NSEA is one of the best nonprofits that I am aware of- and has a gold star rating on charity navigator.
NSEA's work is guided by a strategic plan that board and staff take an active role in, and includes extensive community input. NSEA voluntarily undertakes a full audit each year to ensure resources are being used appropriately. NSEA's work is focused on reversing the trend of declining salmon runs in Whatcom County by enhancing river, creek, and riparian habitat while educating people of all ages to provide Pacific salmon & Steelhead the best chance at survival.
NSEA was formed in 1990, and to date has completed 728 projects, planted over 400K native trees and shrubs, removed 165 fish passage barriers which have opened 141 miles of habitat. NSEA has educated over 30K students and worked with over 40K volunteers. NSEA conducts implementation and effectiveness monitoring and data is shared with - and used by- other salmon recovery partners.
Resources are used prudently, and staff and board members strive to be effective and efficient. To learn more about this well run and effective organization check out their annual reports & 990s: https://www.n-sea.org/publications
Without a doubt, NSEA is a beloved local nonprofit that does amazing work for salmon recovery in Whatcom County! They have three areas of focus: restoration, education, and monitoring. You can read extensively about their successes in these areas on their slick new website: www.n-sea.org Since 2004, NSEA has removed 70 barriers that made fish migration difficult or impossible opening over 50 miles of habitat that can now be used by salmon! In 2014 (just one year!) they planted 17,343 native trees and shrubs in Whatcom County watersheds, all the while involving the community to participate in widely attended work parties and educating youngsters on the basics of salmon and stream ecology at no cost to their school. And that's just scratching the surface. WOW!
The proof can be seen in the examples of great success that I've listed above. But don't take my word for it (or BHAM's). See for yourself on their website or attend a work party, then you'll know why NSEA is one of my favorite nonprofits.
As a response to BHAM, just want to quickly share that as a board member I felt as though resources were used rather wisely, creatively and thoughtfully in pursuit of its mission. Never did I feel the need to question how money was being allocated or whether restricted money was being mismanaged. Certainly, there are areas of growth, areas to improve. To that end, staff was responsive to the boards request for greater clarity or visibility or safety or whatever the case may be.
To sympathize with BHAM a little, it can be difficult to know the full story of why things are done the way they are. Seems to me, if he or she asked for more information it would have been provided. Dialogues can be powerful to both sides. Perhaps this happened. I don't know. Anyway, those are my two cents. Hope BHAM is able to find some silver lining in the good work at NSEA.
NSEA scams the public by pulling heartstrings to get people to donate them money, when their money is ill-spent or wasted altogether. Their instream projects frequently upset landowners through their ineffectiveness and sometimes even pose physical hazards to people who come near them (rebar). Their monitoring program is ineffective and data collected is tossed aside by resource biologists. Permanent staff intentionally drive their personal vehicles on company time in order to cash in their mileage and make extra bucks off taxpayer/donators' backs. The biggest outright lie: when NSEA asks for "x" amount of dollars to fund an intern or plant a tree or raise funds for a specific project the money simply does not go where they told you it would. The money goes wherever they want, after misleading you, the good-natured public. Lastly, NSEA's only clear function is to self serve by "educating" youngsters to grow up and become future NSEA supporters through indoctrination.