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The Conservation Fund A Nonprofit Corporation

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

EIN: 521388917 ✦ Arlington, VA ✦ Designated as a 501(c)(3)

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Overview

What is The Conservation Fund A Nonprofit Corporation?

The Conservation Fund is a leading nonprofit organization based in Arlington, Virginia, dedicated to tackling conservation challenges while providing economic benefits to communities. With a team of 241 employees, the organization focuses on purchasing priority natural lands, essential cultural and historic sites, and working landscapes such as forests, farms, and ranches. Since its founding in 1985, The Conservation Fund has conserved more than 8.8 million acres across all 50 states with a total appraised value of over $7.9 billion. Their expertise lies in interim land holding, providing time for permanent conservation to be achieved by their partners. The organization uses capital from various sources, including its revolving fund, to accomplish its land conservation objectives. In addition to real estate acquisitions, The Conservation Fund offers negotiation expertise and transactional support to help partners directly acquire conservation land and provides bridge financing and technical assistance to protect critical natural resources in their communities. Their conservation loans address an unmet need for bridge financing and help partners expand conservation impact nationwide. The organization also offers mitigation solutions, working in partnership with developers and regulatory agencies to implement mitigation plans and provide advice on mitigation strategies during infrastructure project development. As of December 31, 2022, The Conservation Fund's conservation loans have helped conserve 162,109 acres through 408 loans in 41 states.


Official website here: www.conservationfund.org

What are the reviews and ratings of this charity?

Charity Navigator Rating 97% - Four-Star out of Four Star Rating

The Conservation Fund has earned a high rating of 97% from Charity Navigator, which reflects its strong performance in accountability and finance, scoring a perfect 100 in that category. The organization maintains a fully independent board and demonstrates rigorous financial oversight, with a remarkable program expense ratio of 96.58%, indicating that the vast majority of donations are directed towards conservation efforts rather than administrative costs.

User reviews consistently praise The Conservation Fund for its effectiveness and transparency in environmental conservation. Many donors appreciate the low overhead and the substantial impact their contributions have on preserving critical natural areas. The organization is recognized for its commitment to quality standards in conservation, as supported by its accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, highlighting its dedication to excellence and ethical practices.

However, while the fund's leadership and adaptability scores are perfect, its culture and community score of 73 suggests there may be areas for improvement in community engagement or internal culture. Overall, The Conservation Fund is viewed as a reliable and impactful choice for donors interested in supporting environmental conservation initiatives.


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

Is The Conservation Fund A Nonprofit Corporation legitimate?

The Conservation Fund A Nonprofit Corporation is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. The Conservation Fund A Nonprofit Corporation 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: $4,093,736
Professional Fundraising Fees: $62,760
Other Salaries and Wages: $20,775,289

For more financial information, click here


Official website here: www.conservationfund.org

What is the mission statement of The Conservation Fund A Nonprofit Corporation?

The Conservation Fund, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to conservation efforts that drive nature-based actions for climate protection, sustainable economies, and vibrant communities. They accomplish this through innovative solutions, focusing on the acquisition of priority natural lands, essential cultural and historic sites, and working landscapes like forests, farms, and ranches. By providing interim ownership of these properties, the Fund enables partners to secure funding and permanently manage the lands. The organization also provides negotiation expertise and transactional support to help partners directly acquire conservation land, as well as bridge financing and technical assistance. Their conservation loans address an unmet need for bridge financing and help expand conservation impact nationwide. Additionally, the Fund partners with developers and regulatory agencies to complete conservation acquisitions and other projects that mitigate impacts on natural, cultural, and historic resources from infrastructure projects.


Official website here: www.conservationfund.org

Who is the CEO of The Conservation Fund A Nonprofit Corporation?

Lawrence A Selzer is the Ceo & President of The Conservation Fund A Nonprofit Corporation. The CEO's salary of The Conservation Fund A Nonprofit Corporation is $667,710 and their total compensation is $760,399.


Official website here: www.conservationfund.org

What is the revenue of The Conservation Fund A Nonprofit Corporation?

The Conservation Fund A Nonprofit Corporation's revenue in 2022 was $302,251,881.


Official website here: www.conservationfund.org

Who are the executives of The Conservation Fund A Nonprofit Corporation and what are their salaries?

The average compensation at The Conservation Fund A Nonprofit Corporation during 2022 was $103,191. There are 241 employees and 20 volunteers at The Conservation Fund A Nonprofit Corporation.


Here are 34 key members and their salaries (The Conservation Fund A Nonprofit Corporation's CEO's salary is $667,710 and their total compensation is $760,399):


Jay Winthrop (Chair (Thru 07/2022))
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Daniel Tishman (Chair)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Jay F Wagley (Vice Chair)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Paul E Hagen (Vice Chair)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Julie G Barker (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Gregory A Beard (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
David P Bozeman (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Ingrid C Burke (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Todd C Carter (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
J Storey Charbonnet (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Charles A Cherington (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Kimberlee R Cornett (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Luis A De La Garza (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Jennifer L Hernandez (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
G Wilson Hughes (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Jill L Long Thompson (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Thruston B Morton Iii (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Kevyn D Orr (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
C Porter Schutt Iii (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
James Whitehurst (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Lawrence A Selzer (Ceo & President)
  • Compensation: $667,710
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $92,689
John S Gilbert (Evp & Cfo)
  • Compensation: $416,576
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $49,507
Monica A Garrison (Vp & Treasurer)
  • Compensation: $257,536
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $50,098
Margaret A Mccants (Board Sec & Con Acq Director)
  • Compensation: $151,634
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $25,483
Dean H Cannon (Evp & General Counsel)
  • Compensation: $434,829
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $32,182
Matthew S Sexton (Svp Conservation Acquisitions)
  • Compensation: $294,900
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $45,169
Blaine T Phillips Jr (Svp Conservation Acquisitions)
  • Compensation: $289,443
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $58,115
Mark W Elsbree (Svp Conservation Acquisitions)
  • Compensation: $293,938
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $56,244
Evan H Smith (Svp Conservation Ventures)
  • Compensation: $284,239
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $35,945
Christopher D Bell (Deputy General Counsel & Asst Sec)
  • Compensation: $248,565
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $22,837
Erik J Meyers (Vp Climate And Water Sustainability)
  • Compensation: $254,652
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $33,590
Elizabeth Palmer (Vp Of Human Resources)
  • Compensation: $253,638
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $39,278
Kelly M Reed (Svp Government Relations)
  • Compensation: $267,974
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $35,557
Brian J Dangler (Svp & Director Of Working Forest Fnd)
  • Compensation: $261,554
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $53,142


Official website here: www.conservationfund.org

Where can I find the form 990 for The Conservation Fund A Nonprofit Corporation?

The Conservation Fund A Nonprofit Corporation's most recent form 990 was submitted in 2022 and can be accessed here.


Official website here: www.conservationfund.org

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

Mission Statement of The Conservation Fund A Nonprofit Corporation

The Conservation Fund, a prominent nonprofit organization, is dedicated to making a significant impact on conservation, climate protection, sustainable economies, and thriving communities. With a mission rooted in innovation, this esteemed organization creates solutions that drive nature-based actions.

By focusing on conservation real estate, The Conservation Fund specializes in the acquisition of essential lands, including natural areas, cultural sites, and working landscapes such as forests, farms, and ranches. Their goal is to provide interim ownership of these lands, offering the necessary time for partners to secure funding and permanently manage the properties. The organization's success story includes the conservation of over 8.8 million acres across all 50 states, with a total appraised value of approximately $7.9 billion.

In addition to their core real estate activity, The Conservation Fund provides negotiation expertise and transactional support to help government agencies and conservation organizations directly acquire conservation land. Their conservation loans address an unmet need for bridge financing and help partners expand their conservation impact nationwide. As of December 31, 2022, these conservation loans have contributed to the conservation of 162,109 acres through 408 loans in 41 states.

By partnering with developers and regulatory agencies, The Conservation Fund completes conservation acquisitions and other projects to offset the impacts on natural, cultural, and historic resources from construction and infrastructure projects. They serve as a bridge between project developers and regulatory agencies to help develop and implement mitigation plans, providing private capital to enable conservation partners to achieve their priorities. Since the organization began providing mitigation services in 1998, over $300 million has been transferred to The Conservation Fund for land acquisition, restoration, and other actions to mitigate impacts to resources. As of December 31, 2022, over two-thirds of this amount has been deployed into more than 350 projects across the country, conserving or restoring approximately 375,000 acres.

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Impact




October, 2024

The Conservation Fund creates impactful, innovative strategies to address pressing conservation challenges while providing economic benefits for communities. They have successfully conserved over 8.8 million acres across the United States since their inception in 1985, with an appraised value exceeding $7.9 billion through more than 3,700 transactions.

Their conservation real estate activities focus on acquiring land deemed high-priority for ecological preservation, including forests, farms, and historic sites. By serving as an interim owner, The Conservation Fund safeguards these lands until permanent conservation measures can be established, thereby preventing the loss of critical natural resources that would otherwise occur if the properties were sold on the open market.

The organization also addresses funding gaps in land conservation through its revolving fund, which consists of donations and proceeds from previous real estate sales. This model allows them to tackle urgent conservation needs effectively while ensuring a return on investment for future projects.

In addition to land acquisition, The Conservation Fund provides conservation loans, offering crucial bridge financing to land trusts and partners, ultimately conserving over 162,000 acres through approximately 408 loans in 41 states. Their expertise in negotiation and transactional support further enhances their ability to facilitate effective land conservation measures.

Through partnerships with developers and regulatory agencies, The Conservation Fund implements mitigation strategies to offset impacts from infrastructure projects, resulting in over $300 million leveraged for conservation and restoration initiatives since 1998.

They also focus on preserving working forests, recognizing their vital role in combating climate change and sustaining rural economies. Their Working Forest Fund has invested nearly $700 million to acquire and manage large forested areas, which not only enhances carbon sequestration but also supports local jobs and recreational opportunities.

Furthermore, the organization is committed to revitalizing local food systems through its Working Farms Fund, which promotes sustainable farm businesses in metropolitan areas. With investments to secure land for new farms, they aim to create economic resilience while protecting farmland from development.

Overall, The Conservation Fund's multifaceted approach to conservation fosters sustainable economies and vibrant communities, addressing both environmental and socioeconomic challenges effectively.




This information is meant to be a general summary of The Conservation Fund A Nonprofit Corporation. 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
$302,251,881 (2022)
Expenses
$304,598,275 (2022)
Efficiency

Other financial information:

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

  • Investment Income: -$4,125,270
  • Program Service Revenue: $232,848,848
  • Gross Receipts: $308,722,922

Assets and Liabilities:

  • Total Assets: $858,023,270
  • Total Liabilities: $414,604,651
  • Net Assets: $443,418,619

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Programs

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

CONS. LAND SALES

Revenue

$196,058,112

MITIGATION REVENUE

Revenue

$19,090,211

RESOURCES SALES

Revenue

$7,694,234

CONTRACT FEES

Revenue

$5,203,840

CONS. LOAN INCOME

Revenue

$848,360

Organization Details

Founding Year

1985

Principal Officer

Lawrence A Selzer

Main Address

1655 N FORT MYER DRIVE 1300, ARLINGTON, VA, 222093199

NTEE Category

Code: C300 - Environment

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