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 | |||||
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Total |
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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.") .. | 4,180,832 | 1,927,610 | 8,086,296 | 2,837,034 | 6,667,334 | 23,699,106 |
| 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 | 4,180,832 | 1,927,610 | 8,086,296 | 2,837,034 | 6,667,334 | 23,699,106 |
| 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) .. | 2,966,101 | |||||
| 6 | Public support. Subtract line 5 from line 4. | 20,733,005 | |||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
![]() |
(a) 2019 | (b) 2020 | (c) 2021 | (d) 2022 | (e) 2023 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Amounts from line 4.. | 4,180,832 | 1,927,610 | 8,086,296 | 2,837,034 | 6,667,334 | 23,699,106 |
| 8 | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources... | 139,626 | 139,990 | 226,392 | 125,852 | 294,768 | 926,628 |
| 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.).. | 23,248 | 1 | 3 | 23,252 | ||
| 11 | Total support. Add lines 7 through 10 | 24,648,986 | |||||
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) |
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| 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) |
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| 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): |
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| 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. |
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| 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) |
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| 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. |
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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. |
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7 Excess distributions carryover to 2024. Add lines 3j and 4c. |
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| 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 |
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| Return Reference | Explanation |
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| Software Version: |
| Return Reference | Explanation |
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| Form 990, Part I, Line 1 Mission or most significant activities | Big Waters Land Trust protects land and water for the benefit of people and nature. A nationally accredited land trust, we partner with landowners, businesses, government, and the community to identify critical land parcels and protect them in perpetuity. Our urgent work is accomplished by purchasing natural areas, holding voluntary land conservation agreements, creating, and restoring native habitats, and educating for responsible land and water stewardship. We continue to steward natural areas on twenty-six different properties totaling over 3,040 acres. This includes pine flatwoods restoration on Pine Island in Lee County, Myakka River restoration in Manatee and Sarasota Counties, and scrub restoration in Myakka City. Our work contributes to water quality, flood prevention, wildlife corridor connectivity, habitat protection, and unique public access, benefiting all those who call our region home. This year, we acquired a privately-owned property within the boundaries of Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park at the mouth of Tippecanoe Bay on Sam Knight Creek. The State of Florida purchased the property from us as an addition to the State Park. Secondly, we purchased one of the last remaining, large, privately-owned, undeveloped 64-acres along the riverfront of the Manatee River partnering with Manatee County to conserve Southwest Florida's critical natural areas for the benefit of all. 656 acres were saved in Sarasota County connecting the property to the Florida Wildlife Corridor and bringing the total conserved lands protecting the Myakka River to over 130,000 acres. Finally, we purchased a 58-acre conservation easement adjacent a previous 14-acre conservation easement in Manatee County bringing our official acres protected to 20,004 acres. Our community education, youth education, outreach events, speaking engagements, and volunteer programs continue to expand increasing number of community members engaged. This year alone, we engaged 7,305 community members. Through these interactions we are achieving our strategic goal to increase the perceived value of nature and conservation throughout the region by informing, connecting, and engaging people. In addition, we continue to expand in both the numbers and partner organizations and counties we reach. |
| Form 990, Part I, Line 6 Volunteers | Volunteers participate in the following ways: Board of Trustees, Board of Advisors, Committees, pro bono legal work, office administration, youth and community education, special event planning and implementation, community outreach events, and land stewardship activities. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 4 | Pursuant to the organization's name change, amended Articles of Incorporation were filed with the State of Florida on November 26, 2024. The Articles were amended as follows: Remove all of the below language in Article Ill, Paragraph A. The purposes for which the corporation is organized shall be to protect the environment, character and biodiversity of the Gulf Coast's bays, beaches and barrier islands, by acquiring and holding real property, conservation easements and nature preserves, and to provide education and training for responsible stewardship. 'Character' shall include historical resources, such as working waterfronts and marinas for the purposes of sports fishing, recreation, exhibitions educating the public about Florida's traditional working waterfronts, or the commercial harvest of marine organisms by state-licensed fishermen on waterfront parcels. Replace the language in Article Ill. Paragraph A with the following: The purposes for which the corporation is organized shall be to protect the land and water in Southwest Florida for the benefit of people and nature. We envision a future where the human and natural worlds of Southwest Florida flourish together. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11b | The completed annual Form 990 is reviewed by staff and approved by Big Waters Land Trust management. The audit committee then reviews the Form 990 with management staff, recommends to the Board that they accept its recommendation to approve the 990 and authorize management to file the Form 990 with the IRS. The Board then reviews and acts on the audit committee's recommendation. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c | Board members, staff, and volunteers are required to annually review, acknowledge their understanding of and compliance with, and sign the conflict of interest policy. The board is apprised of the response results and acts on all potential conflicts in accordance with required policy procedures. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15 | The President's contract and compensation are reviewed annually by the chair and vice-chair. They compare the compensation to industry standards and comparables, share their findings with and solicit input from all the trustees. During the budget process, the finance committee reviews all compensation. The board of trustees approve the budget, including the President's compensation. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 | Big Waters Land Trust's governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and audited financial statements, as well as the Form 990, are available for review in the organization's office. The past five years' Form 990 and audited financial statements, as well as the three-year Strategic Plan are available on the Land Trust's website. Form 990 and audited financial statements are also available for review on-line at Guidestar and through the Community Foundation of Sarasota County's Giving Partner website. |
| Form 990, Part VIII, line 8 | The organization's net revenues from the Party in Paradise, Feast Upon the Fields, Community Luncheon, and Wild About Nature events consist of contribution revenues, sponsorships revenues and ticket sales netted with the related expenses. The net revenue from the Party in Paradise and Feast Upon the Fields was $600,030 Included in this amount is $547,645 in sponsorships and other contributions which for IRS purposes is reported on Form 990, Part VIII, line 1c as contributions . |
| Form 990, Part XII, Line 2c Audit review process | There were no changes to the audit review process. |
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