Black Rock Forest consortium's mission is to advance scientific understanding of the natural world through programs in research, education, and conservation.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
74¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 75 volunteers and 18 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

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FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.5M a year · 44% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
74%
of spending
Fine: 74% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$180K
to officers and key staff · 10% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 10% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $22.2M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 1.7 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
9
named funders · $185K
Looks good: 9 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$212K
0.9% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
16
of 16 voting members
Looks good: 16 of 16 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.4M
-21% vs prior year
Spent
$1.8M
To programs
74%
Net assets
$24.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$2.4M
FY2025▼ -21%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$6.0M
FY2021$1.4M
FY2022$1.6M
FY2023$5.8M
FY2024$3.1M
FY2025$2.4M
Expenses
$1.8M
FY2025▼ -8%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.6M
FY2021$1.7M
FY2022$2.1M
FY2023$2.2M
FY2024$2.0M
FY2025$1.8M
Net assets
$24.4M
FY2025▲ +9%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$16.6M
FY2021$18.2M
FY2022$14.4M
FY2023$19.0M
FY2024$22.4M
FY2025$24.4M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending September 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in May 1989.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

74 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 74% · $1.3M Management & general 15% · $276K Fundraising 11% · $199K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

17 people listed on the 990; $180K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$180,008Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Isabel Ashton’s $180K as Executive Director is at the 77th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1851 $1–10M environment nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
William Schuster—$189,354$240,338$167,032$166,901$162,221
Isabel Ashton$180,008$171,235$33,173———

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Black Rock Forest Consortium INC executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Advance scientific understanding of nature through research, education, and conservation.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $1.3M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Research

During fiscal year 2025 the research department focused efforts on standardizing protocols and long-term research efforts in 5 areas. We hosted the 14TH hudson highlands research symposium that featured 28 presentations from scientists.

$488Kprogram expense
02

Conservation

For fiscal year 2025, conservation work focused on restoration plantings and fencing in forests impacted by beech leaf disease. We also completed a stand inventory for all 3920 acres and a forest management plan to guide actions for the next decade.

$488Kprogram expense
03

Education

Black rock forest facilitated 7,628 student visits and 1,734 overnight visits in fiscal year 2025. This includes a diverse array of students of all ages - kindergarten to graduate students.

$361Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 9 funders →
Grants paid · 6 grants · $160K · 2020–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$30,404
Unitemized GrantFY2023$24,196
Unitemized GrantFY2022$43,896
Unitemized GrantFY2021$13,664
Unitemized GrantFY2020$24,127
Unitemized GrantFY2020$24,127

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.4M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$744K
Other incomeLn 4–11$360K
Money outPt IX
$1.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.3M
Managementcol C$276K
Fundraisingcol D$199K
Owns and owesPt X
$24.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$254K
Total assetsLn 16$24.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$212K
PeoplePt VI, VII
17
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a16
IndependentVI 1b16
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.2M
Government grantsLn 1e$446K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$136K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$83K
Investment incomeLn 3$744K
Other incomeLn 4–11$360K
Gains on assetsLn 7$165K
Total revenueLn 12$2.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$59K
SavingsLn 2$195K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$254K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$22.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2.1M
Total assetsLn 16$24.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$212K
Net assetsLn 32$24.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 518
VolunteersI 675
Fiscal year endsHeaderSeptember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.3M$254K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$20.5M$22.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$829K$2.1M
Total assetsLn 16$22.7M$24.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$243K$212K
Net assetsLn 32$22.4M$24.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$30K$30K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$225K$166K$22K$36K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$615K$466K$85K$64K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$55K$42K$8K$6K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$152K$115K$20K$17K
Payroll taxesLn 10$80K$61K$10K$9K
Accounting feesLn 11c$63K$63K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$64K$40K$23K
Office expensesLn 13$111K$84K$14K$13K
OccupancyLn 16$41K$38K$2K$1K
TravelLn 17$3K$3K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$5K$5K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$86K$65K$11K$10K
InsuranceLn 23$86K$64K$11K$10K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$197K$158K$6K$33K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.8M$1.3M$276K$199K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $2.4M$1.8M$606K$24.4M 990 PDF
FY2024 $3.1M$2.0M$1.1M$22.4M 990 PDF
FY2023 $5.8M$2.2M$3.6M$19.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.6M$2.1M−$450K$14.4M 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.4M$1.7M−$309K$18.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 $6.0M$1.6M$4.3M$16.6M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,420,059 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,064,472$1,233,681
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $106,455$82,937
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $746,685$743,752
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $139,809$359,689
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $3,057,421$2,420,059
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $24,196$30,404
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,228,799$1,127,143
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $715,431$656,040
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,968,426$1,813,587
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,088,995$606,472
Part VI · Governance 16 of 16 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body16
VI-1b Independent voting members16
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $2,420,059 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1b Membership dues$317,563
VIII-1c Fundraising events$136,279
VIII-1e Government grants$446,307
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$333,532
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,233,681
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $82,937$82,937
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $3,415 · Excluded from tax $574,938$578,353
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $165,399$165,399
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $359,689$359,689
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $82,937 · Unrelated business $3,415 · Excluded from tax $1,100,026$2,420,059
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,813,587 across 15 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $30,404$30,404
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $166,166 · Management $22,455 · Fundraising $35,928$224,549
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $466,085 · Management $85,277 · Fundraising $63,905$615,267
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $41,523 · Management $7,551 · Fundraising $5,769$54,843
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $114,952 · Management $20,458 · Fundraising $16,710$152,120
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $60,553 · Management $10,421 · Fundraising $9,390$80,364
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $62,699$62,699
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $40,422 · Management $23,205$63,627
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $83,679 · Management $14,402 · Fundraising $12,976$111,057
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $38,273 · Management $1,601 · Fundraising $1,443$41,317
IX-17 TravelPrograms $2,987$2,987
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $5,086$5,086
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $65,064 · Management $11,198 · Fundraising $10,090$86,352
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $64,425 · Management $11,088 · Fundraising $9,991$85,504
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $158,114 · Management $6,027 · Fundraising $33,270$197,411
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,337,733 · Management $276,382 · Fundraising $199,472$1,813,587
Part X · Balance sheet $24,570,438 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,118,616$58,538
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $215,610$195,489
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $10,837$27,848
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $4,744$22,225
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $828,814$2,065,988
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $20,087,851$21,800,503
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $420,604$399,847
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $22,687,076$24,570,438
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $58,997$31,671
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $183,943$180,458
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $242,940$212,129
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $17,612,690$19,625,635
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $4,831,446$4,732,674
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $22,444,136$24,358,309
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $22,687,076$24,570,438
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $24,358,309 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,420,059
XI-2 Total expenses$1,813,587
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$606,472
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$22,444,136
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$1,328,458
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$20,757
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$24,358,309

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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