1000 Friends of Wisconsin Inc. (“1000 Friends”) is an urbanist-environmentalist advocacy group involved in so-called “smart growth” development regulation. The group claims to focus on expanding public transportation and developing environmentalist infrastructure. The organization frequently opposes highway projects in Wisconsin and to advocate for requiring “smart growth” plans for local units of government.2 The initiative required all local governments to conform to a wide variety of actions related to plans adopted after January 1, 2010.2 The comprehensive plan elements under the law required that nine elements be addressed in a comprehensive plan, including an explanation of “issues and opportunities”; housing options; transportation plans; utilities and community facilities plans, an emphasis on agricultural, natural, and cultural resources; economic development plans; intergovernmental cooperation; land use restrictions; and the plan for long term implementation.2 In 2013, another attempt was made to provide relief to local governments from the comprehensive plan requirements.2 All of these attempts were opposed by 1000 Friends.10 The 2016 revenue was well below the 2015 amount of $502,710, representing a 38% drop in funding.11 As a result, the expenditures of 1000 Friends fell from the previous year’s $534,810, a nearly 47% decrease. 12Compensation of current officers, directors, trustees, and key employees accounted for $66,164 of the organization’s expenditures, in addition to $79,166 in other salaries and wages.13 Fees for services included $41,439 in legal expenses.14
Salaries
The only individuals listed as receiving compensation from 1000 Friends were executive director Deb Nemeth, who collected compensation of $60,927 and $2,132 in other compensation, and the immediate past executive director, Steve Hiniker, who collected $3,000 of compensation and $105 of other compensation.15 The other board members and directors did not receive any compensation.15
Funders
The organization has received funding from the left-leaning Joyce Foundation, the environmentalist-aligned Rockefeller Family Fund, and the donor-advised fund provider Greater Milwaukee Foundation.16
People
Leadership
Executive director Deb Nemeth, one of the group’s founding board members, leads 1000 Friends.20
Ashwat Narayanan serves as 1000 Friends’ director of transportation policy. Narayanan has advocated for stopping all Wisconsin road projects. 0){
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