Minnesota Environmental Partnership
Minnesota Environmental Partnership
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About this organization
Mission
SEE SCHEDULE O.MEP IS A COALITION OF 70 MINNESOTA ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TOGETHER TO PROTECT AND RESTORE MINNESOTA'S CLEAN WATER, CLIMATE AND AIR QUALITY, AND OUR GREAT OUTDOORS. THE PARTNERSHIP PROVIDES A VITAL WAY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS TO COLLABORATE IN THEIR EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT MINNESOTA'S NATURAL RESOURCES ARE WELL PROTECTED.
About
OVERVIEW:MINNESOTA ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERSHIP (MEP) WORKS IN A UNIQUE WAY TO BRING TOGETHER THE ENERGIES AND PASSIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSERVATION NONPROFITS INTO A SINGLE POWERFUL VOICE. WE WORK IN SYNCHRONY WITH OUR MEMBERS AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL, AND WE EDUCATE AND MOBILIZE THE PUBLIC ON PRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS, INVESTMENTS, AND INITIATIVES.MEP'S WORK IS FUNDED THROUGH INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS, MEMBER GROUP DUES, AND FOUNDATIONS. FOUR OF MEP'S CURRENT FOUNDATION PARTNERS SUPPORT MEP THROUGH STRATEGIC TWO-YEAR GRANTS, WHICH WERE EACH SECURED IN FY19. INDUSTRY ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES CALL FOR GRANTS TO BE REPORTED AS REVENUE IN THE FISCAL YEAR IN WHICH THEY ARE AWARDED AND THEN RELEASED THROUGHOUT THE GRANT PERIOD AS THE TERMS OF THE GRANT ARE FULFILLED. THEREFORE, THE BULK OF THE FOUNDATION GRANTS INTENDED TO FUND MEP'S FY20 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES WERE AWARDED AND APPEAR AS REVENUE IN THE FY19 STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES AND 990, PRESERVED AS RESTRICTED ASSETS, AND ARE TO BE RELEASED THROUGHOUT THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR(S) TO FUND OUR PROGRAM ACTIVITIES. CURRENT PROGRAMS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTSMEP'S PROGRAMS ARE FOCUSED ON PUTTING PEOPLE AND PLANET FIRST TO ENSURE A PROSPEROUS AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR ALL. WE DO THIS BY ORGANIZING AND CONVENING ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS WORKING IN THE STATE IN "CLUSTERS OR WORKING GROUPS. THIS MODEL HAS PROVEN TO BE EFFECTIVE AT GROWING A STRONG, EFFICIENT ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY SECTOR THAT'S ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THINGS THAT INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATIONS CANNOT. OUR CURRENT CLUSTERS INCLUDE WATER, GREAT LAKES, MINING, POLLINATORS, ENERGY AND CLIMATE, AND TRANSPORTATION. MEP ALSO WORKS TO COORDINATE GROUPS FOCUSED ON SAFEGUARDING THE STATE'S CLEAN WATER, LAND, AND LEGACY CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. THROUGH THESE WORKING GROUPS, MEMBERS SHARE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES, AND CREATE SHARED POSITIONS AND STRATEGIES. WE ALSO WORK TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY AND BACK ANNUAL COMMUNITY LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. WHILE OUR CLUSTERS WORK ON INITIATIVES YEAR-ROUND, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS A SIGNIFICANT FOCUS OF OUR WORK. MEP'S ONGOING INITIATIVES ARE OUTLINED BELOW WITH HIGHLIGHTS FROM FISCAL YEAR 2019.DEFENDING MINNESOTA'S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY FOUNDATION FROM ROLLBACKS, INCLUDING LAWS, POLICIES, RULES AND AUTHORITIES, AND OPPOSING EFFORTS TO BLOCK, UNDERMINE, AND UNDO STATE POLICY, STANDARDS, RULES, AND LAWS AFFECTING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CLEAN ENERGY; ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (MEPA, NEPA) AND PERMITTING PROCESSES; AGENCY AUTHORITIES; CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN COUNCILS, PROCESSES, AND HEARINGS; CLEAN, PLENTIFUL WATER; COMMUNITY AND TOWNSHIP RIGHTS; PUBLIC LAND ACQUISITION AND PROTECTION; AND BUFFER, WETLAND, AND CALCAREOUS FENS PROTECTIONS. THROUGH THE TREMENDOUS EFFORTS OF THE MEP COALITION, OUR MEMBER GROUPS, AND CITIZENS ACROSS THE STATE, NUMEROUS PROVISIONS AND ROLLBACKS HARMFUL TO THE ENVIRONMENT WERE PREVENTED FROM BECOMING LAW DURING THE 2019 LEGISLATIVE SESSION. PRESERVING LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS IN OUR GREAT OUTDOORSWE WORK TO ENSURE THAT CAPITAL INVESTMENTS FOR MINNESOTA'S GREAT OUTDOORS MAKE UP AT LEAST THE TRADITIONAL AMOUNT OF THE TOTAL STATE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. ONE OF THE FIRST ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE 2019 SESSION WAS PASSAGE OF A LEGISLATIVE FIX TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND (ENRTF) RAID OF 2018. THE FIX PROVIDED GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR PROJECTS PUT ON HOLD BECAUSE OF A LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THE USE OF APPROPRIATION BONDS BACKED BY THE ENRTF. THIS ALLOWED $7.8 MILLION THAT WAS FORMERLY ALLOCATED FOR DEBT SERVICE TO BE USED FOR ADDITIONAL ENRTF PROJECTS THIS YEAR. ALTHOUGH MEP MEMBER GROUPS WORKED TO FUND DRINKING AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE WITH BONDS, NO ADDITIONAL LARGE BONDING BILL WAS PASSED IN 2019. INVESTING IN CLEAN WATER AND LIVING LANDSCAPESA LONGSTANDING PRIORITY ISSUE FOR MEP HAS BEEN EDUCATING DECISION-MAKERS AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE DETRIMENTS OF AGRICULTURAL POLLUTION TO STREAMS, RIVERS, LAKES, AND DRINKING WATER. WE'VE ADVOCATED FOR SOLUTIONS LIKE BUFFERS AND THE FOREVER GREEN INITIATIVE WHICH IS AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA THAT'S DEVELOPING NEW PERENNIAL AND CASH COVER CROPS TO PREVENT FARM RUNOFF AND INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY. FUNDING FROM THE 2019 LEGISLATURE NEARLY TRIPLED, REACHING $4.3 MILLION. MEP CONTINUES TO ADVOCATE FOR FULL FUNDING AND CONTINUES TO EDUCATE DECISION MAKERS ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT INITIATIVE. PROMOTING WELLHEAD PROTECTION AREASBUILDING OFF SUCCESSES WITH THE FOREVER GREEN INITIATIVE, MEP'S GOAL IS TO DEVELOP A MODEL FOR OTHER REGIONS AND FURTHER EDUCATE PRODUCERS, LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT, AND COMMUNITY ENTITIES ABOUT CONTINUOUS LIVING COVER AND ITS ABILITY TO CREATE ECONOMIC VALUE WHILE EFFECTIVELY PROTECTING AND RESTORING WATER QUALITY. IN THE 2019 LEGISLATURE, MEP WORKED TO DEVELOP AND SECURE DEMONSTRATION FUNDING TO ESTABLISH THIS NEW MODEL OF CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE ON COMMUNITY WELLHEAD PROTECTION AREAS THAT ARE POLLUTED WITH AGRICULTURAL NUTRIENTS. ALTHOUGH NUMEROUS BENEFICIAL EDUCATIONAL HEARINGS WERE HELD, LEGISLATIVE FUNDING WAS NOT SECURED. CLEAN AND EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION STATEWIDETRANSPORTATION GENERATES 25% OF THE CARBON POLLUTION IN MINNESOTA, AND DEMAND IS GROWING FOR TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS THAT ARE MORE AFFORDABLE, MORE EFFICIENT, HEALTHIER, AND LESS RESOURCE-INTENSIVE, LIKE SAFE BIKING AND WALKING. IN THE 2019 SESSION, MEP AND OUR COALITION WORKED TO ENHANCE FUNDING FOR LIGHT RAIL AND BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE. WHILE A COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE DID NOT BECOME A REALITY, WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR PARTNERS, WE WERE ABLE TO STOP LAWMAKERS' MOST EXTREME ATTEMPTS TO CUT FUNDING FOR METRO TRANSIT. PROTECTING POLLINATORSPOLLINATORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPRODUCTION OF 90% OF ALL FLOWERING PLANTS, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN IN SHARP DECLINE IN RECENT YEARS DUE TO PESTICIDE USE AND HABITAT LOSS. IN THE 2019 SESSION, OUR COALITION MEMBERS HELPED PASS A BILL THAT WILL HELP HOMEOWNERS CONVERT THEIR LAWNS TO POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY HABITAT. THIS COST-SHARE PROGRAM IS FUNDED WITH $900,000 AND WILL BE RUN BY THE BOARD OF WATER AND SOIL RESOURCES.. PROTECTING OUR WATER FROM SULFIDE MININGPROPOSED SULFIDE MINES IN NORTHEAST MINNESOTA, INCLUDING THE POLYMET NORTHMET PROJECT AND THE TWIN METALS MINNESOTA PROJECT, THREATEN OUR LAKES AND RIVERS WITH SIGNIFICANT ONGOING WATER POLLUTION. POLYMET'S DATA SHOWS THAT ONGOING WATER TREATMENT COULD BE REQUIRED FOR 500 YEARS OR MORE AFTER MINING HAS STOPPED. MEP HAS LEVERAGED OUR POSITION TO CONVENE THE MINING CLUSTER, WHICH HELPS GROUPS CONVENE, COMMUNICATE AND COLLABORATE ON THEIR STRATEGIES. ADDITIONALLY, WE'VE BEEN PUBLICLY HIGHLIGHTING THE DANGER, ESPECIALLY FROM MERCURY, TO DOWNSTREAM COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE ST. LOUIS RIVER WATERSHED AND LAKE SUPERIOR. PROTECTING THE GREAT LAKESMINNESOTA IS THE HEADWATERS STATE FOR THE GREAT LAKES, WITH 190 MILES OF RUGGED LAKE SUPERIOR SHORELINE AMONG ITS NATURAL ASSETS. SINCE 2005, MEP'S COALITION HAS WORKED TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THE GREAT LAKES RESTORATION INITIATIVE (GLRI), A LONG-TERM REGIONAL PLAN TO RESTORE THE LAKES AND STIMULATE THE REGION'S ECONOMY. THE MEP COALITION HAS SUPPORTED FULL CONGRESSIONAL FUNDING FOR GLRI, AS WELL AS LEVERAGING STATE DOLLARS THROUGH THE LEGACY AMENDMENT AND BONDING BILL. MEP ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN THE HEALING OUR WATERS COALITION, AND ALONG WITH THAT COALITION WE ARE TURNING OUR FOCUS TO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES, INCLUDING LEAD IN DRINKING WATER. ONGOING ISSUES OF CONCERN INCLUDE CLEANING UP THE ST. LOUIS RIVER AND ADVOCATING FOR BALLAST WATER AND INVASIVE SPECIES PROTECTIONS. MEP EMPLOYS A FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBER AND A HALF-TIME ORGANIZER IN OUR DULUTH OFFICE FOR THIS WORK. THROUGH THIS OFFICE, MEP SUPPORTS LOCAL GROUPS, MANY OF WHICH ARE VOLUNTEER LED AND LACK RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR BROADER NETWORKING.
Interesting data from their 2020 990 filing
The non-profit's mission, as documented in the filing, is “Minnesota environmental partnership strengthens member effectiveness and builds collective power to secure a healthy environment for all minnesotans.”.
When explaining its purpose, the activities were described as: “See schedule o.mep is a coalition of 70 minnesota environmental and conservation organizations working together to protect and restore minnesota's clean water, climate and air quality, and our great outdoors. the partnership provides a vital way for environmental organizations to collaborate in their efforts to make sure that minnesota's natural resources are well protected.”.
- The non-profit is legally allowed to operate in the state of MN, as reported.
- The filing provides the non-profit's address in 2020 as 546 RICE STREET NO 100, SAINT PAUL, MN, 55103.
- The non-profit has a total of 8 employees, as reported on their form for 2020.
- Is not a private foundation.
- Expenses are between $500,000 and $1,000,000+.
- Revenue is greater than $1,000,000.
- Revenue less expenses is $418,279.
- The organization has 12 independent voting members.
- The organization was formed in 1998.
- The organization pays $364,955 in salary, compensation, and benefits to its employees.
- The organization pays $70,066 in fundraising expenses.