIZATION'S OFFICE. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 UPON REQUEST. WSE ALSO POSTS A COPY OF THE FORM 990 EACH YEAR ON GUIDESTAR. FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 11G CONSULTANTS 35,443 0 2,500 TECHNOLOGY 0 0 15 CONSULTANT - COMMUNICATIONS 51,620 0 9,870 ONLINE DONATION SERVICES 1,155 0 0 SNP VENDOR REIMBURSEMENT 8,178 0 0 TOTAL 96,396 0 12,385