What is the Pri-Ru-Ta RC&D Council?

The Council is charged with helping people protect and develop the economic, natural, and social resources in ways that improve their area's economy, environment, and quality of life. Council actions are designed to provide a way for people to plan and implement projects that will make their communities a better place to live. The Council works with partners to bring together people, needs, concerns, opportunities, and solutions.

The Pri-Ru-Ta RC&D Council Inc. is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization within the State and is considered a 501(c)(3) entity by Internal Revenue Service. This standing makes them eligible to secure grant funds from private foundations and others, to receive private individual donations, and to become holders of property, etc., as allowed by their by-laws.

The Council was formed in 1964 under the authority of the Agriculture Act of 1962, which provided for the RC&D program. The goal of the program is to help empower rural people to provide local direction and control to area resource conservation and resource development efforts.

The Pri-Ru-Ta Council administrative area covers Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor and Washburn Counties in Wisconsin. However the boundaries of the projects the Council becomes involved with are determined by the extent of the resource concern or opportunity, not by the administrative boundary of the Council.

Who is Involved with the Council?

RC&D Council representatives are volunteers who want a better life for themselves, their children, and future generations. Local County Boards of Supervisors and their Land and Water Conservation Committees sponsor the Pri-Ru-Ta RC&D Council in each county. Sponsors can also include cities and towns, townships, civic organizations, regional planning bodies, local non-profit organizations, Indian tribal bodies, and others. Sponsors are active in the RC&D and appoint qualified representatives to serve on the Council to represent their interests. Sponsors provide input into the Council's actions through their representative. Interested community members are also invited to participate as At-Large council members

Role of the Council in Northwestern Wisconsin.

The role of the Pri-Ru-Ta RC&D Council Inc. is to maintain an ongoing understanding of the needs of partners and the resources available, so that it can effectively use its institutional strengths to help partners access the resources they need to meet their resource conservation and resource development goals. Pri-Ru-Ta’s institutional strength is based on; a diverse, volunteer, grassroots Council, relationships with partners, knowledge of available funding sources, NRCS funding support for a coordinator and additional program assistance, and abilities inherent to its tax exempt status.

Some of the Council’s roles that have evolved based on expressed needs of partners include:

1. Understanding the needs of partners and understanding where to access the resources they need to meet their goals.

2. Provide assistance to improve the effectiveness of government, non-profit, and private sector programs that have the potential to address challenges of sustainability and improve the quality of life in Northwestern Wisconsin.

3. Understanding the needs of, and opportunities presented by, private philanthropic foundations.

4. Coordinating technical assistance.

5. Assisting with grant search, writing and administration.

6. Acting as fiscal agent for grant funding.

7. Hiring multi-county employees.

8. Help organizing events.

9. Conducting informational campaigns, tours and educational events.

10. Conducting research.

11. Coordinating mailings.

12. Facilitating meetings.

Some of the Council’s roles and efficiencies are based on abilities inherent to 501c3 status include:

1. Applying for grants.

2. Raising funds for projects through tax deductible charitable contributions from people and groups interested in seeing the project succeed.

3. Raising money to assist partners through tax-exempt income producing ventures.

4. Exemption from paying federal unemployment taxes.

5. Access to reduced-rate bulk mailing privileges.

The Council’s degree of involvement is dependent on the circumstances of the opportunity. It is oftentimes appropriate for the Council to serve in a supporting role. As an example, a partnership developing a workshop may have sufficient organizational abilities. The Council contribution to the project may be limited to acting as the fiscal agent and assistance with mailing. When necessary the Council will take more of a leadership role in an effort. As an example, a partnership may be looking to find resources for a specialist to work with area farmers. The Council in this case may be involved in; grant writing, grant administration, hiring of the staff, and planning of educational outreach activities.

How the Council Operates Financially.

The Council’s operating funds come from sponsor dues, and donations from partners. Project specific funding comes from: project grants and project activity registration fees. The Council is a 501c3 nonprofit corporation and as such has tax exempt and tax deductible status. The Government’s rationale for granting this status is that if a group’s purpose is sufficiently in the public interest, it makes no sense to tax it. Since the group’s activities lessen the load on the government, it should be allowed to apply any surplus it generates to more good works, not taxes. The USDA-NRCS provides for a full-time coordinator to work with the Council to identify problems, establish goals and objectives, build strategies and implement plans. They also provide for a part-time assistant, office space, some equipment and supplies, and a government vehicle for the staff. The Council manages all of its financial matter according to generally accepted accounting principals