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Post by Argo on Feb 6, 2006 9:14:38 GMT -5
A little while ago there was a thread that had been started by (I don't remember) Anyway they were saying that no info was forthcoming concerning the funding from Project AWARE and that we as Instructors have a right to this info. As we are "selling" project Aware to our students............. OK after some research into this subject (Asking the PADI regional manager) I have found out following: If you want info on this subject please go to the project Aware website and you can see where "OUR" money is going......... www.projectaware.org/uk/english/grants/funding/ |
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Post by LSDeep on Feb 6, 2006 10:01:05 GMT -5
it seems that any kind of financial information on project aware are scarce at best and answers from them on requests regarding such numbers / financial reports shine mainly by the lack of them. no my understanding used to be, that non profits in general need to make their data acessible in order to keep an TAXEXEMPT status. here are some no. i found for aware.uk Project AWARE (UK), charity number 1073327, was established in 1999 to co-ordinate aquatic environmental activities in the UK, Ireland, Middle East, Mediterranean, Russia, Eastern Europe and Africa**. The charity runs a Funding Programme to assist worthwhile environmental projects. In 1999, the first year of operation, £18,500 of grants were awarded throughout the charity’s service region. In 2000, over £76,000 was allocated, and in 2001, a total of more than £100,000 was awarded to 37 different projects in the UK, South Africa, Jordan, Egypt, Russia, Malaysia and the Channel Islands, adding to projects in Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Seychelles, Mauritius, Honduras, Czech Republic, Croatia, Ghana, Caribbean, Fiji, Madagascar and Nigeria, from previous years. The Funding Programme will continue through year 2003 and beyond, assisting both individuals and groups. Grants of up to £5000 can be applied for in any one proposal. For details of the grant recipients, please visit www.projectaware.org or contact aware@padi.co.uk * * Aquatic World Awareness, Responsibility and Education * ** Project AWARE offices are also located in the U.S., Switzerland, Australia, Sweden, Norway and Japan. Project AWARE Foundation, established in 1992, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt organization committed to the conservation and preservation of the aquatic environment and its resources. Project AWARE programs included beach cleanups, environmental presentations, research, campaigns and other efforts to help preserve and protect the underwater world. |
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Post by Sharki on Feb 6, 2006 11:20:55 GMT -5
Nice info... but still this is only for the UK section. Where are all the tables and numbers??  I do not find anything about Europe. Still not satifyied with those info given. They should improve... Just checked the PADI Europe section, nothing mentioned at all...  |
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Post by Argo on Feb 6, 2006 11:26:48 GMT -5
Sharki, this unfortunately is all the info available....... I will continue digging. Perhaps there is some law that says they don't have to show exact breakdown cos they are a foundation charity......... we will see!! Whatever its a very little amount of money that has been paid, considering that the maximum for a grant is 5k.......add the programs up at 5k each and look how little it is.......(assuming that each program got the full amount!!) If you go to www.projectaware.org you can see all of the different branches and check the funding on each one...........I really would like to know how much was going in not just going out !! |
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Post by LSDeep on Feb 6, 2006 11:29:52 GMT -5
yep it seems to be a big black hole. even assuming that everything is fine and the money wisely used - it makes me suspicious if i cant get any information on it. also the numbers above seem rather low, compared to what i would assume - project aware should generate in money - just considering: donations, the min $5 "donation" for aware c-cards, course fees, profits from material sales, aware clothing line and aware credit cards.....
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Post by Sharki on Feb 6, 2006 11:32:42 GMT -5
I really do think this project Aware is a good idea.  What bothers me is that they don't give us the info when asked.  When you have nothing to hide and you are even proud of what you do, then this request should be more than welcome to underline what you have done. ...we are still waiting for a personal email from Padi Europe... I guess this will take until I'm 60 years old...  |
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Post by Argo on Feb 6, 2006 11:37:34 GMT -5
Exactly my point.........  |
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Post by LSDeep on Feb 6, 2006 11:53:23 GMT -5
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Post by LSDeep on Feb 6, 2006 14:02:15 GMT -5
ok little update, wrote a mail to pa - americas:
Dear Jenny,
I am working on a detailed article about marine / environmental related foundations and organisations at the moment. Even with time intensive internet research it seems impossible to find detailed information about the Project Aware Foundation. It would support my work tremendously, if you could supply me with an Annual Report or similar information about Project Aware, as I found them for other organisations online or where supplied with. What interests me for the focus of this article are details about projects supported or spearheaded, number of members, annual financial review and other information you would find interesting. For your support I like to thank you foreup.
Regards
and got this:
Hi,
Please let me know where you would like me to mail the annual report and I will get this to you as soon as possible.
Kind regards,
Lauren
guess now we wait, was asking again if email is poss, if not my mail takes about 1week from the states. it seems, that pa in the states is a lot more acessible then the european offices.
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Post by manta on Feb 6, 2006 16:50:52 GMT -5
Well, the 501(c)(3) designation is a US one - just in case no one recognized it. It is a purely not for profit and has to abide by these guidelines for disclosure: www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4221.pdfand that is straight from the Infernal Revenue Service of the US of A. As you mentioned their 501c-3 status, then they will have been required by US law to file certain documents with the IRS. If you don't get any joy from them, then let me know and I should be able to request it - being a US citizen (at least nominally, anyway  ) |
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Post by Argo on Feb 7, 2006 1:11:31 GMT -5
AHA Manta has contacts to the IRS... be careful people  |
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Post by Sharki on Feb 7, 2006 6:55:04 GMT -5
He, should I send this link over to Padi Europe??? Would be cool to see their reaction!!!!! I knew it, be careful of the Manta. They also called Teufelsrochen in German (Teufel= devil, Rochen=ray)...  |
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Post by manta on Feb 7, 2006 7:37:12 GMT -5
MOI!?!?! contacts with the IRS? you have GOT to be joking! As far as they're concerned I have dropped off the face of the earth ;D.
and Sharki - as far as 'devil ray' .....only in certain circumstances >=)
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Post by Sharki on Feb 7, 2006 13:04:42 GMT -5
I knew you will like my translation!!!!!!!!  |
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Post by LSDeep on Mar 1, 2006 22:36:14 GMT -5
just as an update - i received still nothing after the last mails. i just remailed, asking for the promised report. hope i have soon better news for you. at this point i have to agree with not worth putting money into, since we have no record of the spending. i hope i can offer better info's soon, til then - be suspicious, it seems the thing to do!
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Post by LSDeep on Mar 1, 2006 22:55:05 GMT -5
the "conversation" so far: divepro info to jennyg More options Feb 6 Dear Jenny, I am working on a detailed article about marine / environmental related foundations and organisations at the moment. Even with time intensive internet research it seems impossible to find detailed information about the Project Aware Foundation. It would support my work tremendously, if you could supply me with an Annual Report or similar information about Project Aware, as I found them for other organisations online or where supplied with. What interests me for the focus of this article are details about projects supported or spearheaded, number of members, annual financial review and other information you would find interesting. For your support I like to thank you foreup. Regards _____________________________________________________________________________ divepro info to lauren.richard. More options Feb 6 ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: divepro info <diveproinfo@gmail.com> Date: Feb 6, 2006 1:08 PM Subject: Information To: jennyg@padi.com - Hide quoted text - Dear Jenny, I am working on a detailed article about marine / environmental related foundations and organisations at the moment. Even with time intensive internet research it seems impossible to find detailed information about the Project Aware Foundation. It would support my work tremendously, if you could supply me with an Annual Report or similar information about Project Aware, as I found them for other organisations online or where supplied with. What interests me for the focus of this article are details about projects supported or spearheaded, number of members, annual financial review and other information you would find interesting. For your support I like to thank you foreup. Regards ______________________________________________________________________________ Lauren Richardson to me More options Feb 6 Hi xxxxx, Please let me know where you would like me to mail the annual report and I will get this to you as soon as possible. Kind regards, Lauren Lauren Richardson Program Coordinator Project AWARE Foundation 30151 Tomas Street Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 Phone: +1 949 858 7657 ext. 2557 Phone: +1 866 80 AWARE ext. 2557 Fax: +1 949 858 7521 www.projectaware.org_______________________________________________________________________________ Hi Laura, email would be fine, since it is fast. But here is my snail mail address if that is more convinient. xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx Thank you very much for your fast response and your help. Regards _____________________________________________________________________________ Lauren Richardson to me More options Feb 6 Hi xxxx, I will send it via mail as we do not have an electronic version of the annual report. Warm regards, Lauren _____________________________________________________________________________ Jenny Miller Garmendia to me More options Feb 7 Hi xxxxx, I am traveling at the moment but when I get back to my office Monday, I would be happy to send you the information. Let me know if that is fast enough. Certainly you can find out quite a bit of information about our education, publica awareness campaigns and activities such as the fact that we partner with The Ocean Conservancy and organize the underwater portion of cleanups around the world. xxxx, can you tell me more about yourself and who you are writing the article for? Are you interested in all of the work we do you have a particular focus of interest. Sincerely, Jenny Jenny Miller Garmendia Director, Project AWARE Foundation 30151 Tomas Street Rancho Santa Margarita CA, 92688-2125 USA Tel: +1-949-858-7657 ext. 2439 Tel: +1-866-80- AWARE (US and Canada) Fax: +1-949-858-7521 Email: jenny.miller.garmendia@projectaware.org www.projectaware.org <http://www.projectaware.org/> ________________________________________________________________________________ divepro info to Jenny More options Feb 7 Hi Jenny, thx for responding while on the road. I mailed Lauren already (as recommended) and she sends me the material. So everything is fine and taken care of. Thank you again, you guys rock - what i can't say about your european offices, which my partner tried first! Regards and Happy Bubbles _________________________________________________________________________________ divepro info to Jenny More options 10:28 pm (0 minutes ago) Hi Jenny, I write for several online publications / messageboards on scuba diving. Project Aware came to my attention lately at some boards and in several private emails as an organisation that seems to lack any "easy" to find records in relationship to expenses, income and the spending. I am a instr. myself (also with PADI) and still believe that there is nothing wrong with Project Aware. On the other hand i have to agree with others, the lack of anything like yearly reports causes suspicions with members. Something I dont like to see and I assume you dont want! So, I decided to look into the matter and try to "set it straight". I can understand the mentioned persons - after reviewing their email traffic with the Project Aware office in Europe! After over a year it still results into nothing!!!! As I have to say about the report promised to me!!!!! I still received nada - nothing - nichts! I will finish my investigation into thts matter up shortly - the deadline I set myself is april 1st. I would highly apprechiate your help to set the record "straight" - at this point I can only agree with the mentioned emails and posts! Unfortunately, after getting promised a "speedy snailmail" I received nothing til today. You will understand, that's not helping me or my intentions here! I do not expect "secrets" but a (for non-profits usual) yearly report. On the understanding, that something with my mail address might went wrong and I just relocated (3 days ago) to the BVI's - I would apprechiate, if you could send me above mentioned reports (from a reasonably recent year, I can understand if 2005 is not available yet - but maybe 2004?) to the following address: XXXXX XXXXX xxxxx xxxxx I really would like to sort this out for you with Project Aware members on an international basis and put the claims for "suspicious" doings to a final rest. So far i miss unfortunately any base for that, while material from Paul Watson's Sea Shepperd, Greenpeace, CORAL, REEF and other organisations is readily available. Warm Regards well , thats where we are right now. i still have hopes - even sinking ones. will keep you up to date and should i ever receive the report will do my best to take your doubts of it! after all - its a good cause, just this secret biz does not help anybody. |
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Post by manta on Mar 2, 2006 9:22:42 GMT -5
Did you give them a new address in the BVI to send it to? heck give them MINE and I"ll find a way to get it scanned & email you the scans.
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Post by LSDeep on Mar 5, 2006 19:07:14 GMT -5
Did you give them a new address in the BVI to send it to? heck give them MINE and I"ll find a way to get it scanned & email you the scans. why dont you request the material also and we will see who gets it first, if ever? |
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Post by LSDeep on Mar 26, 2006 20:12:56 GMT -5
just as a short update, i finally got a financial report of aware americas. i just read thru it myself and will shortly write it up here in detail. it says nothing / very little about europe and uk. but i guess its a step forward. i dont know, why they cant put it on the website like many other ngo / npo's. anyway shortly more, i will see also, that i scan the tables / diagrams.
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