2016-08-09T06:03:30-07:00 2015-12-31 RICH AND BANDER LLP 15 WEST 28TH ST SUITE 7A NEW YORK NY 10001 990 2015-01-01 134355067 WATERFRONT ALLIANCE INC WATE 2129359831 217 WATER STREET NEW YORK NY 10038 ROLAND LEWIS PRESIDENT 2129359831 2016-08-08 true JONATHAN A BANDER 2126842470 2016-08-09 X 2015 2016-12-15 16:53:06Z ROLAND LEWIS 217 WATER STREET NEW YORK NY 10038 1254092 false X WATERFRONTALLIANCE.ORG X 2007 NY SEE SCHEDULE O FOR THE WATERFRONT ALLIANCE'S MISSION STATEMENT. 22 21 11 600 0 1311103 1145029 71253 41812 235 853 -14838 -21237 1367753 1166457 0 0 702095 898908 16657 20000 172610 487397 554586 1206149 1473494 161604 -307037 952297 648803 28634 32177 923663 616626 SEE SCHEDULE O. false false 560691 24944 SEE SCHEDULE O FOR COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION. 305644 SEE SCHEDULE O FOR THE ALLIANCE AND POLICY INITIATIVES. 344199 19569 SEE SCHEDULE O FOR DIRECT SERVICE. 1210534 true true false true false false false false false false true false false false false true true false false false false false false false true false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 22 0 11 true false false false false false true true false false false false X 22 21 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true false false NY X X X ROLAND LEWIS 2129359831 217 WATER STREET 300 NEW YORK NY 10038 PAIGE C SUTHERLAND ASSISTANT TREASURER 2.00 X X 0 0 0 KENT L BARWICK VICE CHAIR 2.00 X X 0 0 0 ROLAND LEWIS PRESIDENT AND CEO 40.00 X X 184700 0 9471 KATHY ROBB SECRETARY 2.00 X X 0 0 0 JENNIFER COSTLEY TREASURER 2.00 X X 0 0 0 CHRIS WARD CHAIR 2.00 X X 0 0 0 PAUL BALSER DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JOHN H WATTS DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 LAURIE BECKELMAN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MARGARET C AYERS DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 PEGGY SHEPARD DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JOHN ATKINS DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JOHN R BOULE II PE VICE CHAIR 2.00 X 0 0 0 ANDREW MCGOVERN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MICHAEL O'KEEFE DIRECTOR 1 X STEVE WILSON DIRECTOR 1 X JAKE BEINECKE DIRECTOR 1 X ADRIAN BENEPE DIRECTOR 1 X CONSTANTINE SHEPARD DIRECTOR 1 X JEFFREY HWANG DIRECTOR 1 X JULIE PULLEN DIRECTOR 1 X KATE SINDING DIRECTOR 1 X DOUGLAS ADAMS COO 40 X 119090 10591 303790 20062 1 false true false 389215 86000 669814 1145029 WATERFRONT CONSULTING 900099 13667 CONFERENCE FEES 900099 24944 BOAT RESERVATION FEES 900099 3201 41812 853 853 64550 389215 87635 -23085 -23085 MISCELLANEOUS 900099 1848 1300 548 1848 1166457 43112 -21684 308549 262267 21555 24727 455025 376226 18999 59800 10271 8588 546 1137 71789 60029 3813 7947 53274 44547 2830 5897 21852 18272 1161 2419 30000 0 30000 0 20000 20000 92800 91514 417 869 53610 34037 781 18792 9509 7951 505 1053 77893 65133 4137 8623 3768 3151 200 417 10291 8605 547 1139 18665 15608 991 2066 6862 6451 133 278 DIRECT PROGRAM EXPENSES 159402 159402 0 0 SPECIAL EVENT INDIRECT 51442 35721 0 15721 EQUIPMENT 5603 4685 298 620 INTERNS AND TEMP HELP 9982 8347 530 1105 2907 0 2907 0 1473494 1210534 90350 172610 583273 69780 301087 297759 160229 13667 5212 15580 59871 33197 33939 26674 57006 18447 18447 952297 648803 25323 24233 3311 7944 28634 32177 X 642663 541626 281000 75000 923663 616626 952297 648803 -307037 X X false true X true false X 816974 1115548 1359920 1295580 1145029 5733051 816974 1115548 1359920 1295580 1145029 5733051 1731288 4001763 853 853 2739 22198 808 1848 27593 5761497 210956 0.69460 0.66150 X 0 0 0 Pt II Ln 10 Other Income Part II, Line 10 Description: MISCELLANEOUS INCOME 2011: 2739. 2012: 22198. 2013: 808. 2014: 0. 2015: 1848. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED false false false false false false false false true 30000 30000 Pt II-B Line 1 THE ORGANIZATION UTILIZED AN OUTSIDE LOBBYIST TO PROVIDE EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY REPRESENTATION IN NEW YORK CITY AND NEW YORK STATE. 21227 1516 19711 38644 31681 6963 26674 DEFERRED RENT 7944 7944 X 1300092 133635 133635 1166457 1166457 1607129 133635 133635 1473494 1473494 Pt X, Line 2 The Organization has evaluated its current tax positions and has concluded that as of December 31, 2015, there are no significant uncertain tax positions for which a reserve would be necessary. HEROES GALA 453765 389215 64550 87635 453765 389215 64550 87635 87635 -23085 X X X false false false false false false false false false ROLAND LEWIS 174700 10000 3537 6204 194441 Other FORM 990, PART 1, LINE 1 DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION MISSION:THE WATERFRONT ALLIANCE WORKS TO PROTECT, TRANSFORM, AND REVITALIZE THE NEW YORK HARBOR AND WATERFRONT. IT DOES SO THROUGH THREE FOCUS AREAS: 1) COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION 2) POLICY INITIATIVES AND 3) DIRECT SERVICE. Other PART III, LINE 4A: COMMUNICATIONS AND COLLABORATIONREBRANDING, WATERWIRE, AND WEBSITE IN JULY 2015, THE WATERFRONT ALLIANCE RE-LAUNCHED OUR BRAND, WEBSITE, AND ASSOCIATED COLLATERAL (INCLUDING BECOMING THE "WATERFRONT ALLIANCE"-DROPPING "METROPOLITAN" FROM OUR NAME) TO CONVEY A CLEAR AND UNIFIED MESSAGE TO OUR AUDIENCES AND STAKEHOLDERS. THIS EFFORT ALSO INCLUDED A REDESIGN OF WATERWIRE, OUR TWICE-MONTHLY ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER WITH DISTRIBUTION TO MORE THAN 10,000 RECIPIENTS, FEATURING QUALITY JOURNALISM ABOUT WATERFRONT POLICY, NEWS, AND EVENTS. OUR NEW WEBSITE AND WATERWIRE ARE MOBILE- AND TABLET-RESPONSIVE, ALLOWING US TO LITERALLY BE AT THE FINGERTIPS OF ANYONE LOOKING FOR WATERFRONT NEWS, INFORMATION, AND RESOURCES. OUR WEBSITE CONTINUES TO BE SEEN AS THE LEADING SOURCE FOR REGIONAL WATERFRONT EVENTS, JOURNALISM, RESEARCH, WATERFRONT ACCESS, AND REGIONAL AND CITY-WIDE WATERFRONT POLICY. IN 2015 WE REVISED AND IMPLEMENTED A FULL-SCALE REBRANDING AND OVERHAUL OF THE SITE, INCLUDING FULL INTEGRATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKS AND A NEW CITY OF WATER DAY MICRO-SITE. MEDIA AND PUBLICATIONS THE WATERFRONT ALLIANCE CONTINUES TO ENJOY OUTSTANDING SUCCESS EARNING MEDIA EXPOSURE THROUGH OUR EVENTS, CONFERENCES, AND GENERAL ADVOCACY INCLUDING COVERAGE BY OUTLETS SUCH AS NY1 NEWS, NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO, THE BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION, THE NEW YORK TIMES, CRAIN'S, THE GUARDIAN, NEXT CITY, AND THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS. THIS SUCCESS HAS INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE POTENTIAL OF OUR WATERFRONT AND HAS INFLUENCED PUBLIC POLICY DISCUSSIONS AS WE WORK TO CREATE A MORE RESILIENT CITY IN THE FACE OF RISING SEA LEVELS. IN MAY 2015, WE RELEASED THE REPORT "CLIMATE CHANGE ACCOUNTING: WHAT IS THE COST?"-A CALL TO ACTION FOR A COMPREHENSIVE CAPITAL STRATEGY TO DRAMATICALLY REDUCE OUR REGION'S FLOOD RISK FROM CLIMATE CHANGE-RELATED STORMS AND SEA LEVEL RISE THROUGH 2100. THE REPORT IS AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD ON OUR WEBSITE. ALLIANCE PARTNERSIN 2015 THE WATERFRONT ALLIANCE GREW ITS ALLIANCE FROM 830 TO NEARLY 900 MEMBERS REPRESENTING MARITIME BUSINESSES, ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND RECREATIONAL BOATERS, AMONG OTHERS. PART II, LINE 4B: POLICY INITIATIVESFERRY TRANSIT PROGRAMSINCE THE LAUNCH OF OUR FERRY TRANSIT PROGRAM IN JANUARY 2013, THE WATERFRONT ALLIANCE HAS BECOME THE PRIMARY NON-GOVERNMENTAL ADVOCATE FOR EXPANDED AND ENHANCED FERRY SERVICE IN NEW YORK CITY. WE HAVE SPEARHEADED A TWO-PRONGED ADVOCACY STRATEGY, ENGAGING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO FACILITATE POLICY SHIFTS AND SECURE FUTURE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES, AS WELL AS ORGANIZING GRASSROOTS FERRY CAMPAIGNS IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM FERRY SERVICE. IN FEBRUARY 2015, THE WATERFRONT ALLIANCE ACHIEVED ONE OF ITS PRIMARY GOALS WHEN MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO ANNOUNCED PLANS FOR AN AFFORDABLE, FREQUENT, CITYWIDE FERRY SERVICE BY 2018. ONGOING ADVOCACY BY THE WATERFRONT ALLIANCE AT BOTH THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL AND TO ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES PRESSED THE ISSUE FORWARD, RAISING A CALL FOR FERRY TRANSIT SERVICE TO BAY RIDGE, ROOSEVELT ISLAND, CONEY ISLAND, AND OTHER UNDERSERVED DISTRICTS. WATERFRONT CONFERENCEOUR ANNUAL WATERFRONT CONFERENCE IS THE NEW YORK METROPOLITAN REGION'S PREEMINENT GATHERING FOR THE WATERFRONT, REGULARLY ATTRACTING MORE THAN 600 ATTENDEES. EACH YEAR, THE WATERFRONT CONFERENCE PROMISES A FULL DAY OF DISCOURSE, WORKSHOPS, AND PRESENTATIONS FOCUSED ON A BROAD WATERFRONT THEME. OUR 2015 WATERFRONT CONFERENCE WAS HELD ON MAY 7 ABOARD THE HORNBLOWER INFINITY UNDER THE THEME SHAPING YOUR 21ST CENTURY WATERFRONT, WITH KEYNOTE SPEAKER TIMOTHY BEATLEY, PH.D., PROFESSOR OF SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.WATERFRONT EDGE DESIGN GUIDELINES (WEDG)THE WATERFRONT ALLIANCE DEVELOPED WEDG AS A WAY TO ACHIEVE REAL AND NECESSARY CHANGE AT THE WATERFRONT. WITH INPUT FROM HUNDREDS OF WATERFRONT EXPERTS, WE CREATED GUIDELINES AND AN INCENTIVE-BASED RATINGS SYSTEM. WE EARNED THE SUPPORT OF ALL MAJOR GOVERNMENT REGULATORS. AND THE RESULT IS A LOGICAL, EASY-TO-USE TOOL FOR ANY TYPE OF WATERFRONT, WITH SCORECARDS TAILORED FOR THREE TYPES OF USES-RESIDENTIAL/COMMERCIAL, PARKS, AND INDUSTRIAL/MARITIME. WEDG IS DOING FOR THE WATERFRONT WHAT LEED HAS DONE FOR BUILDINGS.ON JANUARY 22, 2015, WEDG WAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED AT THE CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE. THIS LAUNCH INCLUDED A MONTH-LONG EXHIBIT TO PROMOTE THE WEDG GUIDELINES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE WATERFRONT ALLIANCE IDENTIFIED AND CERTIFIED FOUR DIVERSE PROJECTS (SHOWCASED AT THE WEDG EXHIBIT), AND SINCE THEN HAS IDENTIFIED AND REVIEWED MORE THAN 40 EXISTING AND PLANNED WATERFRONT PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE REGION FOR POSSIBLE CERTIFICATION (A FIFTH PROJECT WAS CERTIFIED IN DECEMBER 2015). WEDG WAS PRESENTED AT TWO NATIONAL CONFERENCES (THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN SEATTLE AND THE NATIONAL WORKING WATERFRONTS AND WATERWAYS SYMPOSIUM IN TAMPA) AND WAS THE RECIPIENT OF THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION NEW YORK METRO CHAPTER'S AWARD FOR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT IN 2015. PART III, LINE 4C: DIRECT SERVICE OPEN WATERS INITIATIVETHE OPEN WATERS INITIATIVE EXPANDS PUBLIC ACCESS TO ON-WATER EDUCATION AND RECREATION THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY ECO DOCKS. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO GET PEOPLE TO AND ON THE WATER AND ULTIMATELY DEVELOP A CONSTITUENCY FOR PROTECTING, CONSERVING, AND RESTORING THE HARBOR AND ITS WATERFRONT. IN ADDITION TO COMMUNITY ECO DOCKS, THE WATERFRONT ALLIANCE PARTNERS WITH DOCKNYC TO MANAGE PROGRAMMING AT DOCKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.IN 2015, THE WATERFRONT ALLIANCE HOSTED FIVE PUBLIC PROGRAMS AT EITHER CURRENTLY BUILT OR EMERGING ECO DOCK LOCATIONS, INCLUDING THE BAY RIDGE COMMUNITY ECO DOCK AND HALLET'S COVE. APPROXIMATELY 950 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THESE EVENTS. ADDITIONALLY WE PROVIDED PROGRAMMING FOR THREE DOCKNYC EVENTS, DURING WHICH APPROXIMATELY 550 PARTICIPATED. WE ALSO FINALIZED THE PERMITS AND BEGAN DESIGN PHASE FOR A NEW COMMUNITY ECO DOCK IN INWOOD, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR CONSTRUCTION IN 2016; AND DEVELOPED PROPOSALS FOR NEW COMMUNITY ECO DOCKS IN ASTORIA, QUEENS (HALLET'S COVE); HUNTS POINT, BRONX; AND STAPLETON, STATEN ISLAND.HARBOR CAMPHARBOR CAMP IS A UNIQUE WATER-BASED SUMMER CAMP THAT INTRODUCES LOW-INCOME SCHOOL CHILDREN TO NEW YORK CITY'S WATERWAYS. SINCE 2004, HARBOR CAMP HAS BROUGHT COMPREHENSIVE WATERFRONT EDUCATION TO MORE THAN 15,000 CHILDREN AND WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND EACH SUMMER. THE WATERFRONT ALLIANCE'S PASSION FOR HARBOR CAMP IS BASED ON OUR STRONG BELIEF THAT ALL CHILDREN IN NEW YORK CITY SHOULD INTERACT WITH OUR HARBOR AND WATERWAYS AND DEVELOP THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THIS RESOURCE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. IN 2015 THE WATERFRONT ALLIANCE EXCEEDED OUR GOAL OF SERVING 2,500 NEW YORK CITY CHILDREN BY REACHING 3,690 CHILDREN WITH 114 AT- AND ON-THE-WATER ACTIVITIES. CITY OF WATER DAYTHE WATERFRONT ALLIANCE'S ANNUAL CITY OF WATER DAY IS THE LARGEST FAMILY FOCUSED EVENT THAT CELEBRATES THE WORLD-CLASS POTENTIAL OF THE NEW YORK AND NORTHERN NEW JERSEY WATERFRONT, WITH A FOCUS ON ENGAGING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGH ACTIVE AND EDUCATIONAL OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. THE EIGHTH ANNUAL CITY OF WATER DAY-HELD ON SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2015- ENJOYED GREAT SUCCESS, DRAWING MORE THAN 20,000 ATTENDEES TO THE WATER WITH EVENTS ON GOVERNORS ISLAND IN NEW YORK, MAXWELL PLACE PARK IN HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, AND MORE THAN 50 ADDITIONAL CITY OF WATER DAY IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS (NEARLY 20 MORE THAN LAST YEAR) TAKING PLACE IN ALL FIVE BOROUGHS AND NEW JERSEY. SEVENTEEN FREE BOAT TOURS WERE OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC THIS YEAR, ALONG WITH 14 FREE FERRY RIDES BETWEEN GOVERNORS ISLAND AND HOBOKEN-A TOTAL OF 5,270 SEATS! Pt VI, Line 11b Waterfront Alliance has the form 990 prepared by an outside accounting firm and has established the following process to ensure that the information reported is complete and accurate. The President, Treasurer, and Finance Committee meet with the outside accountant and review the form 990 in detail to ensure that it correctly reflects all activities and policies at Waterfront Alliance. The final version is sent to the Board of Directors prior to submission to the Internal Revenue Service. Pt VI, Line 12c THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY IS APPLICABLE TO DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AND EMPLOYEES WHO CAN INFLUENCE THE ACTIONS OF WATERFRONT ALLIANCE. IF AN EMPLOYEE BELIEVES THAT THEY HAVE A CONFLICT, THEY SHOULD DISCLOSE IT TO THE CEO, WHO SHALL BRING THE MATTER TO THE ATTENTION OF THE BOARD. IF A DIRECTOR BELIEVES THEY HAVE A CONFLICT, THEY SHOULD DISCLOSE IT TO THE BOARD CHAIR, WHO SHALL BRING IT TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION.THE BOARD SHALL DETERMINE WHETHER A CONFLICT EXISTS AND IN THE CASE OF AN EXISTING CONFLICT, WHETHER THE CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTION MAY BE AUTHORIZED AS JUST, FAIR, AND REASONABLE TO WATERFRONT ALLIANCE. THE DECISION OF THE BOARD ON THESE MATTERS WILL REST IN THEIR SOLE DISCRETION, AND THEIR CONCERN MUST BE THE WELFARE OF WATERFRONT ALLIANCE AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF ITS PURPOSE. Pt VI, Line 15a The decision on salary of the CEO was taken by the full board on recommendation by the Executive Committee. Prior to discussion with the Executive Committee, the Treasurer and the Chairs of the Board and the Governance Committee reviewed comparable salary information researched by the Treasurer; performance reviews of the CEO compiled by the Governance Chair; the fiscal condition of the Organization; and prior salary history. Pt VI, Line 19 The Organization makes its form 990 available for public inspection as required under section 6104 of the internal revenue code by posting it on GuideStar.org and its own website. In addition, the financial statements, conflict of interest policy, articles of incorporation and by-laws are also available upon written request at 217 Water Street, suite 300, New York, NY 10038 or by calling the Organization directly at (212)935-9831. Pt XII, Line 2c The Organization estabished an Audit Committee in April 2015 that among other things, assumes responsibility for oversight of the audit of its financial statements and selection of an independent accountant. Form 990, Part IX, Line 24e MISCELLANEOUS 2907. 0. 2907. 0.