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The Conservation Foundation

Learn about this cause: What are the reviews? Is it Legit? Do I like the mission? What is the CEO's salary?

EIN: 237221206 ✦ Naperville, IL ✦ Designated as a 501(c)(3)

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Overview

What is The Conservation Foundation?

The Conservation Foundation, based in Naperville, Illinois, is a dedicated nonprofit organization that focuses on preserving and restoring natural areas, protecting rivers and watersheds, and promoting environmental stewardship within communities. Over the past year, they have made significant strides, acquiring five properties totaling 144 acres and managing more than 575 acres of natural area. Their efforts have benefited more than 650 families through their organic vegetable farm, providing food to families in need and donating 1,000 tons of food to local food pantries. The Foundation provides professional staffing to four local watershed groups, working to improve the quality of water resources for over 7.4 million people residing in the Salt Creek, DuPage, Des Plaines River, and Chicago area waterway systems. They have also developed a new training curriculum for public agencies and private contractors who lay salt in the winter. In addition, they have continued their conservation online webinar seminars, reaching over 600 participants. The DuPage River Cleanup event alone netted 8 tons of trash, involved more than 500 volunteers, and cleaned 47 miles of rivers. The Foundation expanded their Nature RX program into Kane County and involved over 1,600 people in their Take-A-Hike Challenge and 50 Miles for 50 Years Challenge. They have certified 65 properties as Conservation@Home and Conservation@Work, distributed 1,200 rain barrels to local communities, and installed four new pollinator and native plant demonstration gardens. The Conservation Foundation offers environmental education programs for children and served more than 1,700 children in these programs. They have implemented 8 Conservation in Your Community initiatives in three counties, demonstrating their commitment to enhancing the health of their communities by preserving and restoring natural areas, protecting rivers and watersheds, and promoting stewardship of the environment.


Official website here: www.theconservationfoundation.org

What are the reviews and ratings of this charity?

Charity Navigator Rating 100% - Four-Star out of Four Star rating

The Conservation Foundation has achieved a perfect score of 100% from Charity Navigator, reflecting excellent performance in accountability and finance. This exceptional rating indicates strong governance practices, with a fully independent board and no material diversions of assets, enhancing stakeholders' trust in the organization's operations.

Strengths of The Conservation Foundation include a high program expense ratio of 84.22%, which demonstrates a commitment to utilizing funds effectively toward its mission. Additionally, the organization shows impressive financial health with a low liabilities to assets ratio of 22.46% and a robust working capital ratio of 3.59 years, ensuring sustainability and capacity to respond to future challenges.

While the rating is outstanding, it primarily focuses on financial metrics, which may not encompass the full scope of the organization's impact and effectiveness in conservation efforts. Nonetheless, the comprehensive policies in place indicate a strong commitment to ethical practices and transparency.


This AI summary has been generated from information found on Charity Navigator.

Is The Conservation Foundation legitimate?

The Conservation Foundation is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. The Conservation Foundation submitted a form 990, which is a tax form used by tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., indicating its operational transparency and adherence to regulatory requirements. Donations to this organization are tax deductible.


Heare are some key statistics you may want to consider:

Executive Compensation: $213,385
Professional Fundraising Fees: $0
Other Salaries and Wages: $1,518,287

For more financial information, click here


Official website here: www.theconservationfoundation.org

What is the mission statement of The Conservation Foundation?

The Conservation Foundation aims to enhance the health of communities by preserving and restoring natural areas, protecting rivers and watersheds, and promoting stewardship of the environment. They have been active in acquiring and managing natural areas, providing organic produce to families, and donating food to local food banks. They also offer professional staffing to local watershed groups and have conducted clean-up events to maintain the quality of waterways. Additionally, they have developed a training curriculum for salt-laying agencies and contractors, and have expanded their Nature RX program. They also provide conservation education to children and have implemented several community initiatives.


Official website here: www.theconservationfoundation.org

Who is the CEO of The Conservation Foundation?

Brook Mcdonald is the Chairman of The Conservation Foundation. The CEO's salary of The Conservation Foundation is $190,859 and their total compensation is $213,385.


Official website here: www.theconservationfoundation.org

What is the revenue of The Conservation Foundation?

The Conservation Foundation's revenue in 2022 was $3,351,729.


Official website here: www.theconservationfoundation.org

Who are the executives of The Conservation Foundation and what are their salaries?

The average compensation at The Conservation Foundation during 2022 was $39,356. There are 44 employees and 1000 volunteers at The Conservation Foundation.


Here are 25 key members and their salaries (The Conservation Foundation's CEO's salary is $190,859 and their total compensation is $213,385):


Christopher B Burke (Chairman)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Nancy Hopp (Vice Chair)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Tom Bennington (Secretary)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Tom Schneider (Treasurer)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
John Binneboese (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Lulu Blacksmith (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Pete Connolly (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Jane Davis (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Dave Gorman (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
John Gormley (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Erik Gullickson (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
David Hulseberg (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Robert Hutchinson (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Susan Jayne (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Carole Koch (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Julie Long (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Joe Mikan (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Jeanette Press (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Lois Vitt Sale (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Ellen Van Ohlen (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Dan Wagner (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Jeff Wehrli (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Dennis E Wisnosky (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Brook Mcdonald (President/Ceo)
  • Compensation: $190,859
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $22,526
John Mccracken (Director Of Drscw)
  • Compensation: $104,301
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $3,251


Official website here: www.theconservationfoundation.org

Where can I find the form 990 for The Conservation Foundation?

The Conservation Foundation's most recent form 990 was submitted in 2022 and can be accessed here.


Official website here: www.theconservationfoundation.org

Learn more at the official website: www.theconservationfoundation.org

Mission Statement of The Conservation Foundation

The Conservation Foundation, a dedicated environmental organization, is committed to preserving and restoring natural areas, protecting rivers and watersheds, and promoting stewardship of our environment. Through its mission, the organization aims to improve the health of communities by implementing various initiatives that focus on these key areas.

One of the ways The Conservation Foundation contributes to its mission is by acquiring and preserving lands, as evidenced by the acquisition of five properties totaling 144 acres. In addition to this, the organization has restored and managed more than 575 acres of natural areas, providing a haven for diverse wildlife and fostering a healthier ecosystem.

The organization's efforts extend beyond land conservation. It has also been active in community outreach, with its organic vegetable farm serving more than 650 families, including homeless families, and donating 1,000 tons of food to local food pantries. Furthermore, The Conservation Foundation provides professional staffing to four local watershed groups that work to protect the water quality for over 7.4 million people residing in various watersheds.

In terms of education, the organization runs environmental education programs for children, reaching more than 1,700 students. It also conducts online webinar seminars, presenting 15 webinars with over 600 participants, promoting awareness and education about environmental conservation.

The Conservation Foundation is also involved in community-based initiatives, implementing eight Conservation in Your Community initiatives in three counties. It has expanded its Nature Rx program into Kane County, involving more than 1,600 people in its Take-A-Hike Challenge and 50 Miles for 50 Years Challenge. Additionally, the organization has certified 65 properties as Conservation@Home and Conservation@Work, distributed 1,200 rain barrels to local communities, and installed four new pollinator and native plant demonstration gardens.

In summary, The Conservation Foundation is an organization that is dedicated to preserving and restoring natural areas, protecting rivers and watersheds, and promoting stewardship of our environment. It accomplishes this through various initiatives, including land acquisition, restoration, community outreach, education, and community-based programs.

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Impact




June, 2024

The Conservation Foundation has made a significant impact by preserving and restoring natural areas, protecting rivers and watersheds, and promoting stewardship of our environment. They have acquired properties totaling 144 acres, restored and managed over 575 acres of natural area, and served more than 650 families through their organic vegetable farm. Additionally, they have donated 1,000 tons of food to local food pantries, provided staffing to local watershed groups, and conducted various conservation initiatives benefiting millions of people in the area. Their efforts include organizing cleanup events, expanding nature programs, certifying properties as conservation-friendly, distributing rain barrels and native plants, and implementing environmental education programs that have reached over 1,700 children. Through these actions, The Conservation Foundation has significantly contributed to improving the health of our communities and promoting a sustainable environment.




This information is meant to be a general summary of The Conservation Foundation. Please take the time to review official sources before making any decisions based upon the content provided here.


Financials

This financial information is from Propublica.

Revenue
$3,351,729 (2022)
Expenses
$2,778,503 (2022)
Efficiency

Other financial information:

This information is from the most recently submitted tax form from this organization, which was in 2022.

  • Investment Income: $44,186
  • Program Service Revenue: $862,305
  • Gross Receipts: $3,762,045

Assets and Liabilities:

  • Total Assets: $10,642,016
  • Total Liabilities: $2,811,891
  • Net Assets: $7,830,125

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Programs

Programs are reported by nonprofits in their tax forms and are normally their tax-exempt activities.

CONSERVATION SERVICES

Revenue

$811,628

EVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Revenue

$26,142

SPECIAL TRIP REVENUE

Revenue

$22,476

ART OF THE FOX

Revenue

$2,059

Organization Details

Founding Year

1972

Principal Officer

Brook Mcdonald

Main Address

10S404 KNOCH KNOLLS ROAD, NAPERVILLE, IL, 60565

NTEE Category

Code: C340 - Environment

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