Muskegon Conservation Club

The information for Muskegon Conservation Club is as of the organization's most recent filing in February '21. This organization is located in Muskegon, MI. It has been in existence for 78 years, following its founding in 1943.

Organization Classification

The IRS classifies organizations according to the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) system. The NTEE system helps the IRS assign a 3-character code to each organization to describe the organization's activities.

The Muskegon Conservation Club's NTEE code is C30. The "C" tells us that the organization is classified as part of the Environment category. The "30" tells us that the organization is focused on Natural Resources Conservation & Protection. The NTEE describes these organizations as those that protect natural resources from abuse, neglect, waste, or exploitation and preserve their availability for future generations. The Muskegon Conservation Club is also governed by section 4 of the Internal Revenue Code, which includes Civic Leagues, Social Welfare Organizations, and Local Associations of Employees. The mission of the organization is to foster conservation, respect for the environment, and fellowship among sportsmen and women. They aim to save and defend the natural resources of the country, including its air, soil, minerals, forests, waters, and wildlife. Additionally, they provide training in conservation techniques and firearm safety to students.

Program Areas

Program Area 1: Facilities Operation and Maintenance - This program area focuses on the annual ongoing repairs and maintenance of the organization's buildings and growth grounds. It involves ensuring that the facilities are properly maintained and functional for daily operations.

Program Area 2: Conservation and other program expenses are incurred for the application of conservation procedures and for the training of children and adults in conservation techniques and firearms safety. The research portion of the program conducts migratory bird studies and amphibian count surveys each spring. Approximately 3750 individuals are served by this program.

Program Area 3: The organization focuses on maintaining the channel depth to facilitate recreational boating activities.

Organization Staffing

Muskegon Conservation Club is run by Steve Van Dyke, who is the President of the organization. The organization does not have any employees, as all the work is done by volunteers. Currently, there are 400 volunteers who generously contribute their time and efforts to support the mission and activities of the Muskegon Conservation Club.

Board Governance

The Muskegon Conservation Club appears to be well-governed based on the information provided. With 21 voting members, including 20 independent members, the organization ensures a diverse range of perspectives and reduces the potential for conflicts of interest. The fact that potential conflicts of interest exist is acknowledged, which indicates a transparency and awareness of the importance of addressing such issues. The organization's commitment to documenting both board and committee meetings further demonstrates a strong governance structure. This documentation ensures that decisions and discussions are properly recorded, promoting accountability and transparency within the organization. Additionally, providing copies of the 990 to the board prior to filing indicates a commitment to financial transparency and accountability. However, there are some areas where the Muskegon Conservation Club could improve its governance practices. The absence of a conflict of interest policy and a requirement for disclosure of conflicts may leave room for potential conflicts to go unaddressed. Similarly, the lack of a written whistleblower policy and document retention policy may hinder the organization's ability to effectively handle and address any misconduct or legal issues that may arise. Furthermore, the organization's failure to substantiate and review leadership and officer salaries raises concerns about financial oversight. Without this review process, there is a potential for excessive or unjustified compensation within the organization. Overall, while the Muskegon Conservation Club demonstrates some strong governance practices, there are areas that could be strengthened to ensure even greater transparency, accountability, and ethical standards within the organization.

Grant History

Our dataset includes two years of grant history for the Muskegon Conservation Club. In these two years, they have awarded a total of five grants, with an average check size of $6,640. All five grants were awarded in the Environment sector. Additionally, the organization has exclusively awarded grants in the state of Michigan, with all five grants being awarded there.

Organization Growth

The Muskegon Conservation Club has experienced mixed growth over the given time period. While contributions and grants received, program service revenue, investment income, other revenue, total revenue, and total expenses have all decreased, the number of total volunteers has significantly increased from 25 in 2015 to 400 in 2020. This indicates that while the financial aspects of the organization have declined, there has been growth in terms of volunteer participation.