501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
80¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$737K paid to officers and key staff.
Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

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
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
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $3.4M a year · 24% 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
80%
of spending
Looks good: 80% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$737K
to officers and key staff · 11% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 11% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
13 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 12.9 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $6K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.1M
8% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 8% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
19
of 19 voting members
Looks good: 19 of 19 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$14.0M
+78% vs prior year
Spent
$6.8M
To programs
80%
Net assets
$12.2M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$14.0M
FY2021▲ +78%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$7.9M
FY2021$14.0M
FY2023$24.5M
FY2024$10.4M
FY2025$14.0M
Expenses
$6.8M
FY2021▼ -17%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$8.2M
FY2021$6.8M
FY2023$12.0M
FY2024$14.1M
FY2025$12.6M
Net assets
$12.2M
FY2021▲ +147%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$4.9M
FY2021$12.2M
FY2023$21.5M
FY2024$18.4M
FY2025$19.8M

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 (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jul 2008.

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

Where the money goes

80 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 80% · $5.5M Management & general 13% · $878K Fundraising 7% · $456K

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

25 people listed on the 990; $737K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President and CEO
$173,539Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Vice President of Finance
$122,858Pt VII · Sec A
Geospatial Data Scientist
$114,062Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President of Technologyvice President of Technologyvice President of Technology
$110,975Pt VII · Sec A
Partnership Program Manager
$110,000Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Vice President of Development and Business Strategy
$105,535Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Joel Dunn’s $208K as Part-Year President and CEO is at the 35th percentile of top reported officer pay among 324 $10–100M 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2021FY2020
Joel Dunn$208,445$189,846$185,445——
Joel E Dunn———$173,539$167,841
Edward Amyot$140,097————
Matthew Provost$133,061$125,007$119,512$105,535—
Ellen Gardner$121,325$120,307$131,128$122,858—
Michael Evans$129,410$123,638———
Joanne Couser$129,184$119,238———
Kumar Mainali$127,620$123,476$120,668$114,062$109,722

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

Leverages geospatial data and AI to provide actionable insights for restoring and sustaining the Chesapeake Bay's health.

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3 programs · $5.4M · in their own filed words · FY2021
01

Conserve

More than 18 million people call the chesapeake home. As a result of associated development, thousands of acres of open space disappear each year. We are in a race against time to conserve, protect, and restore what makes the chesapeake so special before it is too late.

$2.1Mprogram expense
02

Innovate

As conservation entrepreneurs, chesapeake conservancy uses technology and innovation to practice precision conservation. We help partners with cutting-edge data, tools, knowledge and expertise to make better conservation decisions and protect and restore the places that matter, saving resources and improving results.

$1.9Mprogram expense
03

Restore

Using the high-resolution gis mapping data, the chesapeake conservancy implements precision conservation putting the right landscape restoration practices in the right places at the right scale.

$1.4Mprogram 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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$6K
Grants paid · 4 grants · $291K · 2023–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$6,000
The Nature ConservancyVA · FY2023$250,000
Unitemized GrantFY2023$10,000

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$14.0M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$13.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$236K
Investment incomeLn 3$87K
Money outPt IX
$6.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$5.5M
Managementcol C$878K
Fundraisingcol D$456K
Owns and owesPt X
$12.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$7.3M
Total assetsLn 16$13.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.1M
PeoplePt VI, VII
25
listed · VII A
PaidVII A6
Voting boardVI 1a19
IndependentVI 1b19
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$13.7M
Government grantsLn 1e$3.8M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$5.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$236K
Investment incomeLn 3$87K
Other incomeLn 4–11$14K
Gains on assetsLn 7$69K
Total revenueLn 12$14.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$7.3M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$7.3M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$3.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$25K
Other assetsLn 15$212K
Total assetsLn 16$13.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.1M
Net assetsLn 32$12.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 540
VolunteersI 613
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.6M$7.3M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.4M$3.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$25K$25K
Total assetsLn 16$5.8M$13.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$848K$1.1M
Net assetsLn 32$4.9M$12.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$197K$148K$29K$21K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.3M$1.7M$376K$269K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$107K$80K$16K$11K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$232K$174K$34K$25K
Payroll taxesLn 10$192K$144K$28K$20K
Accounting feesLn 11c$32K$0$32K$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$1K$0$1K$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$236K$43K$131K$63K
Office expensesLn 13$194K$67K$84K$42K
OccupancyLn 16$118K$0$118K$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$44K$27K$12K$5K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$14K$14K$0$0
InsuranceLn 23$16K$0$16K$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$3.1M$3.1M$2K$816
Total functional expensesLn 25$6.8M$5.5M$878K$456K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $14.0M$12.6M$1.4M$19.8M 990 PDF
FY2024 $10.4M$14.1M−$3.7M$18.4M 990 PDF
FY2023 $24.5M$12.0M$12.5M$21.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 Not on file
FY2021 Viewing $14.0M$6.8M$7.2M$12.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 $7.9M$8.2M−$370K$4.9M 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 $13,997,052 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $7,534,562$13,660,252
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $253,661$235,604
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $62,907$87,446
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $7,559$13,750
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $7,858,689$13,997,052
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,881,197$3,073,947
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $5,347,306$3,756,650
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $8,228,503$6,830,597
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$369,814$7,166,455
Part VI · Governance 19 of 19 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body19
VI-1b Independent voting members19
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 $13,997,052 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$3,763,606
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$9,896,646
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$5,190,924
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$13,660,252
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$235,604
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $18,207$18,207
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $69,239$69,239
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $13,750 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$13,750
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $249,354 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $87,446$13,997,052
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $6,830,597 across 14 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $147,840 · Management $28,699 · Fundraising $20,802$197,341
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,701,048 · Management $375,787 · Fundraising $268,584$2,345,419
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $80,045 · Management $15,538 · Fundraising $11,263$106,846
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $174,167 · Management $33,809 · Fundraising $24,505$232,481
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $143,734 · Management $27,902 · Fundraising $20,224$191,860
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $32,267 · Fundraising $0$32,267
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $1,452 · Fundraising $0$1,452
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $42,697 · Management $130,853 · Fundraising $62,579$236,129
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $67,277 · Management $84,417 · Fundraising $42,052$193,746
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $0 · Management $117,789 · Fundraising $0$117,789
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $27,477 · Management $11,997 · Fundraising $4,797$44,271
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $14,034 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$14,034
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $0 · Management $16,272 · Fundraising $0$16,272
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $3,098,224 · Management $1,650 · Fundraising $816$3,100,690
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $5,496,543 · Management $878,432 · Fundraising $455,622$6,830,597
Part X · Balance sheet $13,236,349 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,568,223$7,340,518
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,428,461$2,085,477
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $44,025$61,261
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $25,149$24,558
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,390,990$3,512,579
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $331,547$211,956
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $5,788,395$13,236,349
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $542,030$846,174
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $306,135$205,744
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $848,165$1,051,918
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,198,111$1,917,719
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $3,742,119$10,266,712
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $4,940,230$12,184,431
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $5,788,395$13,236,349
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $12,184,431 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$13,997,052
XI-2 Total expenses$6,830,597
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$7,166,455
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$4,940,230
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$77,746
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$12,184,431

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

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