Overview
What is Friends Of The Forest Preserves?
Friends of the Forest Preserves is a nonprofit organization based in Chicago, Illinois, dedicated to the conservation of the Forest Preserves in Cook County. They run various programs, including the Friends Conservation Corps, where they recruit individuals, primarily from low-income neighborhoods in Chicago, for conservation work and leadership development. The corps members, who are paid for their efforts, work on restoring woods and prairies, removing invasive species, and planting seeds, among other tasks. In addition to this, Friends of the Forest Preserves also encourages ecological restoration volunteering, where individuals get the opportunity to contribute to the preservation of nature through physical work such as trail maintenance, invasive tree removal, and seed collecting. These activities not only benefit nature but also provide volunteers with numerous advantages, such as spending quality time outdoors, fostering a sense of community, and discovering the lives of the animals and plants within the Forest Preserves. The organization's mission is to ensure the health and future of the natural areas, relying on a diverse group of individuals who contribute their hard work, talents, and love for nature.
Official website here: wwww.fotfp.org
What are the reviews and ratings of this charity?
Charity Navigator Rating: 96% (Four-Star out of Four Star rating)
Friends Of The Forest Preserves has achieved an impressive 96% score on Charity Navigator, reflecting its strong commitment to accountability and financial health. The organization is recognized for having a fully independent board, which indicates a high level of governance and oversight. Their financial practices are also noteworthy, with a program expense ratio of 84.84%, meaning that a significant portion of funds is directed towards their programs rather than administrative costs.
The nonprofit has shown excellent fiscal management, as evidenced by the low liabilities to assets ratio of 33.28% and a fundraising efficiency ratio where it costs only $0.12 to raise a dollar. Additionally, they have safeguards such as a conflict of interest policy and a whistleblower policy, enhancing transparency and trust in their operations.
Despite these strengths, it is important for donors and supporters to be aware of the working capital ratio of 0.62 years, which indicates a need for careful liquidity management. Overall, Friends Of The Forest Preserves demonstrates a solid operational foundation, making it a reliable option for those looking to support environmental conservation efforts.
This AI summary has been generated from information found on Charity Navigator.
Is Friends Of The Forest Preserves legitimate?
Friends Of The Forest Preserves is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. Friends Of The Forest Preserves 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: $291,358
Professional Fundraising Fees: $0
Other Salaries and Wages: $1,739,710
For more financial information, click here
Official website here: wwww.fotfp.org
What is the mission statement of Friends Of The Forest Preserves?
Friends of the Forest Preserves' mission is centered around the conservation of forest preserves, focusing on the area in Cook County. Their work encompasses various activities, such as organizing conservation corps, volunteer programs, and summer initiatives. The Friends Conservation Corps programs aim to educate students and young adults from underprivileged neighborhoods about conservation, while simultaneously developing crucial leadership and teamwork skills. These corps members, who are paid for their work, contribute significantly to the restoration of woods and prairies, removing invasive species and planting seeds. Additionally, they acquire essential skills like job readiness and financial literacy. Through their efforts, they become the next generation of advocates for the forest preserves and nature, ensuring the health and future of natural areas. Volunteers also play a vital role in ecological restoration, engaging in various activities like invasive tree removal, weeding, planting, seed collecting, trail fixing, and more, all of which help nature thrive and offer numerous benefits to volunteers, such as quality time outdoors, a sense of community, and new discoveries about the forest's wildlife.
Official website here: wwww.fotfp.org
Who is the CEO of Friends Of The Forest Preserves?
Benjamin Cox is the Chair of Friends Of The Forest Preserves.
Official website here: wwww.fotfp.org
What is the revenue of Friends Of The Forest Preserves?
Friends Of The Forest Preserves's revenue in 2022 was $3,066,681.
Official website here: wwww.fotfp.org
Who are the executives of Friends Of The Forest Preserves and what are their salaries?
The average compensation at Friends Of The Forest Preserves during 2022 was $8,869. There are 229 employees and 2500 volunteers at Friends Of The Forest Preserves.
Here are 19 key members and their salaries:
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- Other: $3,332
Official website here: wwww.fotfp.org
Where can I find the form 990 for Friends Of The Forest Preserves?
Friends Of The Forest Preserves's most recent form 990 was submitted in 2022 and can be accessed here.
Official website here: wwww.fotfp.org
Learn more at the official website: wwww.fotfp.org
Mission Statement of Friends Of The Forest Preserves
Friends of the Forest Preserves is a conservation-focused organization dedicated to preserving the forest reserves in Cook County. Their primary mission is to conserve the local forest reserves, a task they undertake through various programs and initiatives.
One of their most significant endeavors is the Friends Conservation Corps, which recruits students, young adults, and adults, often from low-income neighborhoods in Chicago, to learn about conservation and gain essential leadership and teamwork skills. Corps members are paid for their work restoring woods and prairies, creating meaningful jobs in under-served communities. They remove invasive species, plant seeds, and prepare the earth for rejuvenation, while also learning job readiness and financial literacy skills. These corps members become the next generation of front-line advocates for the forest preserves and nature.
In addition to the Conservation Corps, Friends of the Forest Preserves also encourages ecological restoration volunteering. Volunteers help care for nature by getting outside and doing the physical work of removing invasive trees, weeding, planting, seed collecting, trail fixing, and more. These activities help nature thrive and provide volunteers with numerous benefits such as quality time outdoors, a sense of community, and new discoveries into the lives of the animals and plants in the forest preserves in Cook County.
In essence, Friends of the Forest Preserves is an organization that seeks to preserve the forest reserves in Cook County through various conservation programs, the Friends Conservation Corps, and volunteer opportunities. Their work not only helps preserve the natural environment but also provides valuable skills and experiences to the participants.
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Impact
June, 2024
Friends Of The Forest Preserves has a significant impact on the conservation of the forest preserves in Cook County. Through their Conservation Corps programs, they engage high school students, young adults, and adults from low-income neighborhoods in Chicago, providing them with valuable opportunities to learn about conservation, leadership, and teamwork. The Corps members are paid for their work in restoring woods and prairies, creating meaningful jobs in underserved communities.
By removing invasive species, planting seeds, and preparing the earth for rejuvenation, Friends Of The Forest Preserves contributes to the health and future of natural areas. Their Ecological Restoration Volunteers play a crucial role in caring for nature by engaging in physical work like removing invasive trees, weeding, planting, seed collecting, and trail fixing. These efforts not only help nature thrive but also provide volunteers with benefits like quality time outdoors, a sense of community, and new discoveries about the animals and plants in the forest preserves in Cook County.
Overall, Friends Of The Forest Preserves's impact extends beyond conservation to fostering environmental stewardship, creating opportunities for personal and professional growth, and building a diverse community of individuals committed to protecting nature.
This information is meant to be a general summary of Friends Of The Forest Preserves. 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.
Other financial information:
This information is from the most recently submitted tax form from this organization, which was in 2022.
- Investment Income: $194
- Program Service Revenue: $1,602,248
- Gross Receipts: $3,106,370
Assets and Liabilities:
- Total Assets: $2,326,330
- Total Liabilities: $1,028,961
- Net Assets: $1,297,369
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Programs
Programs are reported by nonprofits in their tax forms and are normally their tax-exempt activities.
CONTRACTS
Revenue
$1,602,248
Organization Details
Founding Year
1998
Phone
(312) 356-9990Principal Officer
Benjamin Cox
Main Address
411 S WELLS ST STE 300, CHICAGO, IL, 60607
Website
wwww.fotfp.orgNTEE Category
Code: C30 - Environment
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