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Belle Isle Conservancy FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

Detroit, MI501(c)(3)Community Development EIN 23-7348118Revenue $2.5M in FY2021

On file with the IRSbelleiseleconservancy.org300 River Place Dr Ste 2800, 48207-5200 · Detroit, MITax-exempt since Feb 1974Publicly supported — 509(a)(2)

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Form 990 - organization's mission the mission of the Belle Isle Conservancy (the organization) is to protect, preserve, restore, and enhance the natural environment, historic structures and unique character of Belle Isle as a public park for the enjoyment of all - now and forever. The organization strives to bring private support to Belle Isle, and works closely with all levels of government, making for a unique public private partnership on behalf of the park. Working with a legion of volunteers and generous donors, the organization has successfully renovated the historic horse stables roof, upgraded amenities at sunset point, reopened the Belle Isle aquarium, supported special projects and improvements at the conservatory, restored monuments, raised matching dollars for various grants and capital improvements across the park, organized thousands of volunteers to tackle invasive species at that park and to keep the park and its waterways free of litter, provided programming opportunit

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
78¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$426K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2021 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $227K a year · 8% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
78%
of spending
Looks good: 78% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$426K
to officers and key staff · 14% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 14% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
13 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 13.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $150
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$240K
7% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 7% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
28
of 28 voting members
Looks good: 28 of 28 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.5M
+19% vs prior year
Spent
$3.0M
To programs
78%
Net assets
$3.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$2.5M
FY2021▲ +19%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.1M
FY2021$2.5M
FY2022$4.7M
FY2023$3.0M
FY2024$2.2M
Expenses
$3.0M
FY2021▼ -24%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$3.9M
FY2021$3.0M
FY2022$4.6M
FY2023$2.3M
FY2024$1.9M
Net assets
$3.1M
FY2021▼ -13%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$3.5M
FY2021$3.1M
FY2022$3.2M
FY2023$3.9M
FY2024$4.2M

From the FY2021 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Feb 1974.

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

Where the money goes

78 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 78% · $2.3M Management & general 15% · $440K Fundraising 7% · $217K

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

32 people listed on the 990; $426K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$153,994Pt VII · Sec A
$135,848Pt VII · Sec A
$135,821Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Kate Beebe
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Jon Cotton
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Edward Deeb
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Summer Ritner’s $141K as COO is at the 42nd percentile of top reported officer pay among 2832 $1–10M community development 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 · 5 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Michele Hodges—$148,822$165,826$153,994$146,032
Summer Ritner$141,039$140,669$136,266$135,848$121,354
Katy Labarrie$119,883$140,669$136,240$135,821—
Katy Wyerman————$121,354
Meagan Elliott$98,671————

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.

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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

Protects, preserves, and enhances Belle Isle's natural environment and historic structures for public enjoyment.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $1.6M · in their own filed words · FY2021
01

Belle Isle Aquarium and Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory

The belle isle aquarium and anna whitcomb conservatory opened in 1904 and remains one of detroit's cultural jewels. The belle isle aquarium delighted visitors for over a century before the city closed it in 2005 due to budget reductions.

$1.4Mprogram expense
02

Environmental Stewardship

Belle isle's 982 acres include a large wetland forest, a system of canals and interior lakes in this park that is itself an island, and trees and other plantings throughout the heavily used picnic and playground areas.

$138Kprogram expense
03

Historic Preservation

Preserving the buildings, fountains, statues, historic landscape and other historic amenities of belle isle park; includes planning, research and implementing capital improvements. The belle isle conservancy raises private support for historic preservation activities, working in conjunction with the city of detroit and the michigan…

$70Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
S Gary Spicer SR FoundationFY2025$150
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$150

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.9M
Other incomeLn 4–11$652K
Investment incomeLn 3$312
Money outPt IX
$3.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.3M
Managementcol C$440K
Fundraisingcol D$217K
Owns and owesPt X
$3.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.2M
Total assetsLn 16$3.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$240K
PeoplePt VI, VII
32
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a28
IndependentVI 1b28
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.9M
Government grantsLn 1e$402K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$50K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$16K
Investment incomeLn 3$312
Other incomeLn 4–11$652K
Total revenueLn 12$2.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$617K
SavingsLn 2$2.6M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3K
Total assetsLn 16$3.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$240K
Net assetsLn 32$3.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 517
VolunteersI 6247
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.1M$3.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4K$3K
Total assetsLn 16$4.1M$3.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$616K$240K
Net assetsLn 32$3.5M$3.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.4M$1.0M$169K$149K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$281K$92K$155K$34K
Office expensesLn 13$98K$28K$46K$24K
OccupancyLn 16$22K$17K$3K$2K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$24K$20K$2K$1K
InterestLn 20$8K$8K
InsuranceLn 23$7K$7K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.2M$1.1M$50K$1K
All other expensesLn 24e$6K$283$924$5K
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.0M$2.3M$440K$217K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $2.2M$1.9M$319K$4.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $3.0M$2.3M$697K$3.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $4.7M$4.6M$101K$3.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $2.5M$3.0M−$454K$3.1M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.1M$3.9M−$1.8M$3.5M 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 M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,539,581 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,946,721$1,887,328
I-9 Program service revenue$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $9,362$312
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $178,909$651,941
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,134,992$2,539,581
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,218,554$1,363,246
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,714,601$1,629,995
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,933,155$2,993,241
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$1,798,163−$453,660
Part VI · Governance 28 of 28 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body28
VI-1b Independent voting members28
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $2,539,581 across 10 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $1,828 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1b Membership dues$13,675
VIII-1c Fundraising events$15,719
VIII-1e Government grants$401,996
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,455,938
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$50,088
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,887,328
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $312$312
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$148,742
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $501,371$501,371
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $503,199 · Excluded from tax $312$2,539,581
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,993,241 across 9 lines filed
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,045,027 · Management $169,019 · Fundraising $149,200$1,363,246
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $91,921 · Management $155,332 · Fundraising $33,509$280,762
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $27,642 · Management $45,967 · Fundraising $24,371$97,980
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $16,558 · Management $2,678 · Fundraising $2,364$21,600
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $20,468 · Management $2,051 · Fundraising $1,208$23,727
IX-20 InterestManagement $7,594$7,594
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $7,312$7,312
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,133,757 · Management $49,601 · Fundraising $1,168$1,184,526
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $283 · Management $924 · Fundraising $5,287$6,494
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,335,656 · Management $440,478 · Fundraising $217,107$2,993,241
Part X · Balance sheet $3,309,789 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $3,705,099$616,620
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $354,860$2,628,912
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $34,700$24,461
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $6,232$3,447
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $35,570$33,423
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,850$2,926
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,140,311$3,309,789
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $262,577$146,011
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $29,089$14,101
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $324,810$79,502
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $616,476$239,614
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,222,232$1,816,746
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $2,301,603$1,253,429
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,523,835$3,070,175
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,140,311$3,309,789
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $3,070,175 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,539,581
XI-2 Total expenses$2,993,241
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$453,660
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,523,835
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$3,070,175

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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