Request for Submission of Cooperating/Interpretive Association Reports for 2018
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
https://www.blm.gov
August 27, 2019
In Reply Refer To:
1115 (420) P
EMS TRANSMISSION 09/03/2019
Information Bulletin No. 2019-058
To: All Field Office Officials
Attn: Interpretive Leads
From: Assistant Director, National Conservation Lands and Community Partnerships
Subject: Request for Submission of Cooperating/Interpretive Association Reports for 2018 DD: 10/01/2019
The purpose of this information bulletin is to request documentation of monetary and non-monetary contributions provided to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) by cooperating/interpretive associations during the 2017 calendar year. Cooperating/interpretive associations are private, non-profit, federally tax-exempt organizations that assist federal agencies by operating sales areas within visitor centers, interpretive centers, public rooms, and other government facilities. The net profits from sales are often used to develop interpretive and educational products and supply materials for special events.
The BLM requests that all cooperating/interpretive associations operating under formal cooperative or assistance agreements with the BLM file annual reports based on association records and the data contained in Internal Revenue Service Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax. Delays are often due to six-month tax filing extensions granted to cooperating associations.
A sample letter to cooperative/interpretive associations to request reports is provided as Attachment 1. The BLM and other federal land management agencies collaboratively developed unified reporting directions with the cooperating/interpretive association community. These instructions are provided as Attachment 2 – Instructions for Completing Nonprofit Organization Annual Report of Operations and Aid to Federal Land Management Agency (ies). A consolidated fillable PDF form is provided as Attachment 3. Please note: a separate section of the PDF form accounts specifically for association services other than direct financial aid to the BLM. Please enclose Attachments 2 and 3 with your letters to the cooperative/interpretive associations and label them as Enclosures.
In addition, each BLM office with formal cooperating/interpretive association agreements should provide a short narrative summary of association activities that occurred in calendar year 2017. The narrative should highlight three noteworthy association-related events or achievements and be limited to 500 words. A style guide for the narrative summary is included as Attachment 4. If possible, please also provide high-resolution photographs (digital only).
Completed forms, narratives, and photos must be submitted by October 1, 2019, to BLM National Lead for Interpretation Brianna Candelaria via second-day Federal Express only to the address below or by email to bcandela@blm.gov.
U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
20 M Street, SE, Room 2134LM
Attention: Brianna Candelaria, WO-420
Washington, DC 20003
Should you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Brianna Candelaria, National Lead for Interpretation, at (202) 912-7583 or by email to bcandela@blm.gov.
Signed by: Authenticated by:
Nikki Haskett Robert M. Williams
Acting, Assistant Director Division of Business Resources,WO-850
National Conservation Lands and
Community Partnerships
4 Attachments
1 - Sample Letter to Cooperating/Interpretive Associations to Request Reports (1 p)
2 - Instructions for Completing Nonprofit Organization Annual Report of Operations and Aid to Federal Land Management Agency (ies) (5 pp)
3 - Cooperating Association Fillable PDF Form (3 pp)
4 - Style Guide for Cooperating/Interpretive Association Narrative Summary (3 pp)