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Annual Report 1998 -1999
© 2000 The Beldon FundPrinted on 100% post-consumer chlorine-free recycled paper with vegetable-based inks.
Patricia Bauman Co-Director, Bauman Foundation
•Newell FlatherPresident, Grants Management Associates
••Wade GreeneWriterPhilanthropic Advisor, Rockefeller FinancialServices
John HuntingPresident, Board Chair, and TreasurerPresident, JRH Associates
•Diane IvesConsultant
Gene KarpinskiExecutive Director, U.S. PIRG
Roger Milliken, Jr., Vice ChairPresident, Baskahegan Co.
Lael StegallPresident, Social Change International
Holly Schadler, CounselStaff Attorney, Perkins Coie
••Ann Fowler WallaceConsultant
• Through July 2000.•• As of August 2000.
Let’s consider our world not as inherited from our parents,
but as borrowed from our children.
—Kenyan Proverb
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
President’s Message
Executive Director’s Letter
1999 Grants
1998 Grants
Fund Guidelines
Fund Application Process
Financial Statements
CONTENTS2
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15
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20
Since my last President’s Report, there have been some major changes to theBeldon Fund: Assets have increased from $10 million to $100 million (thanksto a public offering of Steelcase stock); annual payout has increased from about$1 million to more than $10 million; staff has increased from 2 to 13; and ourguidelines have greatly expanded. At the same time, the Fund has moved fromWashington, D.C. to New York City.
In short, it ’s been a heady trip, but we have been blessed with a caringboard and expert leadership. Bill Roberts became Beldon’s ExecutiveDirector in December, 1998, after many years with the EnvironmentalDefense Fund, and was soon joined by Chief Operating Officer RonLawson. Together, with the rest of our dedicated staff, they have led thefoundation to new heights. I speak for all board members in saluting them.
I also thank the board members themselves for their hard work, intelli-gence, and sense of humor, which ishelping Beldon to make a differencein healing our planet. A specialthank-you to Diane Ives and NewellFlather who are leaving the boardafter their invaluable contributionshelped move Beldon forward. Wewill miss them as we welcome AnnFowler Wallace and Wade Greene tothe board.
As Beldon has increased itscapacity to do good, the challengesfacing us have multiplied. Every daybrings announcements of new envi-ronmental disasters in our owncountry and from around the globe.Of special concern to Beldon is thecontinued chemical poisoning of ourair, water, and land. As a result, all ofus—especially children and theunborn—carry a growing toxic bur-den in our bodies.
Solutions to such problems liein developing an informed public as
quickly as possible - especially in the United States, the supposed leader of thefree world. The obstacles—among them public apathy and corporate amorali-ty—are enormous. But I pledge that we will do our best to overcome them sothat all future generations will have a chance to live in peace and harmony witheach other and with Nature.
Onward!
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all, our most
pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it, and to foster its renewal, is our
only hope. —Wendell Berry
2
Let me begin my first annual report as Executive Director of the Beldon Fundby thanking John Hunting for giving me the opportunity to help lead Beldonas we try to have an impact on the planet during the next few years. John hasalways viewed the world’s environmental crisis for what it is, a crisis. His will-ingness to dramatically and aggressively increase and accelerate his philan-thropy over the next 10 years is the truest test of his commitment to addressthis crisis. The Beldon Fund has always been about making a real difference;the staff and I remain committed to that goal.
Before looking ahead, I must recognize the hard work reflected in thisreport by my predecessors, Judy Donald, Diane Ives, and Cathy Lerza. Theyraised grantmaking to an art form and all Beldon staff have learned from theirexample the intricacies of skillful grantmaking. In searching for the “right”way to do grantmaking, we continue to look to them as models.
Since I came aboard the Beldon Fund in the winter of 1998, a number ofmajor changes have taken place, all with an eye toward achieving John’s visionof “making a difference in 10 years” and building on the kind of grantmakingthat has been Beldon’s historical focus. As a result, our keen interest in statelevel advocacy continues, embodied in our “Key Places” program. Our long-standing commitment to environmental health retains a central role in ourgrantmaking. And, new initiatives in corporate power, religion, and globalwarming round out our grantmaking to encompass issues where we believereal change must occur. Meanwhile, the Dedicated Fund provides continuitywith Beldon’s past grantmaking andenables us to seize unexpectedopportunities. With our expandedagenda, the Beldon Fund remainscommitted to vigorous advocacy.
Changes in a foundation’sgrantmaking are always excitingand nerve-wracking. In the wordsof a Beldon staff member, “We ’rebuilding the bicycle as we ride it.”As we smooth out the roughedges, we remain committed toBeldon’s Mission “to achieve asocietal consensus for the person-al, economic, and policy changesnecessary to achieve and sustain ahealthy planet.”
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S LETTER
Beldon President John Hunting and Executive Director Bill Roberts
3
KEY PLACES
Green CorpsBoston, MA $800,000/Three yearsGeneral Support
To expand the EnvironmentalLeadership Program, which trainscollege graduates for positions ofleadership in the environmentalmovement, focusing on Beldon’sKey Places.
Environmental Support CenterWashington, DC$250,000—Project Support
To strengthen the organizationaleffectiveness of local, state, andregional organizations working onenvironmental issues throughtraining and organizational assis-tance, environmental loan fund,and workplace solicitation pro-grams in Beldon’s Key Places.
Institute for ConservationLeadershipWashington, DC$25,000—General Support
To provide capacity-building andorganization-development assis-tance to environmental groups inBeldon’s Key places.
League of Conservation VotersEducation FundWashington, DC$250,000—General Support
To continue its state and nationalefforts to strengthen citizen par-ticipation in policymaking thataffects the environment, particu-larly in Beldon’s Key Places.
Federation of State Leagues ofConservation VotersOakland, CA$75,000—General Support
To continue strengthening thecapacity of state leagues of con-servation voters to shape environ-mental policy at the local andstate levels, particularly in Bel-don’s Key Places.
HUMAN HEALTH ANDTHE ENVIRONMENT
Environmental Working GroupWashington, DC$300,000—Project Support
To initiate a national research,public education, and advocacyeffort to strengthen enforcementof environmental laws and regula-tions at the state and federal levels.
Center for Health, Environment,and JusticeFalls Church, VA$100,000—General Support
To continue its assistance tograssroots groups on toxics issues,as well as promote the develop-ment of a Children’s Envi-ronmental Health Project.
Legal Environmental AssistanceFoundationTallahassee, FL$50,000—General Support
To continue its efforts to pressfor vigorous implementation andenforcement of Florida’s pollu-tion laws.
RELIGION AND THEENVIRONMENT
National Catholic Rural LifeConferenceDes Moines, IA$100,000—General Support
To expand the organization’s edu-cation and advocacy programsthat focus on sustainable agricul-ture, water quality, watersheds,land-use, factory farms, and otherenvironmental matters affectingrural communities.
National Council of Churches ofChristNew York, NY$200,000—Project Support
To expand the public’s understand-ing of global warming by enablingreligious communities in Beldon’sKey Places and other states to par-ticipate in the climate changedebate and to help shape the ener-gy policies in their communities.
The Regeneration ProjectSan Francisco, CA$50,000—General Support
To support its Episcopal Power &Light project which strives toreduce greenhouse gas emissionsby educating and assisting reli-gious communities in buying elec-tricity from suppliers that rely onsolar, wind, and other renewablesources of power and by promot-ing energy efficiency programs.
BELDON FUND 1999 GRANTS
4
GLOBAL WARMING
Ozone ActionWashington, DC$150,000—Project Support
To expand its global warmingcampaign on college campuses andto assist college students, faculty,and others who are urging univer-sities to divest their financial hold-ings in oil and auto companies thatcontribute to global warming.
DEDICATED FUND
The Beldon Board of Trustees alsoapproved the following recommen-dations for grants from theDedicated Fund of the TidesFoundation.
Alaska Conservation AllianceAnchorage, AK$40,000/Two years—General Support
To improve the effectiveness ofAlaska’s environmental advocacy.
Oregon League of ConservationVoters Education FundPortland, OR$40,000/Two years—General Support
To improve the effectiveness ofOregon’s environmental advocacy.
Washington EnvironmentalAlliance for Voter EducationSeattle, WA$50,000—General Support
To improve the effectiveness ofWashington’s environmental ad-vocacy.
When God said, “Let there be light!” she may not haveanticipated global warming. Today, though, we know thatalmost all energy use generates waste greenhouse gases, whichbuild up in the atmosphere and trap heat radiating from Ear thback to space. The consequences over the next century maybe severe.
For the Reverend Sally Grover Bingham, an Episcopal priestin San Francisco, global warming is not just an esoteric con-cept. It is a direct threat to all of Creation. She star ted TheRegeneration Project a few years ago because of a strongsense that the faith community ought to be leading the envi-ronmental movement, not be dragged in at the end.
“We are called to be good stewards of creation,” she says.To be better stewards, she and Steve MacAusland, anEpiscopalian from Massachusetts with a background in energy,star ted Episcopal Power & Light as the first initiative of TheRegeneration Project. The goal is to take advantage of energyderegulation by convincing Episcopal churches—and eventuallyparishioners and other faith communities—to choose greenerforms of energy.
The Regeneration Project/EpiscopalPower & Light
The Reverend Sally
Grover Bingham is
the environmental
minister at Grace
Cathedral, which is
one of many places of
worship participating
in the Episcopal
Power & Light
Program and pur-
chasing cleaner elec-
tricity.
5
STATE AND REGIONALORGANIZATIONS
Alaska Conservation AllianceAnchorage, AK $20,000
To expand public support for envi-ronmental protection in Alaska.
Arkansas Public Policy PanelLittle Rock, AR $15,000
To strengthen and link environ-mental groups in Arkansas.
Campaign for a ProsperousGeorgiaAtlanta, GA $10,000—Matching Grant
To match individual high donorcontributions of $500 or more forCPG’s work on energy and globalwarming issues.
Colorado Public InterestResearch FoundationDenver, CO$20,000
To improve outreach capacity andconduct public education onissues of concern to Coloradoans,such as suburban sprawl.
Dakota Resource CouncilDickinson, ND $35,000/Two years
To carry out chapter-based orga-nizing to protect North Dakota’snatural resources.
Environmental Federation ofNorth CarolinaDurham, NC $20,000
To develop the North CarolinaConservation Futures project, anetwork of environmental organi-zations throughout the state.
Environmental League of Mas-sachusetts Education Fund Boston, MA $25,000
To coordinate activities promotingenvironmental protection in Mas-sachusetts, including the develop-ment of the MassachusettsEnvironmental Collaborative.
Idaho Conservation LeagueBoise, ID $40,000/Two years
To coordinate citizen participa-tion and education on environ-mental protection in Idaho.
Idaho Rural CouncilBoise, ID$15,000
To carry out chapter-based orga-nizing to protect Idaho’s naturalresources.
Louisiana Labor-NeighborProjectGonzales, LA $20,000
To assist community groups fight-ing for environmental justice.
Michigan EnvironmentalCouncilLansing, MI $20,000
To carry out local and statewidecommunity organizing for envi-ronmental protection in Michigan.
Michigan United ConservationClubsLansing, MI $5,000
To support the Michigan ActionProject, a collaborative electroniccommunications initiative toincrease voter participation inMichigan’s public policy debates.
Montana Wilderness AssociationHelena, MT $20,000
To carry out chapter-based orga-nizing to protect Montana’s nat-ural resources.
Montana Wildlife FederationHelena, MT $15,000
To build the grassroots capacity ofhunter and angler conservationistgroups across Montana throughthe Grassroots Outreach Project.
Oregon Environmental CouncilPortland, OR $20,000
To educate and organize local andstatewide organizations on envi-ronmental issues in Oregon.
Southern Utah WildernessAllianceSalt Lake City, UT $15,000
To expand popular support for pro-tection of public wild lands in Utah
Southwest Network for Environ-mental and Economic JusticeAlbuquerque, NM $40,000/Two years
To expand environmental justiceorganizing efforts throughout thesouthwest. (Sponsoring organiza-tion: Community NetworkingResources, Inc.)
BELDON FUND 1998 GRANTS*
6
*This list includes grants fromthe Beldon Fund and Beldon IIFund.
Southwest Public Workers UnionSan Antonio, TX $15,000
To organize Hispanic communitiesof southern Texas around environ-mental issues. (Sponsoring organi-zation: Centro por la Justicia)
Target Earth NW La Center, WA $15,000
To conduct grassroots environmen-tal outreach to people of Christianfaith. (Sponsoring organization:Target Earth International)
Vermont Public Interest ResearchGroup Education FundMontpelier, VT $40,000/ Two years
To mobilize public support forenvironmental protection in thestate of Vermont.
Virginia Organizing ProjectCharlottesville, VA $15,000
To create an environmentally pro-gressive, multi-issue grassrootsorganization in Virginia.
Voters of Idaho for Conservationand EducationBoise, ID $10,000
To expand effective environmen-talist participation in publicdecision-making in Idaho. (Spon-soring Organization: ConservationGeography)
Western Colorado CongressMontrose, CO $30,000/Two years
To promote public policy thatcontrols sprawl and unplannedgrowth in Colorado.
An alarming trend in the environmental arena isthe foisting of more and more responsibility for reg-ulation on the states or even on local officials. Withthat trend has come another : industry groups withdeep pockets are able to introduce bills to weakenregulations in many states at once.
State and local environmental groups are oftenoverwhelmed by carefully orchestrated attacks onenvironmental regulations. That’s where theEnvironmental Suppor t Center, and its StateEnvironmental Leadership Program (SELP), comesin. For more than ten years, the Center has beenthe place for state and local environmental non-profits to look to for capacity building and organi-zational assistance.
SELP, which is actually older than the Suppor tCenter itself, began as a year ly conference of statelevel groups. Now it is playing a much greatercoordinating role to help state groups respond tocommon challenges, such as making utility restruc-turing environmentally responsible or combatingthe growing degradation from confined animalfeeding operations.
The Center’s executive director, Jim Abernathy,says “Our fundamental assumption is that you willnever get real improvement in the environment inthe US unless there are strong groups at the stateand local level to advance environmental interests.”
Environmental Support Center
Keith Reopelle (left) and Liz
Wessel of Wisconsin’s
Environmental Decade discuss
legislative strategy and fundrais-
ing with State Environmental
Leadership Program director Bill
Davis in front of the state capitol
in Madison.
7
NATIONAL ORGANIZA-TIONS’ WORK WITHSTATE-LEVEL CON-STITUENCIES
Alliance for NuclearAccountabilitySeattle, WA $30,000/Two years
To provide technical support andorganize a national networkaddressing issues of nuclearweapons production and nuclearwaste clean up.
When children in poor Florida Everglades com-munities began to get unexplained sores on theirbodies, people got worried. Some called the LegalEnvironmental Assistance Foundation (LEAF) inTallahassee, a nonprofit, public-interest law firm thatserves the Deep South. Suzi Ruhl, LEAF’s founderand president, visited the area and met with peoplein their homes, churches, and community centers.Relying on her legal and public health background,she worked with community members to trackdown the source of the sores: highly acidic ash fromthe incineration of sugar cane, which was dumpedas fill on people’s yards in low-income housing pro-jects. After LEAF helped the community leaders putpressure on the state agency, the companiesstopped dumping the ash.
Ruhl star ted LEAF in her basement in 1979 withthe mission of protecting human health and naturalresources from pollution. LEAF serves mainly low-income and people-of-color communities that couldnot otherwise afford legal assistance and where lackof knowledge about environmental laws and regula-tions hinders progress towards sustainability.
“We are community-driven, and get involvedwhen called by someone affected by pollution,” saysRuhl. “We then work with the community to fix thesystem that perpetuated the problem.”
Legal Environmental AssistanceFoundation
Community activist Elaine Whitehead,
left, and Suzi Ruhl, executive director
of the Legal Environmental Assistance
Foundation (LEAF), inspect a conta-
minated site in Tallahassee.
Americans for the EnvironmentWashington, D.C.$40,000
To support the EnvironmentalStrategies Project, which providestraining for environmentalists inselected states about variousmethods of citizen participationand advocacy.
Americans for the EnvironmentWashington, D.C.$40,000
To continue training, conferencesand educational outreach to envi-ronmental groups around thenation.
Citizens Coal CouncilDenver, CO $3,000
To convene a Strategic Summit ofCCC’s 50 member groups in coal-field communities.
8
Committee for the FutureChicago, IL $2,500
To fund the Committee’s organiz-ing conference, part of an effort tocreate a national, multi- issue pro-gressive organization to supportstate-based groups. (Sponsoringorganization: Midwest Academy)
Environmental GrantmakersAssociationNew York, NY $5,000
To convene a meeting of environ-mental funders on state-levelenvironmental education and citi-zen participation work. (Spon-soring organization: RockefellerFamily Fund)
Environmental Support CenterWashington, D.C.$100,000/Two years
To support the State Envi-ronmental Leadership Project.
Indigenous EnvironmentalNetworkBemidji, MN $20,000
To support the Network’s envi-ronmental advocacy, organizing,and technical support for NativeAmerican grassroots communi-ties, with a special interest in tox-ics, nuclear, and mining issues.
Institute for ConservationLeadershipTakoma Park, MD $40,000
To support the EnvironmentalStrategies Project, which providescapacity-building, organizationaldevelopment work, and advocacyskills trainings for environmentalorganizations.
National Organizers AllianceWashington, D.C.$1,500
To fund travel scholarships toNOA’s fourth annual nationalgathering of organizers.
Public Employees for Environ-mental ResponsibilityWashington, D.C.$30,000
To support the efforts of govern-ment agency employees in over 20states to strengthen enforcementof environmental regulations.
PROGRESSIVESTATEWIDE COALI-TIONS
Center for Connecticut’s FutureHartford, CT $15,000
To train and mobilize activists inConnecticut through the CitizenParticipation Initiative.
Georgia Rural-Urban SummitDecatur, GA $15,000
To strengthen Georgia’s progres-sive coalition and create a mem-bership-list enhancement project.(Sponsoring organization: Fundfor Southern Communities)
HeadwatersAshland, OR $30,000/Two years
To support the ProgressiveOrganizing Project as it buildsalliances between environmental-ists, labor unions, communityorganizations, human rightsgroups, and others in Oregon.
Midwest States CenterPrairie Farm, WI $30,000/Two years
To support and promote environ-mentally progressive state envi-ronmental coalitions in theMidwest.
Missouri Citizen EducationFundSt. Louis, MO $10,000
To facilitate the joint activities ofenvironmental, labor, and humanrights groups in Missouri.
North Dakota ProgressiveCoalition$10,000Bismarck, ND
To fund the coalition’s work onstate environmental policy,including the effects of hog farm-ing on rural communities. (Spon-soring organization: North DakotaMental Health Association.)
9
Northeast Citizen ActionResource CenterHartford, CT $7,500
To provide travel scholarships tothe second national conference ofthe Coalition Collaborative, anorganization of thirty statewideprogressive coalitions.
Re-visioning New MexicoAlbuquerque, NM $20,000
To promote grassroots organizingand public education for sustain-able community development inNew Mexico.
United Vision for IdahoBoise, ID $15,000
To facilitate the joint activities ofenvironmental, labor, and civilrights groups in Idaho.
Utah Progressive NetworkSalt Lake City, UT $10,000
To facilitate the joint activities ofenvironmental, labor, and humanrights groups in Utah.
HAZARDOUS ANDSOLID WASTE
Calcasieu League forEnvironmental Action NowLake Charles, LA $10,000
To fund a national conference ondioxin for citizen groups challeng-ing industrial sources of dioxin andother persistent organic pollutants.
Campaign for Family Farms andthe EnvironmentDes Moines, IA $20,000
To enable the coalition to shareinformation and provide technical support to its member-ship, in particular on confinedanimal feeding operations andtheir harmful impact on farmlandwater and air. (Sponsoring organi-zation: Iowa Citizens for Com-munity Improvement)
Center for Health, Environmentand JusticeFalls Church, VA $20,000
Two grants: to involve local envi-ronmental groups in theHealthcare Without HarmCampaign, which aims to preventthe use of toxic materials in thehealthcare industry ($15,000) andto publicize the 20th anniversaryof Love Canal ($20,000).
Citizens’ EnvironmentalCoalitionAlbany, NY$40,000
To generate grassroots actionamong local groups working ontoxics issues in New York Statethrough the Toxic Advocacy andAssistance Project.
Clean Water Fund of NorthCarolinaAsheville, NC $10,000
To provide technical assistance ontoxics issues to grassroots envi-ronmental groups.
ECO-ActionAtlanta, GA $40,000/Two years
To provide Georgian communitygroups with training, organizingassistance, and technical supporton hazardous and toxic wastecampaigns.
Environmental Media ServicesWashington, D.C $10,000
To support its project to promotethe film “A Civil Action,” with anenvironmental media campaign toeducate the public on the currentdanger of toxic pollution to pub-lic health. (Sponsoring organiza-tion: Tides Center)
Institute for Energy andEnvironmental ResearchTakoma Park, MD $30,000/Two years
To provide technical assistance tograssroots groups working onnuclear weapons production,nuclear power plants, and nuclearwaste issues.
Maine People’s Resource CenterBangor, ME $15,000
To support the Maine ToxicsAction Project and to mobilizepublic support for strong envi-ronmental policy.
10
Natural Resources Council ofMaineAugusta, ME $25,000
To develop grassroots support forthe environment through theMaine Toxics Action Coalitionand the Maine Rivers Alliance.
New Jersey Work EnvironmentCouncilLawrenceville, NJ $25,000
To expand and strengthen the NewJersey Right-to-Know Coalition.
Southwest Research and Infor-mation CenterAlbuquerque, NM $30,000—Matching Grant
A matching grant, to strengthenthe fundraising capacity of SRICand to continue its educationaland technical support to groupsworking on issues of water wasteand toxics.
Toxics Action CenterBoston, MA $25,000
Two grants: to provide informationand assistance on toxics issues tograssroots groups in Massachusettsand Connecticut ($15,000) and toconvene the second meeting ofGrassroots Environmental Assis-tance Network (GREAN), anational network of state-level toxi-cs technical assistance organizations($10,000).
Washington Toxics CoalitionSeattle, WA $40,000/Two years
To support consumer educationand community organizing onissues of environmental protec-tion, toxics, and children’s health.
About five years ago, the Washington EnvironmentalAlliance for Voter Education, or WEAVE, did some researchthat uncovered a shocking statistic: almost 50% of members ofconservation groups in the state were not voting regular ly.That was just one year after WEAVE was star ted to help theenvironmental community in Washington engage and activatevoters based on their concern for the environment.
Ed Zuckerman, the group’s executive director, says that fig-ure has improved in the years since, in par t due to the work ofWEAVE. For example, WEAVE has signed up some 20,000permanent absentee voters, who are automatically sent anabsentee ballot for each election. Such steps help improve theturnout of environmental voters.
“Our sense is that the environment does well if peoplefrom a broad spectrum of environmental groups are voting,”says Zuckerman, and so WEAVE works with many othergroups, helping to get their members involved in the electoralprocess. “Because we don’t get into specific issues,” he says,“we can concentrate on building strategic capacity in the envi-ronmental community group by group.” Indeed, WEAVE hasbeen called the “Switzer land” of the environmental movement.
Washington Environmental Alliancefor Voter Education
WEAVE’s executive director, Ed Zuckerman, left, joins program director
Dennis McCarthy and training director Carol Hudson to examine mailers
encouraging conservation-minded voters to sign up for Washington’s perma-
nent absantee ballot program.
11
TECHNICAL ASSIST-ANCE AND TRAINING
Data CenterOakland, CA $10,000
To provide environmental grass-roots organizers and activists withinformation on corporate activities.
Environmental BackgroundInformation CenterState College, PA $15,000
To provide grassroots groups andactivists with research and infor-mation about corporate polluters.
Environmental ResearchFoundationAnnapolis, MD$20,000
To disseminate information onchemical contamination andhuman health to activists and thegeneral public.
Sarah Hodgdon wanted a career in environmen-tal organizing when she graduated from IndianaUniversity in 1993. She was not sure what the nextstep was—until she worked as a Green Corps orga-nizer for a year. The strategy and skills she learnedhelp her every day as executive director of theDogwood Alliance, which fights the expansion ofindustrial logging in the South. Indeed, Green Corps“provides incredibly effective training in absolutelycritical skills that you don’t get elsewhere—not incollege and rarely in an entry level job,” says anotheralumnus,Tom Mooers, field director of California’sGreenbelt Alliance.
Amazingly, 85 percent of Green Corps’ 120-plusgraduates since 1993 are still working in social changemovements. Some lead environmental groups; othersare field or outreach coordinators, development offi-cers, and more.
Green Corps was formed, says executive directorLeslie Samuelrich, to address the need for moretrained grassroots organizers and advocates. Duringtheir year with Green Corps, usually right after col-lege, activists learn the ropes of organizing by workingfor groups that need additional capacity. For example,Green Corps organizers have built coalitions withranchers and farmers for Defenders of Wildlife, runphone banks for the Appalachian Mountain Club, andorganized press conferences for local groups such asthe Toxics Action Center.
Green Corps
Green Corps trainees Min Lee and
Angela Storey collect signatures on
White House-bound postcards to support
the Natural Resources Defense Council ’s
roadless areas forest campaign.
12
Greater Harrisburg FoundationHarrisburg, PA $5,000
To convene the 1998 Penn-sylvania Environmental Congress.
Green CorpsBoston, MA $30,000/Two years
To sustain the EnvironmentalLeadership Training Program,which trains young activists to beenvironmental leaders.
Management Assistance GroupWashington, D.C.$2,500
To support the Karl MathiasenCapacity-Building Fund for thePublic Interest, which providesorganizational development con-sultation to grassroots groups.
National Alliance for Choice inGivingWashington, D.C.$4,000
To conduct an Executive DirectorTraining for new leaders of state-wide workplace giving organiza-tions.
Public Citizen FoundationAustin, TX $16,000
To conduct the 1998 GrassrootsActivist Training Program in Texas.
River Network Portland, OR $15,000
To build the capacity of river con-servation organizations in theSoutheast.
BUILDING THE ORGA-NIZATIONAL CAPACI-TY OF GRANTEES
Alabama Rivers AllianceBirmingham, AL $15,000
To match new funds raised for theState Environmental Decision-Makers Education Project.
Citizen AlertReno, NV $20,000—Matching Grant
To develop fundraising capacityand match new contributionsraised for statewide grassrootsenvironmental organizing.
Earth Share of TexasAustin, TX $20,000
To collaborate with Earth ShareCalifornia to gain access to busi-nesses that operate in both Texasand California in order to increaseworkplace contributions to envi-ronmental groups in those states.
Environmental Fund for FloridaLakeland, FL $15,000
To increase access to Florida busi-nesses in order to generate moreworkplace contributions to environ-mental organizations in the state.
Environmental Fund for IndianaIndianapolis, IN $20,000
To increase access to Indiana busi-nesses in order to generate moreworkplace contributions to environ-mental organizations in the state.
Hoosier Environmental CouncilIndianapolis, IN $20,000—Matching Grant
Two grants: A $10,000 grant andan additional $10,000 challengegrant to HEC’s Board, to build upthe organization’s fundraisingcapacity and to support HEC’sefforts to inform environmentalpublic decision making.
Missouri Environmental FundSt. Louis, MO $15,000
To increase access to businessesand public sector agencies inorder to generate more workplacecontributions to environmentalorganizations.
Native ActionLame Deer, MT $20,000
To support leadership developmentand strategic planning within theNative Action organization, and tosustain environmental organizingin the Cheyenne community.
Ohio Environmental CouncilColumbus, OH $30,000/Two years
To strengthen organizationalinfrastructure and establish adevelopment program.
Military Toxics Project Lewiston, ME $10,000—Matching Grant
To develop fundraising capacityand to match new funds raised toaddress toxic pollution issues.
Texas Committee on NaturalResourcesAustin, TX $10,000—Matching Grant
To support its grassroots campaign-ing on Texas environmental issuesand to build fundraising capacity.
13
Western Shoshone Defense FundCresent Valley, NV $1,500
To run an organizational develop-ment training workshop. (Spon-soring organization: SeventhGeneration Fund)
Maryland Public InterestResearch FoundationBaltimore, MD $12,500
To create and implement a neworganizational development plan.
SPECIAL GRANTS INI-TIATIVE
Center for a SustainableEconomyWashington, DC $5,000
To support the Center’s State TaxReform for a Sustainable Econ-omy conference. (Sponsoring or-ganization: Tides Center)
Northern Plains ResourceCouncilBillings, MT $25,000
To support the Free SpeechDefense Fund and Montanans forClean Water Defense Fund intheir effort to mount a mediacampaign to publicize the Coun-cil ’s legal battle with the mininginterests in Montana.
On Indian lands around the country unscrupulous industryrepresentatives push polluting facilities—toxic waste and nucleardumps, mineral extraction developments, massive hog farms—touting them as economic development projects. In the early1990s, grassroots Indian leaders formed the IndigenousEnvironmental Network, IEN, to give Indians a national voice thatsays loudly: Our lands will not be dumping grounds.
At the time, says IEN executive director Tom Goldtooth, “manynon-Indian environmental groups were speaking for our native peo-ple. We saw that we had to address these environmental injusticeissues ourselves and develop our own solutions.”
IEN is based in Bemidji, Minnesota where six staff membersdeal with a variety of environmental issues facing some 700 dis-tinct Indian communities in the United States and Canada. “Wedon’t have the luxury to say, ‘We’re not working on that.’ ” saysGoldtooth. IEN works to influence federal policy on issues suchas toxic emissions of mercury and other persistent pollutants,where regulations were developed without considering Indiancultural and treaty rights. IEN has developed a strong networkof grassroots Indian groups, tribal environmental protection offi-cials, and non-Indian environmental groups, helping link commu-nities to forge solutions to common problems.
Indigenous Environmental Network
Indigenous Environmental Network joined a coalition of Indian and non-
Indian groups protesting plans for a nuclear waste storage site on Goshute
lands in Utah.
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VISION AND MISSION
The Beldon Fund seeks to build asocietal consensus for the person-al, economic, and policy changesnecessary to achieve and sustain ahealthy planet. The Fund ’s mis-sion is to make grants to nonprof-it organizations to protect andsustain the environment, by •Creating a base of involved and
informed people working to pro-tect the environment;
•Strengthening the capacity ofnonprofit groups to organizeenvironmental activists;
•Fostering public policy that willachieve the Fund ’s environmen-tal goals;
•Growing and nurturing leadershipon environmental issues; and
•Changing the values, beliefs, andactions of individuals, communi-ties, governments, and businesses.
Values
To achieve its mission, the BeldonFund is making all of its grantdecisions based on a particular setof values. These include:
Commitment. Strengthening thepublic ’s commitment to environ-mental protection will not beaccomplished overnight. Rather,we will motivate the public toprotect the natural systems onwhich all life depends by present-ing a compelling case for environ-mental protection. Accordingly,the Beldon Fund ’s focus is onprojects and organizations thatdemonstrate a long-term com-mitment to environmental ad-vocacy. In addition, the Fund isprepared to demonstrate its owncommitment by providing multi-
year grants for worthwhile pro-jects and organizations.
Leadership. The environmentalmovement gains its power fromits leaders. We count on theirdetermination and willingness tolead to protect the environment.The Beldon Fund recognizes theimportance of giving environmen-tal leaders the tools they need toprotect the natural world.
Flexibility. The Beldon Fundbelieves that environmental pro-tection is achieved by well-execut-ed projects and by strong,influential organizations. TheFund thus offers both projectgrants and general support grants,to give organizations the flexibilitythey need to execute specific tasksas well as to thrive as institutions.
Advocacy. The Beldon Fundbelieves that any effort to mobilizepublic support for environmentalprotection must be based on vigor-ous advocacy. In this context, theFund views advocacy broadly toinclude organizing, public educa-tion, communication, public opin-ion research, coalition building,and public policy development.
Inclusion. The Beldon Fund haschosen to concentrate on organi-zations and projects that considera diversity of people, that aredirectly affected by environmentalpolicies and that include a broadspectrum of interests and con-cerns in their advocacy.
Duration
The Beldon Fund is committed topay out its principal and earnings
THE BELDON FUND GUIDELINES
15
during the next ten years. TheFund believes that our planet ’senvironmental problems requireurgent attention and hopes thatconcentrated use of its resourcescan help solve these problems.
PROGRAM AREAS
The Beldon Fund concentrates itsfunding in five program areas.Two of them, key places andhuman health and the environ-ment, are particularly importantto the Fund and receive emphasisin its grantmaking. Funding forthe other three program areas—global warming, corporateaccountability, and religion andthe environment—will be morelimited in scope. Because theBeldon Fund seeks synergy in itsgrants, it encourages fundingrequests that address two or moreprogram areas, although requestsin any one area are also welcome.
Key Places
To build a consensus for environ-mental protection, the BeldonFund recognizes the importanceof encouraging a public discoursewhere people live. In some places,the public has already embracedenvironmental protection as a keyvalue. In other places, however,support for environmental protec-tion is weak, even though theneed for environmental improve-ments may be great. Therefore,the Beldon Fund will expand itspast support of advocacy fundingwithin specific states, beginningwith six states where we feel thereis a compelling need to improvethe public discussion of environ-
mental issues: Florida, Michigan,Minnesota, New Mexico, NorthCarolina, and Wisconsin.
The Fund believes that inthese states cost-effective envi-ronmental advocacy can reach alarge and diverse population, thatthe environmental stakes for nat-ural resources and human healthare high, that key constituenciescan be expanded, and that theFund ’s resources can make a dif-ference in the next ten years.
The Beldon Fund has thusdecided to devote a portion of itsresources to these states toimprove the public ’s understand-ing of environmental issues. Thissupport is not tied to any particu-lar issue or set of issues; rather, itis determined by the issues’ abilityto strengthen the public’s supportof environmental protection.Instead of focusing solely onepisodic or tactical public educa-tion campaigns, the Fund also islooking for opportunities to buildenvironmental organizations andan advocacy infrastructure toenable a sustained public dialogueon environmental protection. TheFund plans to add other states toits “key places” in the future.
Human Health and theEnvironment
Building a consensus for environ-mental protection requires attentionto those issues that most readilyengage the public. Understandably,many of them are directly linked tohuman health. The Beldon Fundthus seeks opportunities to informthe public of the environmentalrisks to human health and to pro-mote public policies that prevent,mitigate, or eliminate those risks.The Fund supports work that:•Mobilizes the public, using a
variety of communication andadvocacy tools, to strengthen,implement, and enforce laws andregulations protecting the publicfrom environmental health risks;
•Addresses the disproportionateenvironmental health effects onvulnerable populations;
•Develops constructive and sustain-able public policy solutions forenvironmental health risks; and
•Enables the public to challengeindustrial pollution practices andto assess industry ’s risk andhealth claims.
Global Warming
Global warming is a critical envi-ronmental issue, and U.S. emissionsare a major source of the problem.The scientific consensus on globalwarming has solidified in recentyears, and the possible effects ofglobal warming, especially regional-ly and locally, are becoming morevisible and understandable to thepublic. In order to build a consensusto create and sustain a healthy plan-et, we must be aggressive in haltingglobal warming.
To this end, the Beldon Fundis offering grants to promote pub-lic understanding of global warm-ing and to support creativeadvocacy strategies.
Corporate Power andthe Environment
Economic activities are the basis ofmost environmental problems.Nonetheless, despite widespreadpublic support for environmentalimprovements, certain corporateinterests have succeeded in slowingprogress on or even underminingcurrent protections. The BeldonFund believes that this trend must
be reversed and that the rules forpolicymaking and corporate con-duct must be changed on a systemicbasis to enhance the public’s voice.
The Beldon Fund supportsefforts to promote such systemicchanges and to create incentives forcorporations to minimize or elimi-nate their adverse impact on theenvironment. Such efforts mightinclude strengthening the public’sright to know and other methodsof corporate accountability.
Religion and theEnvironment
In this country, religious commu-nities are a powerful force forchange. Recently, many religiousleaders have turned their atten-tion to the environment, both toembrace traditional policy advo-cacy and to articulate a moralimperative and spiritual responsi-bility to protect the Earth.
To strengthen the role ofreligious communities in achiev-ing and sustaining a healthy plan-et, the Beldon Fund supportsadvocacy programs involving reli-gious communities and also pro-grams that promote strongeralliances among specific religiouscommunities and between reli-gious communities and environ-mental organizations.
ACTIVITIES THE BEL-DON FUND SUPPORTS
In the preceding five programareas, the Beldon Fund supportsadvocacy proposals that:•Broaden the base of environmen-
tal support by building closerties to communities of color,labor, youth, the elderly, poorcommunities, hunters and
16
anglers, business, and otherswith a strong interest in environ-mental protection;
•Tighten the connections amongnational organizations, state-based organizations, and localorganizations and between envi-ronmental and non-environmen-tal organizations;
•Strengthen the capacity to orga-nize environmental activists—especially at the grassroots level;
•Use public opinion research andmessage development;
•Use cost-effective media cam-paigns;
•Foster leadership, advocacy skillstraining, institutional develop-ment, and organizationalgrowth; and
•Develop and promote public pol-icy solutions.
Exclusions
The Beldon Fund does not offergrants for:•International efforts, unless the
requested activity includes advo-cacy in the United States andaddresses one or more of theFund’s program areas
•Academic or university grants,unless they apply to programsdirectly linked to environmentaladvocacy
•School- or classroom-based envi-ronmental education
•Acquisition of land•Endowments•Capital campaigns•Deficit reduction•Acquisitions for museums or col-
lections•Service delivery programs•Capital projects•Research•Arts and/or culture•Grants to individual people, or•Scholarships
DEDICATED FUNDGUIDELINES
The Dedicated Fund comple-ments the Beldon Fund ’s mainfunding program areas by provid-ing added flexibility to achievethe Fund ’s mission, vision andvalues. The Dedicated Fund willmake a maximum of $1 million ingrants each year.
Funding Categories
Grantmaking under the Dedicat-ed Fund encompasses the follow-ing areas of interest:•State and regional environmental
organizations•National organizations ’ work
with state-level constituencies •Progressive state-wide coalitions
involving a broad spectrum ofconstituencies
•Hazardous waste and toxics usereduction
•Training and technical assistance•Building the organizational ca-
pacity of grantees
Strategies
The Dedicated Fund supports arange of approaches tostrengthening the environmen-tal movement and promotingenvironmental activism, organiz-ing and advocacy, including:•Outreach to new constituencies•Building coalitions•Encouraging greater cooperation
between state and national orga-nizations
•Providing training and technicalassistance
•Increasing effective citizen par-ticipation in democratic politicalprocesses
•Diversify ing and expanding
environmental groups ’ fund-ing bases
Exclusions
As with the Beldon Fund ’s mainprogram areas, the DedicatedFund does not provide grants inthe following areas:•International efforts, unless the
requested activity includes advo-cacy in the United States andaddresses one or more of theFund’s program areas
•Academic or university grants,unless they apply to programsdirectly linked to environmentaladvocacy
•School- or classroom-based envi-ronmental education
•Acquisition of land•Endowments•Capital campaigns•Deficit reduction•Acquisitions for museums or col-
lections•Service delivery programs•Capital projects•Research•Arts and/or culture•Grants to individual people•Scholarships
Review Process
The Beldon Fund will reviewgrant requests from the DedicatedFund in the same manner asgrants reviewed under the BeldonFund’s main program areas. If youare interested in receiving fundsunder the Dedicated Fund, pleaseindicate that interest in your let-ter of inquiry. Please refer to theBeldon Fund application proce-dures when submitting requestsunder the Dedicated Fund.
17
We encourage proposals from cur-rent and former grantees and fromorganizations new to the Fund.We offer general support and pro-ject-specific grants and make bothone-year and multi-year grants.
The Fund can only make grants to501(c)(3) organizations. Groupswithout a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt sta-tus must partner with a 501(c)(3)fiscal sponsor that has agreed towork with the applicant to furtherits own charitable purpose.
How To Apply For AGrant
Potential applicants should famil-iarize themselves with our guide-lines before submitting aproposal. We support five mainprogram areas through the BeldonFund and we also support workthat builds capacity of environ-mental groups and strengthensthe environmental movementthrough the Dedicated Fund.
Because the Fund receives such alarge volume of proposals, we askthat applicants submit a writtenrequest before calling us to discussyour work or schedule a meeting.For applicants who may be unsureif your work falls within ourguidelines, we encourage a briefletter of inquiry outlining the pro-posed work and the amountrequested. We will contact you asto whether we might be interestedin reviewing a full proposal.
For applicants who feel confidentthat your work falls within ourguidelines, we ask that you submita complete proposal. A full writtenproposal need not be elaborate, or
long. We ask for a cover sheet, anarrative of five to seven pages,and supporting material (seechecklist below.) Please make aneffort to submit an environmental-ly sensitive application: avoid fold-ers, plastic covers, or binders anduse double-sided copying wherepossible. Proposals prepared forother foundations are acceptable—as long as they include all of theBeldon Fund ’s required informa-tion and attachments—as is theNational Network of GrantmakersCommon Grant Application or anapplication used by any regionalassociation of grantmakers.
The Fund does not have any dead-lines for receiving proposals, andacknowledges all submissions uponreceipt. Also, the Fund has no spe-cific limit on the number of propos-als that can be considered from asingle organization, nor is there alimit on the number of years we cancontinuously fund any organization.The staff reviews grant requests ona continuous basis and makes rec-ommendations to the Fund’s Boardof Trustees. The board makes fund-ing decisions three times a year. Notall proposals can be considered dur-ing the grant cycle following theirsubmission and may be carried overto the next cycle. We make everyeffort to review and make a decisionon a request within six months ofreceipt.
Once a proposal is under review,applicants will be contacted byBeldon Fund staff to coordinatethe review and to request addi-tional information or material, ifnecessary. Please feel free to con-tact us if there are significantchanges or news that you wouldlike us to know about during the
course of our review. If you areplanning a trip to New York andhave a proposal pending, pleasecontact us a few weeks in advanceso that we may arrange to meetwith you, circumstances permit-ting. (We generally do not sched-ule meetings until after we havereceived a proposal.)
Proposal Checklist
Please include the following itemsin your proposal:
Cover Sheet•Date•Name and address of organiza-
tion•Executive director and contact
person(s); telephone and faxnumbers; and, if available, e-mailand web addresses
•Name, address, telephone, andexecutive director of fiscal spon-sor, if applicable
•One paragraph summarizing theorganization’s mission
•One paragraph summarizing thepurpose of the request
•One paragraph summarizing theproposal ’s relevance to Beldonguidelines
•Total amount requested and timeperiod grant will cover
•Organizational budget totalamount for current fiscal year
•Project budget total amount forcurrent fiscal year, if applicable
Narrative (Please limit to five toseven pages) •Organization background,
including accomplishments andqualifications
•Immediate problems or needsbeing addressed
•Long-term systemic or social
FUND APPLICATION PROCESS
18
change being sought•Strategies for the work and a
timetable for achieving goals•Plan for evaluating the work,
including a definition of success•If appropriate, a plan for contin-
uing the work over time
Financial Information •Organizational budget for the
current fiscal year and actualincome and expenses for the pasttwo years
•For project grant requests, alsoinclude a one-year project budgetor, for multi-year requests, budgetsfor each year in the request
* For project grant requests, alsoinclude actual income andexpenses for project for past twoyears, if applicable
•List of funding sources andamounts for organization andproject (if applicable), includingcommitted and pending grantsfor current fiscal year
•List of top 5-10 funders duringthe last five years and theircumulative grant totals
Required Attachments •IRS tax determination letter of
the organization or its fiscalsponsor
•An agreement letter from the fis-cal sponsor, if applicable
•Most recent audited financialstatement and IRS Form 990,including all schedules
•If your organization has made a501(h) election, please include acopy of Form 5768 (Election toMake Expenditures to InfluenceLegislation)
•List of Board of Directors andstaff (describe board and staffresponsibilities, work and leader-ship experience, and criteria forboard selection)
•List of member organizations, ifapplicable
Please do not submit examples ofpast work, articles, reports, books,videos, CDs or other material withthe proposal—we will notify you ifwe need such material. In order forus to start processing your request,we require one hardcopy proposal(with all the supporting documents)mailed to the following address andan additional electronic copyemailed to [email protected].
William J. RobertsGrant ProposalBeldon Fund99 Madison Avenue, 8th FloorNew York, NY 10016800-591-9595Tel: 212-616-5600Fax: 212-616-5656Email: [email protected]: http://www.beldon.org
“It is essential that we re-examine ethically what we have inherited, what we are
responsible for, and what we will pass on to coming generations. Clearly ours is a piv-
otal generation.” —The Dalai Lama
19
FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998
CURRENT ASSETSCash and cash equivalentsInvestmentsRental depositsTravel advances
FIXED ASSETSEquipmentFurniture and fixturesLeasehold improvementsAccumulated depreciation
TOTAL ASSETS
1999
$ 261,29578,270,958
55,950788
78,588,991
92,69270,190
621,196(71,704)
712,374
$ 79,301,365
1998
$ 188,28972,923,557
11,000-
73,122,846
10,1492,581
-(6,732)
5,998
$ 73,128,844
LIABILITIESGrants payablePayroll related liabilities
TOTAL LIABILITIES
UNRESTRICTED NET ASSETS
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
$ 650,00013,217
663,217
78,638,148
$ 79,301,365
$ 327,500436
327,936
72,800,908
$ 73,128,844
Assets
Liabilities and Net Assets
See Notes to Finanacial Statements
20
See Notes to Finanacial Statements
FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998
SUPPORT AND REVENUEContributionsInterestDividendsGain on sale of investments
TOTAL SUPPORT AND REVENUE
EXPENSESProgram
GrantsFoundation directed projects
AdministrativeAccountingBank chargesBoard meetings, conferences and mealsConsultantsDepreciation
EquipmentExcise taxesInsuranceInvestment feesLegal
MembershipsMoving expensesOffice suppliesPayroll taxes and benefitsReimbursed expenses
RentRepairs and maintenanceSalariesTelephoneTravel
TOTAL EXPENSES
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS
NET ASSETS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR
NET ASSETS AT END OF YEAR
1999
$ 53,0093,744,3941,094,6126,668,591
11,560,606
2,401,58215,917
2,417,499
23,384790
57,127330,16664,972
4,0951,646,020
2,619207,93531,202
6,220130,96123,22382,023(3,708)
188,7372,568
421,61022,90563,018
3,305,867
5,723,366
5,837,240
72,800,908
$ 78,638,148
1998
$ 69,121,4511,071,5061,517,931
-
71,710,888
1,412,500-
1,412,500
11,7118,122
22,26477,1191,828
39923,5351,934-
19,956
2,920-
11,42815,287
(11,974)
38,8932,768
91,7505,634
11,155
334,729
1,747,229
69,963,659
2,837,249
$ 72,800,908
21
See Notes to Finanacial Statements
FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIESChange in net assetsAdjustments to reconcile change in net assets to
net cash provided by operating activitiesDepreciationContributed investments(Increase) decrease in
AdvancesDeposit
Increase (decrease) inGrants payablePayroll-related liabilities
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIESPurchase of fixed assetsPurchases of investmentsProceeds from sales or maturities of investments
INCREASE IN CASH
CASH AT BEGINNING OF YEAR
CASH AT END OF YEAR
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATIONCash paid for excise taxes
1999
$ 5,837,240
64,972(53,009)
(788)(44,950)
322,50012,781
6,138,746
(771,348)(96,050,571)
90,756,179
(6,065,740)
73,006
188,289
$ 261,295
$ 1,646,020
1998
$ 69,963,659
1,828(66,379,094)
-(11,000)
-268
3,575,661
(5,073)(408,220,625)
404,810,251
(3,415,447)
160,214
28,075
$ 188,289
$ 23,535
22
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998
NOTE 1: ORGANIZATION
Beldon II Fund (the Fund) was established in 1988as a private foundation organized to distributemonies to public charities involved in environmen-tal preservation.
NOTE 2: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANTACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Accounting The Fund’s financial statements are presented on amodified cash basis of accounting, which is a com-prehensive basis of accounting other than generallyaccepted accounting principles. Revenue is general-ly recognized when collected rather than whenearned and expenses are generally recognizedwhen paid rather than when incurred. However, theFund does record depreciation of furniture andequipment and recognizes grants payable in theyear they are awarded rather than in the year theyare paid.
Accounting EstimatesThe preparation of financial statements requiresmanagement to make estimates and assumptionswhich affect the repor ted amounts of assets andliabilities and the disclosure of contingencies, if any,at the date of financial statements and revenue andexpenses during the repor ting period. Actualresults could differ from these estimates.
InvestmentsPurchased investments are stated at cost anddonated investments are stated at the donor’sbasis. Gains and losses in value are recognizedwhen the investments are sold.
Fixed Assets, Depreciation and AmortizationFixed assets are stated at cost. Depreciation iscomputed using the straight-line method over theestimated useful life of the assets as follows:
Equipment 3-7 yearsFurniture and fixtures 7 yearsLeasehold improvements 10 years
NOTE 3: INVESTMENTS
The Fund’s investments consist of the following as of December 31, 1999 and 1998:
Money market fundsFixed income fundsU.S. government securitiesCorporate bondsEquity fundsCommon stockAsset back securitiesIndex fund
$ 5,818,294-
26,187,69720,927,020
-6,154,608
18,287,834895,505
$ 78,270,958
$ 5,818,294-
25,482,797 20,198,924
-28,792,77017,793,996
954,232
$ 99,041,013
$ 2,245,7442,002,468
33,988,01433,983,851
688,65414,826
--
$ 72,923,557
$ 2,245,7442,078,126
33,988,01433,983,851
857,57733,629,731
--
$ 106,783,043
1999
Cost CostMarket Market
1998
23
NOTE 4: RELATED PARTIES
The Fund pays all administrative expenses forBeldon Fund, which is a separate private foundationthat has the same founder and president as BeldonII Fund. Management has not quantified the amountof administrative expenses paid for Beldon Fund in1999 or 1998, but believes they are of an immater-ial amount.
In 1999 and 1998, John Hunting and Associates(the Company) shared office space and office sup-plies with the Fund and reimbursed the Fundmonthly for its allocated por tion of office spaceand supplies. The Company paid the Fund $3,708and $11,974, in 1999 and 1998, respectively, for itsshare of these allocated expenses. The Fund’sPresident is the owner of John Hunting andAssociates.
NOTE 5: FEDERAL EXCISE TAXES
The Fund’s investment income, reduced by cer tainallowable expenses, is subject to federal excise tax ata rate of either 1% or 2%.The Fund was required topay excise tax at the 2% in 1999 and 1998. Excisetax of $1,646,020 and $23,535 was paid during1999 and 1998, respectively, all of which related to1998 and 1997 investment activity.
The Fund is also required to make minimum annualcharitable distributions within cer tain time periods.The required distribution is 5% of the fair marketvalue of investment assets, less the excise tax oninvestment income. As permitted by the InternalRevenue Service, the Fund plans to satisfy the 1999distribution requirement during 2000 to avoidpenalties.
NOTE 6: LEASE COMMITMENTS
During 1999, the Fund entered into several leases,with var ying terms, at 380 Lexington Avenue, NewYork, NY. All lease terms terminated by December31, 1999. Security deposits, totaling $22,400, wererequired for all leased agreements.
The Fund also entered into a 10-year lease foroffice space at 99 Madison Avenue, New York, NYbeginning June 1, 1999. A security deposit of$33,750 was required under the terms of the lease.Minimum lease payments required by the lease are$135,000 per year, terminating May 31, 2009.
NOTE 7: RETIREMENT PLAN
The Fund maintains a non-contributory defined con-tribution plan. All full-time, permanent employeesare vested and eligible from the date of employment.Each year the Fund contributes from 3% to 5% ofpar ticipants’ gross salary to the plan. Contributionsfor the years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998were $14,798 and $1,296, respectively.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998
24
Photography: Page 2: Ken Levinson; Page 5: McKenzie Ward; Page 7: J. Shimon & J. Lindemann;Page 8: Mark Wallheiser/Silver Image; Page 10: Brian DalBalcon; Page 12: Nikki Pardo; Page 14: Courtesyof Indigenous Environmental Network; Inside back cover: Ken Levinson
Writing/Design/Production: Billy Goodman/Janice Caswell
Melody Baker, Program Assistant
LaRae Brown, Receptionist
Mahea Campbell, Program Assistant/GrantsAdministrator
•Holeri Faruolo, Special Assistant to theExecutive Director
Julie Herman, Program Officer
••Marina Kipnis, Special Assistant to theExecutive Director
Ron Lawson, Chief Operating Officer
Charnae Morris, Finance/Operations Assistant
Cynthia Renfro, Program Officer
Bill Roberts, Executive Director
Javier Sanchez, MIS Manager
•Brian Sharbono, Program Assistant
Ernest Tollerson, Program Officer
Angie Velez, Office Manager
THE BELDON FUND STAFF
The Beldon Fund Staff. Standing, left to right: Angie Velez, Julie Herman, Javier Sanchez,
Mahea Campbell, LaRae Brown, Charnae Morris, Melody Baker, Ernest Tollerson, Cynthia
Renfro. Seated, Ron Lawson, Bill Roberts
•Not pictured ••Former employee
The Beldon Fund99 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10016phone: 212-616-5600
fax: 212-616-5656www.beldon.org
