FRIENDS OF THE FOREST PRESERVES

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1998

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

BENJAMIN COX

Phone

3123569990

Tax Period

2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31

FRIENDS OF THE FOREST PRESERVES, founded in 1998, is a community nonprofit in the Environment sector that reported $3.1M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue fell 22% from the prior year — a significant decline worth monitoring. Expenses of $3.5M exceeded revenue, resulting in a 11% operating deficit.

Mission

CONSERVATION OF THE FOREST PRESERVES IN COOK COUNTY

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $1,529,290 Revenue: $679,936

CONSERVATION CORPS: FRIENDS DIRECTLY WORKS TO INCREASE EQUITABLE ACCESSAND ENGAGEMENT WITHIN THE FOREST PRESERVES AND BROADEN COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN HABITAT RESTORATION THROUGH ITS...

CONSERVATION CORPS: FRIENDS DIRECTLY WORKS TO INCREASE EQUITABLE ACCESSAND ENGAGEMENT WITHIN THE FOREST PRESERVES AND BROADEN COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN HABITAT RESTORATION THROUGH ITS AWARD-WINNINGCONSERVATION CORPS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. THE CONSERVATIONCORPS PROGRAM BREAKS DOWN BARRIERS TO ACCESSING TECHNICAL TRAINING ANDEMPLOYMENT IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR AND SINCE 2007 HAS EMPLOYED,TRAINED, AND MENTORED MORE THAN 2,350 ADULTS AND YOUTH. SINCE 2020ALONE, YOUTH AND ADULT CREWS HAVE HELPED RESTORE 1,790 ACRES.

Program 2

Expenses: $500,122 Revenue: $14,218

ENGAGEMENT: FRIENDS ENGAGES PEOPLE DIRECTLY IN NATURE PROGRAMMINGTHROUGH ITS ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS, WHICH INCLUDES HOSTING FREE, PUBLICEVENTS FOR RESIDENTS LOCAL TO A FOREST PRESERVE, SUCH AS MORNING YOGAOR BIRD WALKS. THESE EVENTS ARE INFORMED BY THE RESULTS OF OUTREACHFRIENDS CONDUCTS IN SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, AND ARE OFTEN DEVELOPEDIN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, WHO ARE PAID A STIPEND TOSUPPORT EVENT PLANNING AND NETWORK BUILDING. IN THE PAST TWO YEARSALONE, FRIENDS HAS HOSTED MORE THAN 200 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS ANDMORE THAN 2,500 PARTICIPANTS IN POSITIVE EXPERIENCES IN THE PRESERVES.THROUGH THIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORK AND OTHER PROGRAMMING, THEFRIENDS PROGRAM TEAM MADE UP OF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS HAS DEVELOPEDEXPERTISE IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, EDUCATION, CONSERVATION, ECOLOGY,

Program 3

Expenses: $615,636 Revenue: $653,827

SUMMER PROGRAMS: EVERY SUMMER, FRIENDS FACILITATES TWO SUMMERINTERNSHIP PROGRAMS: FOREST PRESERVE EXPERIENCE (FPE) AND BEAUBIENWOODS YOUTH AMBASSADORS (BYOA). BEGINNING IN 2016, THE FPE...

SUMMER PROGRAMS: EVERY SUMMER, FRIENDS FACILITATES TWO SUMMERINTERNSHIP PROGRAMS: FOREST PRESERVE EXPERIENCE (FPE) AND BEAUBIENWOODS YOUTH AMBASSADORS (BYOA). BEGINNING IN 2016, THE FPE YOUTHCONSERVATION CORPS PROGRAM HAS ENGAGED APPROXIMATELY 70-150 TEENS PERYEAR, OFFERING TEENS PAID SUMMER POSITIONS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THEPRESERVES THROUGH CONSERVATION PROJECTS. THE BYOA PROGRAM, WHICH ISSPECIFIC TO BEAUBIEN WOODS, EMPLOYED 9 HIGH SCHOOL-AGE STUDENTS TOENGAGE IN SEVERAL ACTIVITIES WHILE GAINING EXPOSURE TO THE FORESTPRESERVES AND JOBS IN CONSERVATION.

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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%)

Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $1,645,449

Program Service Revenue $1,347,981

Investment Income $85,552

Other Revenue $69,604

TOTAL REVENUE $3,148,586

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0

Salaries & Benefits $2,740,352

Fundraising Expenses $439,404

Program Expenses $2,646,439

Other Expenses $758,258

TOTAL EXPENSES $3,498,610

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2024	2023	Change
Revenue	$3,148,586	$4,057,833	-0.2%
Expenses	$3,498,610	$3,331,854	+0.1%
Net Income	$-350,024	$725,979	-1.5%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

186

Volunteers

2500

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

Total Directors

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
ED WOODBURY	CHAIRMAN	3.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
CORY CHAPLIN	TREASURER	2.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
MARGARET A FRISBIE	SECRETARY	2.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
CORRYN ANTONIZIO	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
KATHLEEN BRUCH	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
WALTER BURLACK	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DR CHARLES D DILLON MD	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
THOMAS GREENHAW JR	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
TONYISHA HARRIS	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
BARBARA C HILL	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JASON KAPLE	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DR AKILAH R MARTIN PHD	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JUSTIN MARTIN	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DR RONALD M MILNARIK DDS	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
KELLY O'BRIEN	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DERK OSENBERG	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MICHELLE THOM	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
RYAN WILSON	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
BENJAMIN M COX	EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR	40.00	Highest	$200,074	$20,135	$220,209
RADHIKA MIRAGLIA	PROGRAM DIRECTOR	40.00	Highest	$130,362	$16,938	$147,300
JILLIAN DICARLO	FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION DIRECTOR	40.00	Highest	$118,412	$20,483	$138,895

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
2024	$3,148,586	$3,498,610	$2,936,252	$-350,024
2023	$4,057,833	$3,331,854	$3,032,955	$725,979
2022	$3,066,681	$3,416,383	$2,326,330	$-349,702
2021	$3,844,293	$3,100,740	$2,339,708	$743,553
2020	$2,700,315	$2,984,005	$1,538,845	$-283,690
2019	$3,409,471	$3,244,348	$1,595,933	$165,123