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 |
||||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
![]() |
(a) 2019 | (b) 2020 | (c) 2021 | (d) 2022 | (e) 2023 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grant.") .. | 223,476 | 232,211 | 292,498 | 326,814 | 359,813 | 1,434,812 |
| 2 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf .... | ||||||
| 3 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge.. | ||||||
| 4 | Total. Add lines 1 through 3 | 223,476 | 232,211 | 292,498 | 326,814 | 359,813 | 1,434,812 |
| 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) .. | 361,921 | |||||
| 6 | Public support. Subtract line 5 from line 4. | 1,072,891 | |||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
![]() |
(a) 2019 | (b) 2020 | (c) 2021 | (d) 2022 | (e) 2023 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Amounts from line 4.. | 223,476 | 232,211 | 292,498 | 326,814 | 359,813 | 1,434,812 |
| 8 | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources... | 8,030 | 7,833 | 17,980 | 16,321 | 18,956 | 69,120 |
| 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.).. | 7,106 | 96 | 414 | 215 | 1,000 | 8,831 |
| 11 | Total support. Add lines 7 through 10 | 1,550,054 | |||||
Calendar year (or fiscal
year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2019 | (b) 2020 | (c) 2021 | (d) 2022 | (e) 2023 | (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.) | ||||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
![]() |
(a) 2019 | (b) 2020 | (c) 2021 | (d) 2022 | (e) 2023 | (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 2023 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-2023 |
(iii) Distributable Amount for 2023 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Distributable amount for 2023 from Section C, line 6 | ||||
|
2
Underdistributions, if any, for years prior to 2023 (reasonable cause required-- explain in Part VI).
See instructions. |
||||
| 3 Excess distributions carryover, if any, to 2023: | ||||
| a From 2018....... | ||||
| b From 2019....... | ||||
| c From 2020....... | ||||
| d From 2021....... | ||||
| e From 2022....... | ||||
| fTotal of lines 3a through e | ||||
| g Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| h Applied to 2023 distributable amount | ||||
|
i
Carryover from 2018 not applied (see instructions) |
||||
| j Remainder. Subtract lines 3g, 3h, and 3i from line 3f. | ||||
| 4Distributions for 2023 from Section D, line 7: | ||||
| $ | ||||
| a Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| b Applied to 2023 distributable amount | ||||
| c Remainder. Subtract lines 4a and 4b from line 4. | ||||
|
5
Remaining underdistributions for years prior to 2023, if any. Subtract lines 3g and 4a from line 2. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
||||
|
6
Remaining underdistributions for 2023. Subtract lines 3h and 4b from line 1. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
||||
|
7 Excess distributions carryover to 2024. Add lines 3j and 4c. |
||||
| 8 Breakdown of line 7: | ||||
| a Excess from 2019..... | ||||
| b Excess from 2020..... | ||||
| c Excess from 2021..... | ||||
| d Excess from 2022..... | ||||
| e Excess from 2023..... | ||||
| Facts And Circumstances Test |
|---|
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|
| Software ID: | |
| Software Version: |
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| FORM 990, PART I, LINE 1: | OUR MISSION IS TO PROTECT, PRESERVE AND ENHANCE THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES, INCLUDING AGRICULTURAL AND SCENIC RESOURCES, ON BOTH SIDES OF THE OHIO RIVER BETWEEN WESTPORT AND WEST POINT, KENTUCKY, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION THROUGH A THREE PRONGED PROGRAMMATIC APPROACH OF LAND CONSERVATION, ADVOCACY, AND EDUCATION. WE NOW PROTECT 2200 ACRES OF FOREST, FARM, MEADOW AND OTHER CULTURAL LANDSCAPES IN FROM DEVELOPMENT, AND WE STEWARD 65 FRAGILE AND BEAUTIFUL ACRES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 365 DAYS A YEAR. IN 2024 WE WILL CELEBRATE 65 YEARS OF ADVOCATING, PROTECTING, AND EDUCATING FOR THE RIVER, ITS LANDS, AND THE PEOPLE WHO DEPEND UPON THEM. IN 2023, WE LED MULTIPLE PUBLIC PROGRAMS ON PROTECTED LANDS TO EXPLORE NATIVE WILDFLOWER POPULATIONS AND HISTORIC BUILDINGS, AND WE ALSO PROVIDED EDUCATION FOR THE PUBLIC WITH A NEWSLETTER REACHING ALL 2000 OF OUR MEMBERS. WE REACHED THE FINAL STAGES OF EXECUTING A CRITICAL NEW EASEMENT ON MORE THAN 100 ACRES OF PRISTINE WOODS IN A HIGHLY THREATENED AND DENSELY DEVELOPED PART OF THE COUNTY. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A: | LAND CONSERVATION: THIS CORE PROGRAM AREA FOCUSES ON THE PERMANENT PROTECTION OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES, INCLUDING SCENIC AND AGRICULTURAL ONES, THROUGH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS OR THE PURCHASE OF LAND IN FEE SIMPLE. WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH LANDOWNERS AND CITIZENS TO ASSIST THEM IN EITHER EXECUTING CONSERVATION EASEMENTS OR DONATING THEIR LAND IN FEE SIMPLE. WE ALSO SERVE AS AN INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE FOR LANDOWNERS CONCERNED WITH THE FUTURE OF THEIR LANDS WHO WANT TO KNOW WHAT SOLUTIONS EXIST. WITH NEARLY 2,200 ACRES OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON CULTURAL LANDSCAPES INCLUDING FARMLAND, WETLANDS, FOREST, MEADOWS, AND OTHER VALUABLE AND FRAGILE PROPERTIES NOW PROTECTED FOREVER FROM HARMFUL DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES, RIVER FIELDS PROTECTS AN AREA OF LAND THREE TIMES THE SIZE OF NEW YORK'S CENTRAL PARK AND ADDS SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE METRO AREA'S TREE CANOPY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCY. WE HOLD EASEMENTS IN THREE COUNTIES AND OWN 65 ACRES OUTRIGHT IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. WE MAINTAIN OUR LANDS THAT WE OWN OUTRIGHT WITH ECOLOGICALLY-SOUND PRACTICES THAT PRIORITIZE PROTECTING BIODIVERSITY AND FLOOD RESILIENCE, AND WE KEEP THEM OPEN AND AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC 365 DAYS A YEAR. PROTECTING THESE EASEMENTS FROM LEGAL CHALLENGES AND MONITORING THEIR CONDITIONS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE BEING APPROPRIATELY PROTECTED FROM HARM IS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF OUR WORK. AS OF THE END OF 2023, WE ARE CLOSE TO FINALIZING A NEW EASEMENT IN A HIGHLY DEVELOPED AND THREATENED AREA OF SOUTHWEST JEFFERSON COUNTY, ADDING MORE THAN 100 ACRES OF PRISTINE FOREST TO OUR HOLDINGS. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4B: | EDUCATION: WE BELIEVE IN ENCOURAGING AND EMPOWERING ALL CITIZENS TO PROTECT THE RIVER AND ITS SURROUNDING LANDS. WE DO THIS THROUGH SEVERAL CHANNELS, INCLUDING OUR WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, NEWSLETTER, AND OTHER AVENUES TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PUBLIC AND EMPOWER THEM WITH INFORMATION. WE ALSO HOST EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING - ON PROTECTED PROPERTIES THAT ARE NOT USUALLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - ON TOPICS SUCH AS ECOLOGY, PLANT IDENTIFICATION, ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE, AND OTHER TOPICS DESIGNED FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES. WE ARE REGULARLY INVITED SPEAKERS AT MANY AREA CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL ASSETS THAT RIVER FIELDS PROTECTS. WE ALSO MAKE FREQUENT APPEARANCES ON LOCAL MEDIA TO PROVIDE THOUGHTFUL EDUCATIONAL CONTENT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING AND CHERISHING THE RIVER AND ITS NATURAL LANDSCAPES. RIVER FIELDS IS OFTEN LOOKED TO AS A TRUSTED AND INFORMED VOICE WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON TOPICS INCLUDING SUSTAINABLE PLANNING PRACTICES, THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING CULTURAL LANDSCAPES, AND THE IRREPLACEABLE TREASURE THAT IS OUR OHIO RIVER LANDSCAPE. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4C: | ADVOCACY: RIVER FIELDS TAKES POSITIONS BASED ON THE FACTS AND THE LAW, SEEKING CREATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT PROMOTE PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT OF NATURAL, SCENIC HISTORIC AND AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES AND OPEN SPACES. WE PROMOTE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT, ADVOCATING FOR DENSITY AND THE PROTECTION OF HISTORIC URBAN FABRIC AS SOLUTIONS. WE ALSO ADVOCATE FOR GOOD URBAN DESIGN, RATIONAL TRANSPORTATION DECISIONS, AND GREATER PUBLIC ACCESS TO OUR NATURAL AND CULTURAL ASSETS THAT THE RIVER OFFERS. WE ARE PROUD OF THE REPUTATION WE ENJOY AS A WILLING NEGOTIATOR IN THE EFFORTS TO ENSURE NATURAL AND HISTORIC CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION OF FRAGILE AND VULNERABLE CULTURAL AND NATURAL TREASURES. WE ADVOCATE FOR SENSITIVE LAND AND WATER USE. WE ALWAYS WORK TOWARDS THE PROTECTION OF CLEAN AIR, SOIL, WATER, AND HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS. WE HAVE FOR YEARS ADVOCATED FOR THE PRESERVATION OF IMPORTANT BLACK SETTLEMENTS IN THE LOUISVILLE METRO AREA THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN IGNORED BY OTHERS. OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS HAVE SHAPED THE PRESERVATION OF VARIOUS HISTORIC HOMES ON RIVER ROAD, THE HISTORICALLY BLACK JACOB SCHOOL NEIGHBORHOOD, AND OTHER CULTURAL LANDSCAPES WHOSE LOSS WOULD HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING AND IRREVOCABLE TO OUR COMMON HERITAGE. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 2 | ROBERT GRIFFITH AND MEME SWEETS RUNYON HAVE A FAMILY RELATIONSHIP. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B | THE 990 IS PREPARED BY THE ORGANIZATION'S ACCOUNTING FIRM FROM INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. ONCE THE FORM 990 IS PREPARED IT IS REVIEWED IN DETAIL BY THE TREASURER AND THE CEO AND PRESIDENT AND THEN SENT TO THE GOVERNING BODY. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C | THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES REVIEWS ANNUALLY AND DISCUSSES THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. EACH TRUSTEE IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THE POLICY ANNUALLY AND SUBMIT IT TO THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN. ADDITIONALLY, THIS POLICY IS DISCUSSED IN GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS. IF A TRUSTEE KNOWS OF A CONFLICT, THIS CONFLICT IS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE CHAIRMAN, CEO AND PRESIDENT AND GOVERNANCE CHAIRMAN. AT THAT TIME THE TRUSTEE IS ADVISED CONCERNING APPROPRIATE ACTIONS, THE CONFLICT IS DISCUSSED SPECIFICALLY AT THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE AND IF NECESSARY, AT THE BOARD LEVEL. IT HAS BEEN REGULAR PRACTICE FOR TRUSTEES TO BE REQUIRED TO BOTH WRITE LETTERS STATING THEIR CONFLICT AND TO LEAVE THE ROOM, AND CERTAINLY NOT TO VOTE IF THE SUBJECT OF THE CONFLICT IS DISCUSSED OR IF THERE IS A VOTE CONCERNING THE ISSUE. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A | THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S SALARY WAS ESTABLISHED BASED ON A BOARD REVIEW BY AN INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL SALARY AND BENEFITS FIRM WHICH USED NATIONAL COMPARABILITY DATA AND CONTEMPORANEOUS SUBSTANTIATION OF THE DELIBERATION AND THE DECISION. THE ONLY CHANGES IN SALARY SINCE THAT PROCESS HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN SOME YEARS, NOT IN ALL YEARS, BASED ON ONLY COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS. NO OTHER DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, OR KEY EMPLOYEES ARE PAID. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 | THE ARTICLES ARE AVAILABLE TO ANYONE FROM THE KENTUCKY SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE. THE ORIGINAL BYLAWS ARE SIMILARLY AVAILABLE BUT AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS ARE NOT. THE ORGANIZATION HAS NO CONSTITUTION. ITS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE NOT MADE AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY IS MADE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. |
| Software ID: | |
| Software Version: |