-Mike AndrewsThe Nature Conservancy

-Matt MenashesSociety of American Foresters

National Fish Habitat Fund, Inc.

• Rationale/Purpose for a 501(c)(3) • Overview of Process (Board and Chapters)• Questions

National Fish Habitat Fund, Inc.

• Will raise money• Will hold charitable donations for individual

Fish Habitat Partnerships (Chapters)

• Will hold funds for the National Fish Habitat Partnership

• Cost effective

Rationale/Purpose for a 501(c)(3)

Developed Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation

Incorporated in the District of Columbia

File for non-profit status with the IRS

Overview of Process

• Board of Directors recommended by non-federal members of the National Fish Habitat Board (Solicited recommendations in August)

• The Fund’s Board of Directors (BOD):– No less than eight and no more than 12

individuals– At least three will be non-federal members of

the National Fish Habitat Board

Overview of Process

• Chair of the National Fish Habitat Board will seek a majority vote of the non-federal members to elect a slate of or individual candidates to the BOD at the Fall meeting

Overview of Process

• We created a chapter model so we could include some typical organizational efficiencies for the FHPs.

– Insurance– Banking and accounting– Auditing– Simple governance model – “Chapter in a

Box”

Chapters

• As the Fund’s Board starts its work, a priority focus will be on engaging the FHPs in the chapter process.

• Immediately, however, we can begin holding funds for the FHPs.

• Once the non-profit status is achieved, we can begin providing charitable contribution letters.

Chapters

• Some ops. objectives for the Fund include– Providing cost efficiencies for FHPs– Engaging the FHPs in priority setting– Transitioning from a fiscal agent relationship

with AFWA to conducting its own business transactions

Chapters

Questions?