The Willapa Bay Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group (WBRFEG) is a volunteer, community-based organization that focuses on restoration of salmon habitat in Washington State's Pacific County. We have been doing salmon recovery since 1985.
In 1991, we became a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. We have a board of directors and a small part-time staff. We are 1 of 14 Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups created by the Washington State legislature for community-based salmon recovery.
View our 2010 tax return
View our audited financial statements for 2009
View our 2009 tax return
View our 2008 tax return
Funding Our Salmon Recovery Efforts
Each year we aim to maximize our funds for on-the-ground salmon recovery projects. We use our Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group (RFEG) funds, received from sales of fishing licenses and grants to all 14 RFEGs, for match to other funding sources.
This approach has enabled us to maintain a leverage ratio of 4.1:1 for the last 5 years. From 2005 through 2009, matching funds totaled $502,645. Leveraged funds totaled $2,061,161.
We also keep our operating costs to a minimum.
- Our total administrative expenses range from 3% to 7% of our annual budget.
- Our manager volunteers the majority his time for in-kind matching.
- Our many volunteers assist in our salmon recovery efforts, extending the range and effectiveness of our projects at little or no cost. For example, in 2008 our volunteers contributed over 1,102 hours, the equivalent of $23,436 in labor costs.
Funding Sources
The Willapa Bay Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group has an excellent record of receiving a majority of the grants it applies for. Our organization utilizes many sources of funding, including:
Salmon Recovery Funding Board
US Fish and Wildlife Service
FishAmerica Foundation
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Willapa National Wildlife Refuge
Weyerhaeuser
Campbell Group
The Nature Conservancy
The Cheney Fund
Washington State Community Development Fund
Washington Department of Natural Resources
Environmental Conservation Organization