2015-08-12T05:36:18-07:00 2014-12-31 RICH AND BANDER LLP 15 WEST 28TH ST SUITE 7A NEW YORK NY 10001 990 2014-01-01 134355067 METROPOLITAN WATERFRONT ALLIANCE INC METR 2129359831 217 WATER STREET NEW YORK NY 10038 ROLAND LEWIS PRESIDENT AND CEO 2129359831 2015-08-12 true JONATHAN A BANDER 2126842470 2015-08-12 X 2014 2016-02-25 16:41:14Z ROLAND LEWIS 217 WATER STREET NEW YORK NY 10038 1449427 false X WATERFRONTALLIANCE.ORG X 2007 NY SEE SCHEDULE O FOR THE METROPOLITAN WATERFRONT ALLIANCE (MWA)'S MISSION STATEMENT. 23 22 14 600 0 1359920 1311103 66051 71253 544 235 -37805 -14838 1388710 1367753 0 0 680951 702095 34500 16657 95276 344042 487397 1059493 1206149 329217 161604 785229 952297 23170 28634 762059 923663 SEE SCHEDULE O. false false 469142 23879 SEE SCHEDULE O FOR COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION. 255740 SEE SCHEDULE O FOR THE ALLIANCE AND POLICY INITIATIVES. 288000 47374 SEE SCHEDULE O FOR DIRECT SERVICE. 1012882 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 14 true false false false false false true true false false false false X 23 22 false false false false false false false true true false false true true false 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 174433 0 2240 KATHY ROBB SECRETARY 2.00 X X 0 0 0 JENNIFER COSTLEY TREASURER 2.00 X X 0 0 0 JOHN BOULE VICE CHAIR 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 RICH MILLER DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 ANDREW MCGOVERN DIRECTOR 1 X MICHAEL O'KEEFE DIRECTOR 1 X STEVE WILSON DIRECTOR 1 X JAKE BEINECKE DIRECTOR 1 X ADRIAN BENEPE DIRECTOR 1 X HELENA DURST DIRECTOR 1 X JEFFREY HWANG DIRECTOR 1 X JULIE PULLEN DIRECTOR 1 X KATE SINDING DIRECTOR 1 X 174433 2240 1 false true false 333904 153986 823213 1311103 WATERFRONT CONSULTING 900099 45556 CONFERENCE FEES 900099 23879 BOAT RESERVATION FEES 900099 568 OTHER PROGRAM REVENUE 900099 1250 71253 235 66150 333904 81674 -15524 -15524 HONORARIUM 900099 115 115 MISCELLANEOUS 900099 571 571 686 1367753 72174 -15524 176000 149600 8800 17600 431645 371261 31973 28411 5699 4885 382 432 46756 40079 3137 3540 41995 35997 2818 3180 19205 16462 1289 1454 30000 0 30000 0 16657 16657 109940 107680 533 1727 37933 28689 1139 8105 10047 8612 674 761 45311 38840 3040 3431 2660 2280 179 201 7909 6780 530 599 6793 5823 456 514 2300 1972 154 174 PROGRAM EXPENSES 161291 161291 0 0 SPECIAL EVENT INDIRECT 28418 20959 0 7459 BAD DEBT 10750 0 10750 0 INTERNS AND TEMP HELP 10555 9047 709 799 4285 2625 1428 232 1206149 1012882 97991 95276 531502 583273 239195 297759 13667 11493 5212 59871 25932 3039 33939 18447 785229 952297 23170 25323 3311 23170 28634 X 449890 642663 312169 281000 762059 923663 785229 952297 161604 X X false true X true false X 811100 816974 1115548 1359920 1295580 5399122 811100 816974 1115548 1359920 1295580 5399122 1808593 3590529 0 2810 2739 22198 808 28555 5427677 195245 0.66150 0.60290 X 0 0 0 Pt II Ln 10 Other Income Part II, Line 10 Description: MISCELLANEOUS INCOME 2010: 2810. 2011: 2739. 2012: 22198. 2013: 808. 2014: 0. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED false false false false false false false false true 30000 30000 false 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 24416 14228 33939 DEFERRED RENT 3311 3311 X 1568760 201007 201007 1367753 1367753 1407156 201007 201007 1206149 1206149 Pt X, Line 2 The Organization has evaluated its current tax positions and has concluded that as of December 31, 2014, there are no significant uncertain tax positions for which a reserve would be necessary. HEROES GALA 400054 333904 66150 77763 3911 400054 333904 66150 77763 3911 81674 -15524 X X X false false false false false false false false false ROLAND LEWIS 174433 2240 176673 Other FORM 990, PART 1, LINE 1 DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION MISSION: THE METROPOLITAN WATERFRONT ALLIANCE (MWA) TRANSFORMS NEW YORK HARBOR AND THE WATERFRONTS OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY THROUGH ITS FOCUS ON THREE AREAS:1) COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION2) POLICY INITIATIVES3) DIRECT SERVICEMWA'S PROGRAMS IN THESE AREAS ADDRESS WATERFRONT ISSUES AND THE NEED TO PLAN AND ADVOCATE FOR THE WISE USE OF THE NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY WATERFRONTS. Other PART III, LINE 4A: COMMUNICATIONS AND COLLABORATIONMWA IS THE CENTRAL SOURCE FOR INFORMATION ON WATERFRONT ISSUES IN THE NEW YORK METROPOLITAN AREA. MWA PROVIDES A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS TO DECISION MAKERS AND THE PUBLIC FOR EDUCATION, DISCUSSION, PLANNING, AND COLLABORATION ON THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING NEW YORK HARBOR AND THE NEW YORK AND NORTHERN NEW JERSEY WATERFRONT. THESE DIVERSE PLATFORMS ARE INVALUABLE RESOURCES TO CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, THE STATES OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY, AND NEW YORK CITY.WATERFRONT COMMUNICATIONSMWA REACHES A BROAD RANGE OF INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS THROUGH ITS MANY COMMUNICATION TOOLS. THE ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER, WATERWIRE, WAS DISTRIBUTED TO APPROXIMATELY 9,000 READERS TWICE A MONTH. THIS NEWSLETTER IS A RELIABLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON WATERFRONT POLICY, NEWS, EVENTS, AND ALLIANCE PARTNERS THEMSELVES, AND CONTAINS LINKS TO THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA'S WATERFRONT REPORTING. MWA'S WEBSITE IS ALSO A SOURCE OF RICH CONTENT INCLUDING POLICY, PUBLICATIONS, RESEARCH, TESTIMONY, AND EVENT INFORMATION. IN 2014, MWA RELEASED THE FOURTH ANNUAL EDITION OF SPLASH!, MWA'S GUIDE TO LOW-COST AND NO-COST WATERFRONT EDUCATION AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WARM SEASON. THE GUIDE PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT WATER-BASED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT CAN BE USED BY CAMPS, SCHOOLS, AND INDIVIDUALS TO EXPLORE THE NEW YORK METROPOLITAN REGION'S WATERFRONT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.IN 2014, MWA ORGANIZED A COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO UNDERTAKE A REBRANDING ASSESSMENT, WHICH CUMULATED IN THE HIRING OF A FIRM TO REBRAND THE ORGANIZATION'S IDENTITY, BRANDING, WEBSITE, AND ASSOCIATED COLLATERAL. MWA AND ITS CONSULTANTS WILL DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE AND CONSISTENT DESIGN STRATEGY THAT CUTS ACROSS ALL PARTS OF THE ORGANIZATION AND WILL IMPROVE HOW THE MWA BRAND IS USED IN OVERALL MWA COMMUNICATIONS. (THE NEW BRAND, WEBSITE, AND ASSOCIATED COLLATERAL IS SCHEDULED TO LAUNCH IN JUNE 2015.IN SEPTEMBER 2014, MWA HIRED A DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT TO GUIDE MWA TO IMPROVE THE VISIBILITY AND MESSAGING OF ITS PROGRAMS, EVENTS, AND POLICY WORK AND ENSURE THAT MULTIPLE AUDIENCES READILY RECOGNIZE THEM. WATERFRONT CONFERENCEMWA'S ANNUAL WATERFRONT CONFERENCE IS THE NEW YORK METROPOLITAN REGION'S PREEMINENT GATHERING FOR THE WATERFRONT, REGULARLY ATTRACTING UPWARDS OF 700 ATTENDEES. EACH YEAR, THE WATERFRONT CONFERENCE PROMISES A FULL DAY OF DISCOURSE, WORKSHOPS, AND PRESENTATIONS FOCUSED ON A BROAD WATERFRONT THEME. MWA'S 2014 WATERFRONT CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON EQUITY AND RESILIENCE, SHOWCASED COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO ARE PLANNING AND ADVOCATING FOR THE FUTURE OF THEIR LOCAL WATERFRONTS, AND EXPLORED HOW ALL WATERFRONT PLANS MUST BE STRENGTHENED FOR ECOLOGY AND RESILIENCE. THE WATERFRONT CONFERENCE DREW A STRONG, ACTIVE NETWORK OF REGIONAL LEADERS, POLICYMAKERS, WATERFRONT ADVOCATES, ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS, AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, WITH OVER 600 PARTICIPANTS. WORKSHOPS INCLUDED: PULLING BACK THE CURTAIN: THE WORKING WATERFRONT, INNOVATION AND EDUCATION; AND AFTER THE STORM: IT'S ALL ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION.CITY OF WATER DAYMWA'S ANNUAL CITY OF WATER DAY HAS GROWN TO BECOME 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 FUN AND EDUCATIONAL OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. THE SEVENTH ANNUAL CITY OF WATER DAY ENJOYED GREAT SUCCESS, DRAWING MORE THAN 27,000 ATTENDEES TO THE WATER WITH EVENTS ON GOVERNORS ISLAND IN NEW YORK, MAXWELL PLACE PARK IN HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, AND 35 ADDITIONAL CITY OF WATER DAY IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT THE METROPOLITAN REGION, RANGING FROM VAN CORTLAND PARK IN THE BRONX, TO THE HUDSON RIVER PARK IN MANHATTAN, TO RIVERBANK PARK IN NEWARK. IN ADDITION, MWA GARNERED THE GREAT ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC TEA COMPANY (A&P), ITS FIRST PREMIER SPONSOR FOR THE EVENT.MWA'S TASK FORCESMWA'S SIX TASK FORCES, COMPOSED OF WATERFRONT EXPERTS AND ADVOCATES, SERVE AS THE ENGINE AND INCUBATOR FOR WATERFRONT POLICY AND PROJECTS IN THE NEW YORK METROPOLITAN AREA. MWA TASK FORCES PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND FEEDBACK ON THE WATERFRONT EDGE DESIGN GUIDELINES (WEDG) PROGRAM, THE FERRY TRANSIT PROGRAM, AND THE OPEN WATERS INITIATIVE ON AN AS-NEEDED BASIS. IN EARLY 2014, MWA FORMED THE WEDG TASK FORCE, WHICH PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN DEVELOPING WEDG CONTENT AND POLICY. THE NEWEST TASK FORCE REPRESENTS A BROAD COALITION OF STAKEHOLDERS AND PROFESSIONALS. ALSO IN 2014, THE MWA WATER MASS TRANSIT TASK FORCE, LED BY MWA BOARD MEMBERS HELENA DURST OF THE NEW YORK WATER TAXI, AND CHRIS WARD, FORMERLY OF DRAGADOS AND THE PORT AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY, HELD AN HISTORIC AND FIRST-TIME MEETING THAT INCLUDED ALL PRIVATE FERRY OPERATORS IN THE NEW YORK METROPOLITAN REGION. THEY MET TO DISCUSS AREAS OF CHALLENGES AND COMMON AREAS OF INTEREST RELATIVE TO EXPANDING FERRY TRANSIT. MWA WATERFRONT PLATFORM AND VOTERS GUIDE FOR THE WATERFRONTIN 2014, MWA WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL'S COMMITTEE ON WATERFRONTS TO COORDINATE OVERSIGHT HEARINGS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORKING WATERFRONT AND THE CITY'S NEW "ONE-STOP" PERMITTING PROJECT TO STREAMLINE WATERFRONT PERMITTING, AND PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE COMPREHENSIVE WATERFRONT PLAN AND EFFORTS TO EXPAND PUBLIC ACCESS.MWA ALSO MET WITH MAYOR DE BLASIO'S REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING THE NEED TO RE-LAUNCH THE CITY'S WATERFRONT MANAGEMENT ADVISORY BOARD, AN ADVISORY GROUP OF BUSINESSES, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, AND POLICYMAKERS TO SHAPE THE ADMINISTRATION'S WATERFRONT POLICY.THE ALLIANCETHE WATERFRONT ALLIANCE IS A COALITION OF MORE THAN 800 ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TOGETHER TO BRING ABOUT REAL CHANGE TO THE REGION'S 700 MILES OF SHORELINE. MWA'S ALLIANCE PARTNERS INCLUDE BUSINESSES AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TRI-STATE REGION AND BEYOND. MWA AND ITS ALLIANCE PARTNERS ARE A UNIFIED VOICE FOR THE SHARED WATERFRONT. MWA'S PARTNERS ARE HELPING TO BUILD CONSENSUS ON IMPORTANT WATERFRONT POLICY AND PLANNING ISSUES AS WELL AS COMING TOGETHER ON EVENTS LIKE THE ANNUAL CITY OF WATER DAY AND WATERFRONT CONFERENCE.IN 2014, MWA GREW ITS ALLIANCE PARTNERS FROM 772 TO 830.WATERFRONT GOVERNANCEMWA CONTINUES TO PUSH FOR AN EXPANDED COMMITMENT TO THE WATERFRONT, IMPROVED WATERFRONT GOVERNANCE, ADHERENCE TO THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE WATERFRONT PLAN, AND HONORING POST-SUPERSTORM SANDY COMMITMENTS THROUGH PRESS RELEASES, PUBLIC FORUMS, THE CITY'S WATERFRONT MANAGEMENT ADVISORY BOARD, AND MWA POLICY REPORTS. TO THIS END MWA FILLED THE NEW POSITION OF DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND POLICY IN DECEMBER 2014. MWA'S NEW DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEVELOPS MWA'S GOVERNMENT RELATIONS STRATEGY, POLICY, AND STRATEGIC PLANS TO ADVANCE MWA'S MISSION AND PROGRAM AREAS. PART III, LINE 4B: POLICY INITIATIVESMWA'S VISION IS TO MAKE NEW YORK HARBOR AND THE NEW YORK AND NORTHERN NEW JERSEY WATERFRONT ECOLOGICALLY HEALTHIER; MORE RESILIENT TO COASTAL FLOODING AND THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE; MORE ACCESSIBLE; SAFER; AND A RESOURCE FOR ALL PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF INCOME, SOCIAL STATUS, OR GEOGRAPHIC DISTANCE FROM THE WATER. MWA'S PROGRAMS AND POLICY MAKE REAL PLANS FOR IMPROVED ECOLOGY, RESILIENCY, AND PUBLIC ACCESS WHILE EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE HARBOR AND WATERWAYS, AND CULTIVATING STEWARDSHIP OF THESE INCREDIBLE RESOURCES.WATERFRONT EDGE DESIGN GUIDELINES (WEDG)MWA DEVELOPED WEDG AS A WAY TO ACHIEVE REAL AND NECESSARY CHANGE AT THE WATERFRONT. WITH INPUT FROM HUNDREDS OF WATERFRONT EXPERTS, MWA CREATED GUIDELINES AND AN INCENTIVE-BASED RATINGS SYSTEM AND 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. WITHIN THESE THREE TYPES OF USES, WATERFRONT PROJECTS EARN CREDITS IN SEVEN CATEGORIES: -SITE SELECTION AND PLANNING -PUBLIC ACCESS AND INTERACTION -EDGE RESILIENCY -ECOLOGY AND HABITAT -MATERIALS AND RESOURCES -OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE -INNOVATIONTHE YEAR 2014 WAS THE BUILDING AND PLANNING PHASE FOR WEDG, WHICH INCLUDED: -HIRING A DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH TO OVERSEE WEDG -DRAFTING VERSION 1.0 OF THE WEDG GUIDELINES (NOW A 150 PAGE MANUAL AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD ON THE MWA WEBSITE: WATERFRONTALLIANCE.ORG/WEDG) -CERTIFYING THE FIRST FOUR WEDG PROJECTS -CONDUCTING OVER 70 OUTREACH MEETINGS RELATED TO WEDG -ORGANIZING AND LAUNCHING THE WATERFRONT BUILDING COUNCIL, TASKED WITH CERTIFYING WATERFRONT PROJECTS THAT MEET WEDG'S CRITERIAWEDG VERSION 1.0 WILL BE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED IN JANUARY 2015 WITH AN OPENING EVENT AND MONTH-LONG EXHIBIT SHOWCASING FOUR CASE STUDIES AT THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS' CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE.FERRY TRANSIT PROGRAMMWA IS THE PRIMARY NON-GOVERNMENTAL ADVOCATE FOR EXPANDED AND ENHANCED FERRY SERVICE IN NEW YORK HARBOR. MWA HAS SPEARHEADED A TWO-PRONGED ADVOCACY STRATEGY, ENGAGING NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AN Pt VI, Line 11b MWA 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 MWA. 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 MWA. 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 MWA. The decision of the Board on these matters will rest in their sole discretion, and their concern must be the welfare of MWA 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 has estabished a Finance Committee that among other things, assumes responsibility for oversight of the audit of its financial statements and selection of an independent accountant. This process has not changed from the prior year. Form 990, Part IX, Line 24f EQUIPMENT 3063. 2625. 206. 232. MISCELLANEOUS 1222. 0. 1222. 0.