Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage Inc SUMMARY Mission Dedicated to the promotion, education and preservation of Cortez and Florida s commercial fishing and other traditional maritime cultures including the environment upon which these communities depend. Contact Information Primary Address 4515 124th St W CORTEZ, FL 34215-0606 Alternate Address P.O. Box 606 Cortez FL 34215 0606 Phone 941 254-4972 Email Website Facebook fishpreserve@gmail.com http://www.cortez-fish.org Florida-Institute-for-Saltwater-Heritage- 228622397188701 General Information nprofit Organization Does Business As (DBA) Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage Inc 1
FISH FISH Preserve Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival FISH BoatWorks Tax Exempt Status Public Supported Charity Incorporation Year 1991 State Charitable Solicitations Permit Yes Aug 2018 State Registration Yes Apr 2018 2
BACKGROUND & NEEDS Impact Statement Protect and Preserve Coastal Habitat: Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) purchased the 93 acres of the FISH Preserve in 2001 and have added another 5 acres over the last 15 years. The FISH Preserve is made up of coastal habitat that includes mangroves, bay bottom and uplands. It provides for protected species include: 33 native plants, 35 non-bird animals, 39 native and seasonal birds, 27 fishes, and 18 other marine associated animals. With the approval of two new major residential and commercial developments in 2016-2017 the FISH Preserve is the last undeveloped parcels on northern shore of Sarasota Bay making this Preserve even more important to the survival of the ecosystem and species it protects. Preservation and education of traditional maritime cultures : The FISH Boatworks was developed to meet the objectives established in the FISH By-Laws. To encourage and develop maritime youth programs, coupled with the continuation of a traditional wooden boat building program". To this end FISH purchased the Wilkerson property, and restored the building to house our Boatworks program. Preserve Local and State maritime cultures: Cortez is on both the National and State Historic District Registries. It is one of the only remaining working waterfronts and commercial fishing communities in Florida. In continuance of preserving the culture and history which is unique to Cortez, FISH has funded the purchase of the Cortez Volunteer Fire Station and the Church of God now known as Fishermens' Hall. FISH and the citizens of Cortez have had a significant impact on maintaining a viable commercial fishing industry in Manatee County and the State, and it has sought to maintain the traditions and culture that make it a unique piece of Old Florida. Needs Statement 1. Funds to complete final phase of Preserve Restoration. This project will create 1.58 acres of open water tidal habitat, 0.65 acres of high estuarine marsh, and 0.96 acres of low estuarine marsh. It will also remove 3.2 acres of mature exotic trees (primarily Australian pines), and include the selective removal of exotics, and replanting with native coastal maritime hammock within an additional 3.4 acres of the site. Total project area is 25.2 acres. Projected funds needed $300,000.00 2. Once Preserve Restoration is completed funding will be needed to construct pathways through out the Preserve for public access, with educational signage, as well as bridges to connect preserve upland over two new water features. Projected funds needed $150,000.00 3. Construction of viewing tower on FISH Preserve Project cost $75,000 dollars. 4. Construction of a pole style barn with removable sides to house FISH fleet of historic vessels. Projected Funds needed $125,000 dollars. 5. Roof repairs on Fishermens' Hall Projected Funds needed $15,000 dollars. Background Statement Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) became a prime mover in Cortez preservation after it was organized in May 1991. We obtained our non-profit status in September that same year. For more than three decades the FISH sponsored Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival has generated revenues that have enabled FISH to acquire conservation lands, restore coastal habitat, preserve history and contribute to cultural awareness and education of the public. Cortez was added to the Historic Registry of National Districts in 1995 and has over 90 historic homes labeled 3
on a walking map of the village. It is one of the few remaining working waterfronts and commercial fishing communities in Florida. Fish played a significant role in working toward this designation. In the last thirty years the residents of Cortez have seen great change and been met with many challenges. Challenges such as the 1995 'Net Ban', the threat of a large marina that would have blocked the channel, threat from a high rise bridge and waterfront developers. In each instance the community did what was necessary in order to protect this unique place. Working with FISH and the community, in 2000 Cortez was designated a Florida Waterfronts Community. Unlike many of the other Florida Waterfront Communities the goal for Cortez was one of preservation, when most other communities were out seeking ways to develop economically, usually through tourism, Cortez sought to maintain it's strong cultural heritage. The challenge for FISH and the Village today is the promotion of local harvesting of fresh Florida Seafood instead of the importing of seafood from other areas. FISH wants to educate the public on the importance of maintaining the century old tradition of commercial fishing in the Village of Cortez and it's value to not just Manatee County but the State. History is important, we must know where we came from to know where we are headed. For Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) and the Village of Cortez our future will be directed by our past as we continue to work toward our mission: " Dedicated to the promotion, education and preservation of Cortez and Florida s commercial fishing and other traditional maritime cultures including the environment upon which these communities depend. Statement from the Board Chair Hello, first I want to thank you for your interest in our Organization and our mission, we are "dedicated to the promotion, education and preservation of Cortez and Florida s commercial fishing and other traditional maritime cultures including the environment upon which these communities depend. My family has been in Cortez for over 75 years, so this Village is truly where my heart is. Florida Institute for Saltwater (FISH) was established to promote and protect this unique and special place. I have been a member of FISH for over 20 years and I want you to know that as an contributor to FISH, you can be proud of being a part of an organization who sees the value in protecting our environment and the maritime heritage of Manatee County and Florida. FISH has worked very hard to bring about awareness to the challenges our industry and the Sarasota Bay shoreline faces, mainly from development, and the impact these challenges have on the economy of one of the oldest and last commercial fishing communities in Florida. FISH, in order to protect the very environment on which our economics depend, purchased 98 acres on Sarasota Bay, now known as the FISH Preserve. This land was purchased through support from the public and is a true testament to the will of the community to preserve and protect local coastal habitats. t only did we manage to purchase this 98 acres of coastal habitat, but in a partnership with Manatee County we have provided additional protection for the property by placing a County owned Conservation Easement over the acreage. Our job now is to complete the restoration plan begun a number of years ago. With your help we can continue to move forward in completing the task begun out of love for community, our industry and the environment. So we hope you will join us in our mission. Our Organization is entirely volunteer. 100% of your donation goes to the expenses of maintaining the organization and restoration of the properties owned by FISH which are solely owned to protect the history and environment on which Cortez was founded. Statement from the CEO/Executive Director Areas Served 4
FL- Manatee FL- Sarasota The FISH Preserve is presently open to the public on a limited basis so it serves both residents of Manatee and Sarasota Counties as well as those who visit our area. The Village of Cortez is the second most visited area of Manatee County according to the Manatee County's Tourist Development Council. We hope that as the Restoration of the Preserve is completed that it will become an integral part of the whole Cortez experience. Service Categories Primary Organization Type Secondary Organization Type Tertiary Organization Type Environment Arts,Culture & Humanities Environment 5
PROGRAMS FISH Boatworks Traditional Wooden Boat Building Description One of the objectives of our organization is to educate the public about the histories of boat building along the Florida coast and to encourage and develop a traditional wooden boat building program. To that end FISH established the Boatworks located at 11655 Cortez RD W. The FISH Boatworks offers the opportunity for volunteer participants to take a hands on role in the restoration or construction of one boat per year. There is no fee merely joining FISH and volunteering at the Boatworks. This offers our participants the opportunity to learn the skills associated with traditional wooden boat building, an art which is slowly being lost not just in Florida but throughout our country. Fiberglass has replaced wood as the material of choice in boat construction so this is an art FISH works to preserve through our Traditional Wooden Boat Building Program. The program's goal is to restore or construct one boat each year, that boat is raffled off at the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival. Budget $3,500.00 Category Program Linked to Organizational Strategy Population Served Arts, Culture & Humanities, General/Other Yes General/Unspecified Short Term Success The short term success of this program is in the opening of the door for those who participate in the program to gain the beginning skills needed for building a wooden boat. The completion of the project within the one year time frame is our measure of success. Long Term Success We assess the long term success as a function of the number of returning participants each year. Each new year brings a new project, something different either in restoration or new design. By returning our participants continue to increase and hone their skills year after year. While growing the skill-set of returning participants we are always seeking to add new people, this usually comes through media outreach as well as word of mouth from those already taking part. Program Success Monitoring We monitor our success by the return rate and comments gathered form participants at the end of each project year and by the increase in new participants each year. 6
Program Success Examples Over the years the Boatworks has completed numerous projects. One very note worthy one was the restoration of the Esperanza, a derelict Cuban boat that refugees had actually used to sail to the Florida Keys and freedom. The Boatworks program also built the Longboat replica used at the Desoto National Memorial Park. As previously stated each year the Boatworks' Traditional Boat Building Program builds a boat, last year's project was a beautiful 16' foot rowing dory restored by volunteers under the supervision of Board member Rick Stewart a master wooden boat builder. Comments Program Comments by Organization The Fish mission is one of education, preservation and protection of a maritime culture fast disappearing from Florida. As we strive to protect the industry on which this 125+ years old fishing village was founded we realize that there is a boat building culture that must be protected as well. An art form which is quickly disappearing in an ever more modern world. Cortez's commercial fishing industry has changed over the years but the value of the skills and methods used by the community founders, those who grew up in this maritime culture should be protected and passed on to future generations. These were skills they depended on not just to survive but to thrive. Therefore as an organization we recognize and have committed ourselves to educate, nurture and preserve the traditional wooden boat building skills of our past. 7
MANAGEMENT CEO/Executive Director CEO/Executive Director CEO Email ne ne ne Staff & Volunteer Statistics Full Time Staff 0 Part Time Staff 0 Staff Retention Rate % Professional Development N/A Contractors 0 Volunteers 15 Management Reports to Board CEO/Executive Director Formal Evaluation Senior Management Formal Evaluation nmanagement Formal Evaluation N/A N/A N/A N/A Collaborations Over the years FISH has collaborated with a number of recognized organizations. Presently Fish has a partnership with Sarasota Bay Estuary Program working to complete the habitat restoration of the FISH Preserve. We both recognize the environmental and economic value of maintaining this coastal habitat that includes mangroves, bay bottom and uplands. Our partnership with Manatee County Government on the FISH Preserve by excepting and placing a conservation easement over the acreage provides added protection for this land into the future. FISH is a partner with the Cortez Village Historical Society working to protect, preserve and educate the community on the history and maritime culture of this 125+ year old fishing village and the commercial fishing industry on which it relies. Our partnership as members of the Manatee Chapter of Fishing for Freedom provides a connection directly to our commercial fishermen and the challenges they face from Federal and State legislation. FISH also collaborates with Suncoast Waterkeeper. They help assure clean healthy bay water and protect coastal environments throughout our region, again the environment on which the fishing industry depends. Collaboration has and will continue to be important to FISH. 8
GOVERNANCE Board Chair Board Chair Kim McVey Company Affiliation Cortez Bait and Seafood Board Term May 2016 to Apr 2018 Board Chair Email kimcortezbait@verizon.net Board Members Name Affiliation Status Karen Bell Bell Seafood & Star Fish Co. Market and Restaurant Voting Kaye Bell Retired Voting Doug Calhoun Retired Voting Mark Coarsey Manatee Chapter Fishing For Freedom Voting Angela Collins IFAS Sea Grants Exofficio Herman Kruegle Retired Voting Rose Lipke Community Volunteer Voting Kim McVey Cortez Bait and Seafood Voting Bill Miller Retired Voting Linda Molto Retired Voting Michael rthfield Retired Voting Pat Potts A.P. Bell Seafood Voting John Stevely Retired Voting Rick Stewart Duette Carriage Company Voting Plum Taylor Retired Voting Jane von Hahmann Retired Voting Board Demographics - Ethnicity African American/Black 0 Asian American/Pacific Islander 0 Caucasian 16 Hispanic/Latino 0 Native American/American Indian 0 Other 0 0 Board Demographics - Gender Male 7 Female 9 t Specified 0 9
Governance Board Term Lengths 3 Board Term Limits 99 Board Orientation Number of Full Board Meetings Annually 10 Board Meeting Attendance % 84 Board Self-Evaluation Written Board Selection Criteria Percentage of Board Making Monetary Contributions 100 Percentage of Board Making In-Kind Contributions 100 Constituency Includes Client Representation Comments Governance Comments by Organization FISH is a very longstanding Organization. We have seen challenges in Board attendance however over the last 3 years we have had above average attendance and active participation by the majority of our Board. We recently made some BY-Law changes to address our Board makeup which we believe will serve the organization better. 10
FINANCIALS Current Financial Info Fiscal Year Begins 2018 Fiscal Year Ends 2018 Projected Revenue $340,000.00 Projected Expenses $300,000.00 Total Projected Revenue includes "in-kind" contributions/ donations Endowment Value $0.00 Spending Policy N/A Spending Policy Percentage 0 Tax Credits Capital Campaign In a Capital Campaign Campaign Goal 0 Anticipate Campaign Within Next 5 Years? IRS Form 990s FISH 2016 990 Tax Filing FISH 990 Taxes Filing 2015 FISH 990 Taxes Filing 2014 FISH 990 Taxes Filing 2013 Form 990 Form 990 Form 990 Form 990 Form 990 Audit/Financial Documents FISH YTD 11/21/2016 Balance Sheet / P&L FISH 2015 Balance Sheet / P&L FISH 2014 Balance Sheet / P&L FISH 2013 Balance Sheet / P&L Solvency Short Term Solvency 11
Fiscal Year 2016 2015 2014 Current Ratio: Current Assets/Current -- -- -- Liabilities Long Term Solvency Fiscal Year 2016 2015 2014 Long-Term Liabilities/Total Assets 28% 24% 22% Historical Financial Review Revenue and Expenses Fiscal Year 2016 2015 2014 Total Revenue $121,840 $121,247 $132,518 Total Expenses $89,343 $265,791 $134,652 Revenue Sources Fiscal Year 2016 2015 2014 Foundation and Corporation $0 $0 $0 Contributions Government Contributions $0 $0 $0 Federal $0 $0 $0 State $0 $0 $0 Local $0 $0 $0 Unspecified $0 $0 $0 Individual Contributions $950 $7,445 $6,249 Indirect Public Support $0 $0 $0 Earned Revenue $28,995 $22,650 $30,135 Investment Income, Net of Losses $492 $190 $405 Membership Dues $2,855 $2,100 $3,150 Special Events $88,526 $88,541 $90,200 Revenue In-Kind $0 $0 $0 Other $22 $321 $2,379 Expense Allocation Fiscal Year 2016 2015 2014 Program Expense $78,856 $249,947 $119,652 Administration Expense $10,487 $15,844 $15,000 Fundraising Expense $0 $0 $0 Payments to Affiliates $0 $0 $0 Total Revenue/Total Expenses 1.36 0.46 0.98 Program Expense/Total Expenses 88% 94% 89% Fundraising Expense/Contributed Revenue 0% 0% 0% Assets and Liabilities Fiscal Year 2016 2015 2014 Total Assets $1,182,270 $1,076,073 $1,237,200 Current Assets $93,924 $168,445 $332,304 Long-Term Liabilities $332,117 $258,417 $275,000 Current Liabilities $0 $0 $0 Total Net Assets $850,153 $817,656 $962,200 Top Funding Sources 12
Fiscal Year 2016 2015 2014 Top Funding Source & Dollar Amount Fundraising $88,526 Fundraising $88,541 Fundraising $90,200 Second Highest Funding Source & Dollar Net Rental Income Net rental income Net rental income Amount $28,160 $21,700 $24,124 Third Highest Funding Source & Dollar Amount Membership Dues $2,855 Contributions, gifts, grants $7,445 Contributions, gifts, grants $6,249 Comments Financial Comments by Organization FISH is a volunteer organization.this allows all funds raised to go toward our mission whether it be the continued restoration of our 98 acre Preserve or the restoration of Fishermens' Hall, or the community volunteer Firehouse. Both the Fishermens' Hall and the community volunteer Firehouse are significant and important cultural landmarks in the Village. FISH presently is dependent on a single fundraiser each year, the "Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival". The Festival plus our membership fee which is extremely low, $10 for an Individual $20 for a family, are the source of our operational income. Our membership stays around 200 +/- a few members year after year. 2017 will be the 35th Annual Festival held in the Village. We have been blessed over the years to see growth in attendance and earnings which have allowed FISH to not only cover all operational expenses but to fund a large portion of the purchase price on the last two lots in the FISH Preserve, the hole in the doughnut if you will. The Board of Directors is ever cognizant of the fact that one bad year of weather could have a significant impact on our funding. Therefore we do carry a one year operating reserve. FISH has also been able to obtain grants to fund much of the Preserve Restoration to date and we will continue to seek grants and to partner with other organizations such as Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and Manatee County to complete the restoration. However we recognize the need to build additional revenue opportunities. Joining 'The Giving Partner' provides us an online presence for donations we presently lack. We will be able to reach out to those interested in the goals and objectives of our mission:"dedicated to the promotion, education, and preservation of Cortez and Florida's commercial fishing and other traditional maritime cultures including the environment upon which these communities depend." The Board is also looking to develop at least one additional annual fundraiser. Financial Comments by Foundation Financial information taken from the organization's Federal 990. 13
PLANS, POLICIES & LICENSES Plans Fundraising Plan Communication Plan Strategic Plan Management Succession Plan Continuity of Operations Plan Policies Organizational Policies and Procedures Written Conflict of Interest Policy ndiscrimination Policy Directors and Officers Insurance Policy Risk Management Policy Commercial General Liability General Property Coverage Special Event Liability Accident and Injury Coverage Whistle Blower Policy Document Destruction Policy Yes Yes Affiliations Affiliation Year Fresh From Florida 2010 Government Licenses Is your organization licensed by the Government? Planning & Policies Comments Planning & Policies Comments by Organization Planning & Policies Comments by Foundation Created 04.26.2018. Copyright 2018 14