The Friends’ Board members and staff steer our organization towards a sustainable future by adopting sound, ethical, and legal financial management policies, as well as ensuring the Friends has adequate resources to advance its mission.  We take our roles very seriously and wish to be transparent to our members and the community.

The Friends of the Shiawassee River received an independent audit report for January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 from the offices of VMD & Associates. VMD found that the Friends financial statements “present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Friends of the Shiawassee River as of December 31, 2021 and the changes in its net assets and its cash flows for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.” This unqualified opinion is the highest level of assurance provided from a financial statement audit.

It is our responsibility to our members and the community to be financially responsible and transparent in our operations. The unqualified report from this independent audit is the result of the expertise and commitment of our dedicated staff and board volunteers.

Friends staff and several board members also participated in the Non-Profit Network's recent workshop on Embezzlement Awareness.  Attendance at this workshop and updating our accounting policies further strengthen our safeguards of the financial contributions of our members and grantor donors.