THE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

EIN: 237221206 501(c)(3) Environment

NAPERVILLE, IL

Total Revenue
$7,541,114
Total Expenses
$4,033,119
Total Assets
$21,166,151
Net Assets
$14,234,256
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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
1972
Legal Domicile
IL
Principal Officer
BROOK MCDONALD
Phone
6304284500
Tax Period
2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30

THE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION, founded in 1972, is a community nonprofit in the Environment sector that reported $7.5M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue surged 85% from the prior year, signaling strong growth momentum. The organization ran a surplus of $3.5M, a strong 47% operating margin.

Mission

WE IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES BY PRESERVING AND RESTORING NATURAL AREAS, PROTECTING RIVERS AND WATERSHEDS, AND PROMOTING STEWARDSHIP OF OUR ENVIRONMENT.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $3,393,265 Revenue: $1,393,664

FACILITATED THE DONATION OF 102 ACRES OF LAND TO THE KANE CTY FPD. PURCHASED 122 ACRES OF LAND IN KANE CTY FOR EVENTUAL NEW FOREST PRESERVE. RESTORED AND MANAGED MORE THAN 1,137 ACRES OF NATURAL...

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FACILITATED THE DONATION OF 102 ACRES OF LAND TO THE KANE CTY FPD. PURCHASED 122 ACRES OF LAND IN KANE CTY FOR EVENTUAL NEW FOREST PRESERVE. RESTORED AND MANAGED MORE THAN 1,137 ACRES OF NATURAL AREA. SERVED MORE THAN 1900 FAMILIES FROM OUR ORGANIC VEGETABLE FARM, INCLUDING LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, PROVIDED MORE THAN 26,000 POUNDS OF FOOD TO LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES. PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL STAFFING TO 4 LOCAL WATERSHED GROUPS THAT PROTECT THE STREAM RESOURCE QUALITY FOR 7.4 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE SALT CREEK, DUPAGE, DES PLAINES RIVER, AND CHICAGO AREA WATERSHEDS. PROVIDED SALT SMART WINTER BEST PRACTICES TRAINING FOR OVER 1,300 PARTICIPANTS. PROVIDED ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION PROGRAMMING AND OUTREACH TO NEARLY 18,000 PEOPLE. ORGANIZED THE DUPAGE RIVER AND FOX RIVER CLEANUP EVENTS, ENGAGING MORE THAN 1160 VOLUNTEERS AND CLEANING 47 MILES OF RIVERS. EXPANDED NATURE RX PROGRAM INTO KANE COUNTY; INVOLVED MORE THAN 1,400 PEOPLE IN THE TAKE-A-HIKE CHALLENGE. ENGAGED OVER 2,500 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH CONSERVATION@ HOME AND CONSERVATION@ WORK, DISTRIBUTED OVER 900 RAIN BARRELS TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES, INSTALLED 3 NEW POLLINATOR AND NATIVE PLANT DEMONSTRATION GARDENS, AND DISTRIBUTED THOUSANDS OF NATIVE PLANTS, TREES AND SHRUBS TO HOMEOWNERS. ENGAGED OVER 50 PARTNERS THROUGH NATURE RX INITIATIVE, REACHING OVER 3,600 PARTICIPANTS. SERVED MORE THAN 3,200 CHILDREN AND EDUCATORS IN OUR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

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Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $5,889,940
Program Service Revenue $937,992
Investment Income $307,600
Other Revenue $405,582
TOTAL REVENUE $7,541,114

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0
Salaries & Benefits $2,665,467
Fundraising Expenses $426,145
Program Expenses $3,393,265
Other Expenses $1,367,652
TOTAL EXPENSES $4,033,119

Year-over-Year Comparison

2024 2023 Change
Revenue $7,541,114 $4,076,980 +0.8%
Expenses $4,033,119 $3,545,048 +0.1%
Net Income $3,507,995 $531,932 +5.6%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Governance

Voting Members
22
Independent Members
22
Employees
57
Volunteers
750

Governance Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

Operated a School
Operated a Hospital
Provided First Class Travel
Reported Conflict of Interest
Reported Asset Diversion
Excess Benefit Transaction
Made Political Expenditures
Engaged in Lobbying
Operated Donor Advised Fund
Maintained Art Collections
Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers
5
$255,595
Total Directors
23
$0
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
1
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
CHRISTOPHER B BURKE CHAIRMAN 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
TOM BENNINGTON VICE CHAIR 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
CAROLE KOCH SECRETARY 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
ERIK GULLICKSON TREASURER 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
JOHN BINNEBOESE TRUSTEE (7/1/24-12/31/24) 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
PETE CONNOLLY TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MIMI COWAN TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JANE DAVIS TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ALVIN GATES TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
DAVE GORMAN TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JOHN GORMLEY TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
TOM SCHNEIDER TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
DAVID HULSEBERG TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ROBERT HUTCHINSON TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
PATTY KING TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JULIE LONG TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
TONY MARTINEZ TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JOE MIKAN TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
CURT PASCOE TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JEANETTE PRESS TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ELLEN VON OHLEN TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
DAN WAGNER TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JOHN ROGNER TRUSTEE 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
BROOK MCDONALD PRESIDENT/CEO 40.00
Officer
$228,252 $27,343 $255,595
JOHN MCCRACKEN DIRECTOR OF DRSCW 40.00
Highest
$117,362 $3,521 $120,883
Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Net Income
2025 $7,541,114 $4,033,119 $21,166,151 $3,507,995
2024 $4,076,980 $3,545,048 $13,023,398 $531,932
2023 $5,731,541 $3,493,340 $13,057,210 $2,238,201
2022 $3,351,729 $2,778,503 $10,642,016 $573,226
2021 $2,286,882 $2,186,674 $8,017,488 $100,208
2020 $4,069,205 $3,375,639 $7,686,265 $693,566
2019 $2,728,090 $2,739,222 $7,031,597 $-11,132
2018 $2,257,005 $2,766,839 $6,998,060 $-509,834
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