2020-08-07T09:48:46-07:00 2019-12-31 CORLISS & SOLOMON PLLC 242 CHARLOTTE ST SUITE 1 ASHEVILLE NC 28801 990 2019-01-01 562142199 Mainspring Conservation Trust Inc MAIN 8285242711 PO Box 1148 Franklin NC 287441148 Jordan M Smith Executive Director 8285242711 2020-08-07 true Stephen C Corliss P01333317 8282360206 2020-08-07 68.115.150.214 2020-08-07 09:48:26 PD P 19C04C626763188D0587BF44A8570314E89B73C0 E1F956EA62341BFC2F55AA0FA02EA139C2E3A034 2019 2020-09-23 17:36:50Z Jordan M Smith PO Box 1148 Franklin NC 287441148 5246809 false X www.mainspringconserves.org X 1999 NC Located in the heart of the Southern Blue Ridge, the mission of Mainspring Conservation Trust is to conserve the waters, forests, farms and heritage of the Upper Little Tennessee and Hiwassee River Valleys. 15 15 15 342 0 0 1717851 5066647 235156 85890 51006 65664 16713 28608 2020726 5246809 50000 0 699574 688591 3811 107401 1022933 1891499 1722507 2633901 298219 2612908 11171248 14056431 270824 386332 10900424 13670099 The mission of Mainspring Conservation Trust is to conserve the waters, forests, farms and heritage of the Upper Little Tennessee and Hiwassee River Valleys. We are dedicated to three core initiatives: conserve the land, restore the water, and connect the people to these valuable resources. false false 2325929 50000 85890 In 2019, Mainspring continued its work to conserve important areas in its nationally significant region, with its incredible land and water resources, overlaid with cultural heritage assets dating back thousands of years. CONSERVE: Mainspring conserved 924 acres in 14 transactions, including four conservation easements to conserve farm and forest land. Priority purchases included two acquisitions totaling 497 acres that helps preserves the unspoiled forested viewshed of the Appalachian Trail, one acquisition that conserves a 48-acre forested inholding and trout stream within Nantahala National Forest, and one acquisition of 24 acres that conserves more than 1,400 feet of critical Little Tennessee riverfront and adjacent floodplain and contains rare mountain wetland along the Indian Lakes Scenic Byway. The four conservation easements include a 32-acre working farm belonging to an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and a 205-acre forest and wetland that adjoins Nantahala National Forest, is within the viewshed of the Appalachian Trail and the Waterfall Scenic Byway, and contains abundant aquatic resources and riparian habitat, including more than a mile of Nantahala River frontage. The property also contains a rare 53-acre bog wetland that is designated as a state-significant Natural Area, and is included in the Mountain Bogs National Wildlife Refuge. RESTORE: As part of Mainspring's restoration program, nearly 1,000 feet of streambank were stabilized by planting vegetation along the stream. Beyond stabilizing streambanks by limiting erosion, these shrubs and trees will buffer stream temperatures during warm months, provide a source of food and habitat to fish and other aquatic organisms, and soak up excess nutrients from the land. CONNECT: Mainspring engaged 3,697 individuals through 107 education programs. Programs from 2019 include a float trip on the Little Tennessee River with leaders from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, educational snorkeling events with youth and adult groups, curriculum-based environmental education events, and cultural site tours. Mainspring documented over 2,115 hours donated by its volunteers, who assisted in activities as diverse as aquatic biomonitoring, habitat management, historic structure restoration, and legal document drafting. 2325929 true true false false false false true false false true true false false true true true true false false false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false true true false false false false false false false false true 19 0 true 15 true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false X 15 15 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true false false NC GA FL X X X Teresa Falzone 8285242711 557 E Main St Franklin NC 28744 Constance Haire Chair 3.00 X X 0 0 0 Jason Love Vice Chair 3.00 X X 0 0 0 Chris Brouwer Secretary 3.00 X X 0 0 0 Rita Salain Treasurer 3.00 X X 0 0 0 David Adams Board Member 3.00 X 0 0 0 Bill Gibson Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Ed Haight Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Russ Harris Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Hope Huskey Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Terrie Kelly Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Doug Landwehr Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Lisa Leatherman Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Ben Steere Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 James Stork Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 John Strawn Board Member 2.00 X 0 0 0 Sharon Taylor Executive Director 40.00 X 83468 0 17325 83468 0 17325 0 false false false 1403035 3663612 1526388 5066647 Stewardship Contracts 541990 10147 0 0 Conservation Project Administration 541990 75743 0 0 85890 65664 0 65664 17337 17337 17337 17337 Miscellaneous 900099 11271 0 0 11271 11271 5246809 103227 0 76935 50000 50000 101533 53000 24869 23664 468943 352639 75306 40998 29629 21199 5258 3172 46180 29951 10560 5669 42306 30306 7334 4666 690 690 0 0 16418 0 16418 0 3811 3811 7780 0 7780 0 101718 87527 9290 4901 1787 466 1321 0 12291 4017 4751 3523 17565 10020 3844 3701 31274 25467 2563 3244 24561 19046 3491 2024 7796 3009 3880 907 24020 15208 8812 0 21409 19720 510 1179 Easement and Land Purchases 441802 435730 6072 0 Below Book Value Land Sales 1016655 1016655 0 0 Supplies/Materials/Publications 36562 29708 2800 4054 Land Disbursement Expense 18161 18161 0 0 111010 103410 5712 1888 2633901 2325929 200571 107401 46913 32457 2492415 2008280 40175 114459 16092 8970 8679 16008 10685125 78132 7384375 10606993 7248 7161 1175351 1262103 11171248 14056431 32780 23252 60473 79263 154469 257609 23102 26208 270824 386332 X 9770102 12476062 1130322 1194037 10900424 13670099 11171248 14056431 X 2612908 156767 X X false true X true false X 0 1600371 2673742 4327922 1717851 5066647 15386533 0 0 1600371 2673742 4327922 1717851 5066647 15386533 2090123 13296410 45298 39300 47506 63266 83001 278371 0 7737 28736 8137 3811 11271 59692 15724596 1080619 0.84560 0.80890 X 0 0 0 Pt II Ln 10 Other Income Part II, Line 10 Description: Other Revenue 2015: 7737. 2016: 28736. 2017: 8137. 2018: 3811. 2019: 11271. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED X X X X 63 7132.00 0 2 true 667.00 20501 true 919781 12008 180012 34575 7780 1069446 1004711 5593 -54168 28975 7380 919781 884752 9750 136642 19170 7263 1004711 831794 30500 56314 27300 6556 884752 821043 35000 2555 20477 6327 831794 0.31100 0.43030 0.25870 true false 159304 9477271 9636575 546426 18442 527984 72440 42299 30141 429684 17391 412293 10606993 Options and Escrow Deposits 7000 Endowment held by Community Foundation of WNC 1069446 Conservation Land Subject to Life Estate, Net 184407 Security Deposit 1250 1262103 Fiscal Agent Funds Payable 26208 26208 X 4073307 156767 2798 159565 3913742 7780 1325287 1333067 5246809 1612264 2798 2798 1609466 7780 1016655 1024435 2633901 Pt II, Line 5 CEs are monitored by Mainspring's conservation easement monitoring staff at least annually with a report to Mainspring's files and the landowner. The handling of violations, monitoring and enforcement are covered in Mainspring's Stewardship Policy Manual. Pt II, Line 9 Conservation easements purchased are expensed at cost. Conservation easements received by donation are not recorded in the organization's books.(See Schedule O for further information.) Other The intended uses of the organization's endowment funds are to generate income for conservation easement stewardship, land acquisition and other conservation purposes consistent with the purpose and terms of each endowment fund. Pt X, Line 2 Mainspring is exempt from federal income taxes under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Under the Code, income from certain activities not related to the organization's tax-exempt purpose may be subject to taxation as unrelated business income. The organization had less than $1,000 of income from unrelated business activities in the 2019 fiscal year and was, therefore, not required to file Federal Form 990-T (Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return). The organization believes that it has appropriate support for all tax positions taken, and as such, does not have any uncertain tax positions that are material to the financial statements. Pt XI, Line 4b Below book value land sales/Land contributions were shown as a net amount on the audit. Line 4b represents the amount of land contributions the organization received in 2019. Pt XII, Line 4b Below book value land sales/Land contributions were shown as a net amount on the audit. Line 4b represents the amount of below book value land sales. true The Conservation Fund 1655 N Fort Myer Ste 1300 Arlington VA 22209 070448435 501(c)(3) 50000 Land Conservation X 12 201101 Fair Market Value 4 X 6 1325287 Appraisal 6 false true false Pt I Line 30b Mainspring does not carry conservation easements as assets on it's books. Donated conservation easements are not recognized in revenue. Other Line 17 Real estate - Other - Land donations are reported on this line. Pt VI, Line 1a Per the Bylaws, the Executive Committee may exercise the powers of the Board between Board meetings, except as may be limited by the North Carolina Nonprofit Corporation Act, or may make recommendations to the Board with respect to any matters that come before it. All actions taken by the Executive Committee shall be reported to the Board of Directors at the meeting following such action. Pt VI, Line 11b The 990 is initially reviewed by the Finance Manager and the Executive Director. It is then provided to the Finance Committee for review and approval. Finally, the 990 is sent to the Board of Directors prior to filing. Pt VI, Line 12c A conflict of interest statement is handed out to the Board of Directors in attendance at the first board meeting of the new year and are asked to complete it and hand it in at that time. The statement is mailed to any board members who missed that meeting. To ensure all the completed forms are returned within one month, a designated staff member follows up with anyone who has not submitted the signed form. Staff are given a Conflict of Interest statement to complete each January, or if new to the organization at their time of hire. The Finance Manager reviews the statements. In addition, the Executive Director monitors the statements for any possible conflicts of interest. Pt VI, Line 15a In the annual budgeting process, the Board approves a budget line for aggregate salary expense. Thereafter, the Executive Director gives consideration to comparable salary information for land trust nonprofit organizations with similar budgets, as available, and local job markets. The Executive Committee sets the Executive Director salary after a performance review and a check of comparable salary information for related land trust nonprofit organizations with similar budgets. Pt VI, Line 18 Forms 1023 and 990 are available upon request. The Form 990 is also available on the organization's website. Pt VI, Line 19 Governing documents, Conflict of Interest policy and audited financial statements are available upon request. Pt XII, Line 2c The Audit Committee directly reviews the audit. Other Sch D, Ln 3&5 - Since U.S. GAAP does not provide specific guidance on the accounting treatment for conservation easements, land trust organizations in the U.S. use several different methods to account for the easements they hold. Mainspring has adopted one such method which is widely used by other land trusts. Under this method, conservation easements are not recognized as assets. Accordingly, easements received by donation are not recorded in income and easements purchased by the organization are recorded as expenses. Management believes that this method results in financial statements that most accurately reflect the organization's financial activities. Pt XI Return of contribution funds.