Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.
Go to
www.irs.gov/Form990 for instructions and the latest information.
| (i) Name of supported organization | (ii) EIN | (iii) Type of organization (described on lines 1- 10 above (see instructions)) | (iv) Is the organization listed in your governing document? | (v) Amount of monetary support (see instructions) | (vi) Amount of other support (see instructions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | |||||
|
Total |
0 | |||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
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(a) 2017 | (b) 2018 | (c) 2019 | (d) 2020 | (e) 2021 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grant.") .. | 322,169 | 333,142 | 620,531 | 400,059 | 654,541 | 2,330,442 |
| 2 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf.... | 0 | |||||
| 3 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge.. | 0 | |||||
| 4 | Total. Add lines 1 through 3 | 322,169 | 333,142 | 620,531 | 400,059 | 654,541 | 2,330,442 |
| 5 | The portion of total contributions by each person (other than a governmental unit or publicly supported organization) included on line 1 that exceeds 2% of the amount shown on line 11, column (f) .. | 979,855 | |||||
| 6 | Public support. Subtract line 5 from line 4. | 1,350,587 | |||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
![]() |
(a) 2017 | (b) 2018 | (c) 2019 | (d) 2020 | (e) 2021 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Amounts from line 4.. | 322,169 | 333,142 | 620,531 | 400,059 | 654,541 | 2,330,442 |
| 8 | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources... | 295 | 427 | 3,147 | 4,035 | 19,475 | 27,379 |
| 9 | Net income from unrelated business activities, whether or not the business is regularly carried on.. | ||||||
| 10 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.).. | 0 | 517 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 517 |
| 11 | Total support. Add lines 7 through 10 | 2,358,338 | |||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2017 | (b) 2018 | (c) 2019 | (d) 2020 | (e) 2021 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") . | ||||||
| 2 | Gross receipts from admissions, merchandise sold or services performed, or facilities furnished in any activity that is related to the organization's tax-exempt purpose | ||||||
| 3 | Gross receipts from activities that are not an unrelated trade or business under section 513 ..... | ||||||
| 4 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf... | ||||||
| 5 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge | ||||||
| 6 | Total. Add lines 1 through 5 | ||||||
| 7a | Amounts included on lines 1, 2, and 3 received from disqualified persons | ||||||
| b | Amounts included on lines 2 and 3 received from other than disqualified persons that exceed the greater of $5,000 or 1% of the amount on line 13 for the year. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 7a and 7b.. | ||||||
| 8 | Public support. (Subtract line 7c from line 6.) | 0 | |||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2017 | (b) 2018 | (c) 2019 | (d) 2020 | (e) 2021 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Amounts from line 6... | ||||||
| 10a | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources.. | ||||||
| b | Unrelated business taxable income (less section 511 taxes) from businesses acquired after June 30, 1975. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 10a and 10b. | ||||||
| 11 | Net income from unrelated business activities not included on line 10b, whether or not the business is regularly carried on. | ||||||
| 12 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.) .. | ||||||
| 13 | Total support. (Add lines 9, 10c, 11, and 12.).. | ||||||
| Section A - Adjusted Net Income | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
||||
| 1 | Net short-term capital gain | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Other gross income (see instructions) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Add lines 1 through 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Depreciation and depletion | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Portion of operating expenses paid or incurred for production or collection of gross income or for management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for production of income (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Other expenses (see instructions) | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Adjusted Net Income (subtract lines 5, 6 and 7 from line 4) | 8 | ||||
| Section B - Minimum Asset Amount | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
||||
| 1 | Aggregate fair market value of all non-exempt-use assets (see instructions for short tax year or assets held for part of year): | 1 | ||||
| a | Average monthly value of securities | 1a | ||||
| b | Average monthly cash balances | 1b | ||||
| c | Fair market value of other non-exempt-use assets | 1c | ||||
| d | Total (add lines 1a, 1b, and 1c) | 1d | ||||
| e |
Discount claimed for blockage or other factors (explain in detail in Part VI): |
|||||
| 2 | Acquisition indebtedness applicable to non-exempt use assets | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Subtract line 2 from line 1d | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Cash deemed held for exempt use. Enter 0.015 of line 3 (for greater amount, see instructions). | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Net value of non-exempt-use assets (subtract line 4 from line 3) | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Multiply line 5 by 0.035 | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Minimum Asset Amount (add line 7 to line 6) | 8 | ||||
| Section C - Distributable Amount | Current Year | |||||
| 1 | Adjusted net income for prior year (from Section A, line 8, Column A) | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Enter 85% of line 1 | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Minimum asset amount for prior year (from Section B, line 8, Column A) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Enter greater of line 2 or line 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Income tax imposed in prior year | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Distributable Amount. Subtract line 5 from line 4, unless subject to emergency temporary reduction (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| Section D - Distributions | Current Year | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Amounts paid to supported organizations to accomplish exempt purposes | 1 | |
|
2
Amounts paid to perform activity that directly furthers exempt purposes of supported organizations, in excess of income from activity |
2 | |
| 3 Administrative expenses paid to accomplish exempt purposes of supported organizations | 3 | |
| 4 Amounts paid to acquire exempt-use assets | 4 | |
| 5 Qualified set-aside amounts (prior IRS approval required - provide details in Part VI) | 5 | |
| 6 Other distributions (describe in Part VI). See instructions | 6 | |
| 7Total annual distributions. Add lines 1 through 6. | 7 | |
|
8
Distributions to attentive supported organizations to which the organization is responsive (provide details in Part VI). See instructions |
8 | |
| 9 Distributable amount for 2021 from Section C, line 6 | 9 | |
| 10 Line 8 amount divided by Line 9 amount | 10 | |
| Section E - Distribution Allocations (see instructions) |
(i) Excess Distributions |
(ii) Underdistributions Pre-2021 |
(iii) Distributable Amount for 2021 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Distributable amount for 2021 from Section C, line 6 | ||||
|
2
Underdistributions, if any, for years prior to 2021 (reasonable cause required-- explain in Part VI). See instructions. |
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| 3 Excess distributions carryover, if any, to 2021: | ||||
| a From 2016....... | ||||
| b From 2017....... | ||||
| c From 2018....... | ||||
| d From 2019....... | ||||
| e From 2020....... | ||||
| fTotal of lines 3a through e | ||||
| g Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| h Applied to 2021 distributable amount | ||||
|
i
Carryover from 2016 not applied (see instructions) |
||||
| j Remainder. Subtract lines 3g, 3h, and 3i from line 3f. | ||||
| 4Distributions for 2021 from Section D, line 7: | ||||
| $ | ||||
| a Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| b Applied to 2021 distributable amount | ||||
| c Remainder. Subtract lines 4a and 4b from line 4. | ||||
|
5
Remaining underdistributions for years prior to 2021, if any. Subtract lines 3g and 4a from line 2. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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|
6
Remaining underdistributions for 2021. Subtract lines 3h and 4b from line 1. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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|
7 Excess distributions carryover to 2022. Add lines 3j and 4c. |
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| 8 Breakdown of line 7: | ||||
| a Excess from 2017..... | ||||
| b Excess from 2018..... | ||||
| c Excess from 2019..... | ||||
| d Excess from 2020..... | ||||
| e Excess from 2021..... | ||||
| Facts And Circumstances Test |
|---|
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Pt II Ln 10 | Other Income Part II, Line 10 Description: Misc. 2017: 0. 2018: 517. 2019: 0. 2020: 0. 2021: 0. |
| Software ID: | 21013422 |
| Software Version: |
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Pt VI, Line 11b | The 990 draft was emailed to all board members for review. Each was requested to respond within the comment period with either an approval or with additions/revisions. Responses were then summarized and any changes forwarded to the tax return preparer for inclusion in the final version of the return. |
| Pt VI, Line 12c | Each board member and member of a committee with governing board-delegated powers annually signs a statement which affirms that the person: a. Has received a copy of the conflict of interest policy; b. Has read and understands the policy; c. Has agreed to comply with the policy; and d. Understands the Organization is a charitable one and, in order to maintain its federal tax exemption, it must engage primarily in activities which accomplish one or more of its tax-exempt purposes. In addition, every time the board discusses whether or not to accept a new case,the board members must disclose any interests that might give rise to a conflict. |
| Pt VI, Line 15a | During 2021 there were six attorneys who worked for Great Rivers. Bruce Morrison was the President. The other five were staff attorneys. The board members compare the salaries of the attorneys annually to similar positions in the St. Louis area and confirm that the attorneys chose to have lower salaries than the going rate for attorneys with their experience in small firms and with a specialized practice of environmental protection so more funds can be used for the program. |
| Pt VII, Col (F) | Great Rivers makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, audited financial statements, and 990's available to the public upon request. The audited statements and 990's are on its website. The 990's and other information can also be found on the Candid (formerly Guidestar) website. |
| Other | Pt.VII - line 1 - Officer of the Organization - Bruce Morrison, the President, was an officer of the Organization and also an employee. Missouri law allows employees to be officers of a not-for-profit organization. He is not paid for his officer duties nor is he a board member. |
| Pt VI, Line 15b | See the description above for Pt. VI, Line 15a |
| Other | Pt. XII, line 2a and 2c - The executive committee is responsible for monitoring the accounting processes and selecting who provides the accounting and auditing for the organization. The organization obtains an audit every other year. In the off years our CPA provides "preparation" engagement statements which are comparable to "compiled" statements. She completes a thorough review of the accounting transactions each year and consults with staff during the year about accounting and other business issues. She prepares our 990's. |
| Other | Part III, line 4 - Statement of Program Service Accomplishments - I.CLIMATE AND ENERGY PROGRAM Great Rivers works to address climate change by decreasing carbon emissions and encouraging cleaner energy. Missouri's electricity is among the most coal-intensive in the country, at 80%. Almost no coal is mined (or oil or gas drilled) in Missouri, and we have good wind and solar potential. Our utilities' coal-burning power plants are old and lack up-to-date pollution controls, which keeps them relatively cheap at the expense of the public's health and a stable climate. Great Rivers appears regularly before the Missouri Public Service Commission, the state's utility regulator. Where environmental voices were never heard before, we represent traditional environmental advocates like Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council along with front-line social justice organizations like the Missouri NAACP, Dutchtown South Community Corporation, and Metropolitan Congregations United. Together, we advocate for more energy efficiency programs, more wind and solar generation, and for electrification of transportation. In 2021, we were before the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) on a variety of matters, pressing Missouri's investor-owned utilities for change. II.ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PROGRAM Great Rivers is committed to monitoring permitting actions that will unfairly burden minority, low-income communities. On behalf of clients across the State, Great Rivers evaluates proposed pollution sources to determine whether government authorities have unfairly targeted disadvantaged populations. Matters include those involving air pollution, solid and hazardous waste, safe drinking water, energy, and lead poisoning. In 2021, we worked with community partners who have concerns about elevated lead levels in drinking water inside the City of St. Louis Juvenile Detention Center. The facility's director is receptive to reducing lead levels in drinking water within the facility. For the St. Louis County NAACP, we engaged with USEPA regarding EPA's "Strategy to Reduce Lead Exposures and Disparities in U.S. Communities." We continued to work with the Hyde Park Neighborhood Association to address trash and hazardous waste dumping as well as possible zoning violations at a facility in the Hyde Park Neighborhood. We continue to help the St. Louis County NAACP to draft and execute its advocacy plan concerning radiation surrounding Coldwater Creek in St. Louis County. We created and hosted an interactive training for the public on Missouri's environmental boards and commissions. The purpose of the training was to educate the public about these positions and help interested persons apply to these commissions. These boards and commissions make decisions that affect everyday health. Great Rivers continued to collaborate with the Mo. State Conference of the NAACP, the NAACP's national office, and Missouri NAACP local branches on environmental justice matters, and Bruce continues in his role as the Environmental and Climate Justice Committee Chair for the Missouri State Conference and the St. Louis County branch. III. SUSTAINABLE LANDS PROGRAM Our sustainable lands program consists of assisting individuals, citizens' groups and environmental organizations in their efforts to preserve and protect parks, open space, forests and wilderness areas. In 2021, the National Park Service released for public comment a Roads and Trails Management Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR). Great Rivers joined in group comments on the Roads and Trails Management Plan submitted by a coalition of organizations. Great Rivers also drafted and filed separate comments on behalf of Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper. In 2021, Shannon County refiled its lawsuit regarding unauthorized roads and trails within the ONSR, which we are defending for L-A-D Foundation. We also began helping a community in Howell County, Missouri, to organize and advocate over its concerns about water quality impacts to the Wild and Scenic Eleven Point River. IV. AIR QUALITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM Great Rivers seeks to protect the public health by preventing further deterioration of the region's air quality, and by reducing and preventing exposure to toxic substances. An important part of our Air Quality and Public Health Program involves monitoring actions taken by federal, state and local governments that will impact the quality of the air we breathe. Measures taken by Great Rivers include drafting comments to proposed rules, issuing position papers about pollutants, representing individuals in agency proceedings, and, as a last resort, handling litigation for clients seeking to improve air quality and public health. In 2021, we started discussions with several community partners interested in joining us in a community air monitoring effort, and we collaborated with two others regarding their community air monitoring projects. We engaged the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) on a number of draft air pollution permits. We also engaged with federal officials on several matters (with USEPA's National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, with USEPA on air monitoring, and with USEPA on lead issues.) Regarding U.S. EPA's investigation of our environmental justice complaint against MDNR, MDNR decided no longer to resist entirely the complaint and investigation and, instead, will attempt to work with EPA toward a voluntary resolution of the concerns. In 2021 we began a relationship with community members in Sikeston, Missouri, regarding air pollution issues associated with the Sikeston Energy facility (primarily through the NAACP Sikeston Branch). V. WATER QUALITY PROGRAM On behalf of our clients, Great Rivers seeks to protect and preserve the waters of Missouri and surrounding states. Our water quality program begins with monitoring proposed federal, state and local actions that will adversely affect water quality. Great Rivers is frequently involved in matters that adversely impact water quality. This includes assisting environmental groups, citizens' organizations and individuals in their legal challenges designed to protect the quality of the waters. In 2021, we continued to assist our community partners regarding water quality and coal ash through administrative processes and enforcement actions. We worked with Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper (MCW) to submit comments to MDNR regarding Ameren's proposal to ineffectively treat groundwater through underground injection at its Portage Des Sioux facility. MCW's position is that the waste needs to be removed, not left in the floodplain, 50 feet from the Mississippi River and perpetually posing a risk to St. Louis City's water supply and recreationists who use the river in the vicinity. In 2021 we worked with MCW to identify new targets for Clean Water Act enforcement efforts. These efforts lead to the discovery of facilities that are violating their permits. We continued to stay involved in water quality standards and attended various stakeholder meetings and submitted comments on MDNR's efforts to update water quality standards. In 2021, we served Sugar Camp Energy and its parent company with a notice of violation letter for violations of the Clean Water Act, RCRA and SMCRA resulting from the company's application of PFAS and toxic firefighting foam into a mine to extinguish a mine fire. The use of foam resulted in a discharge of PFAS and other toxic materials into nearby creeks. VI. WETLANDS AND FLOODPLAIN PROTECTION PROGRAM: MISSISSIPPI & MISSOURI RIVER BASINS On behalf of our clients, we challenge environmentally detrimental floodplain development and the over-engineering of rivers by means of levees and dams that destroy floodplains and aggravate flood risk. We monitor permit applications to dredge and fill wetlands. Great Rivers submits comments on proposals and assists environmental groups and individuals in their legal challenges to protect wetlands. These activities affect all of the people who inhabit and work in the watersheds of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers which drain major portions of the central and northwestern United States. In 2021, we continued to collaborate with partner organizations about unlawfully elevated levees. Several levee and drainage districts along the Mississippi River have elevated their levees without required approvals and without mitigating for increased flood Heights caused by these elevations. As a result, nearby communities in Illinois and Missouri are at increased risk of flooding. |
| Software ID: | 21013422 |
| Software Version: |