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Due Diligence Here we answer common questions regarding Friends of Nevada Wilderness and our activities. (Inspired by the book, Robin Hood Was Right: A Guide to Giving Your Money for Social Change, by Chuck Collins, et. al) How long has the group been in existence? Friends has been actively involved in protecting Nevada's wild places since 1984. Over the years Friends staff has grown as has our family of dedicated members and volunteers. Friends is becoming ever more effective in gaining protection for and, where necessary, restoring wild lands across Nevada. What is its track record? Friends of Nevada Wilderness, along with its founding board members, influenced every piece of federal legislation to designate wilderness in Nevada, including the 1964 Wilderness Act itself. To date, we have helped designate more than 3 million acres of wilderness in the state. Friends has also built a nationally recognized, statewide wilderness volunteer program to heal the land. Thanks to our volunteers, many places are wilder now than they were when designated. How does it evaluate its work? Friends of Nevada Wilderness is a results-based organization; ultimately what matters most is how many wild areas are protected, how many on-the-ground projects are completed to help heal the land (from illegal off road use, weeds, trash, etc), and how many people step up to advocate and care for their public lands. We measure all of these accomplishments. In addition to helping conserve over 3 million acres of wilderness, in the last few years, our volunteers have participated in more than 100 stewardship projects in 31 wild places in Nevada. Does it have a fundraising plan? Yes. Only through support from dedicated people, companies and foundations can we be effective in caring for Nevada’s wild places. In the most recent fiscal year, Friends raised more than $340,000. How, and from what sources does it raise its budget? Friends receives the bulk of its funding from private and public foundations. Friends currently receives no money from state or federal sources. Our goal is to meet expenses through a diverse set of funding sources, including a mix of individuals, foundations, businesses and earnings from our small, but growing, endowment. How is the group’s financial health? Our budget has increased to support ever-more successful programs for the last 7 years. Additionally, we are working to grow our endowment so the income it generates will provide a reliable financial base into the future. Even with our growth, $.72 of every dollar we spend goes directly to on-the-ground protection for Nevada’s wild places. Based on Better Business Bureau and other charity watchdogs, we meet or exceed Standards of Accountability. Does it produce and monitor a budget each year? Yes. Each January, Friends of Nevada Wilderness produces an annual budget, which is approved by our board of directors. It is carefully monitored throughout the year, and it is adjusted when necessary. Copies of our budget and IRS 990 report which details income, expenses, and other key financial indicators are available on request. |
 “As long as there is Wilderness in Nevada, there will be a Friends of Nevada Wilderness.” Roger Scholl – founding Board Member for Friends of Nevada Wilderness
"Wilderness is disappearing like a snow bank in the hot August sun." - Robert Marshall |
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