Our mission is to engage in protecting and restoring the treasured natural habitats within the Forest Preserve of Cook County and to enhance outdoor experiences of all communities.We will do this by encouraging and administering private gifts to further the Forest Preserves' mission and goals.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
51¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 20 volunteers and 5 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · 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
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $11K a year · 2% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
51%
of spending
Worth a look: 51% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$154K
to officers and key staff · 30% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 30% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
8 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 7.6 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
7
named funders · $115K
Looks good: 7 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$4K
1% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
14
of 14 voting members
Looks good: 14 of 14 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$521K
-16% vs prior year
Spent
$520K
To programs
51%
Net assets
$377K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$521K
FY2024▼ -16%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$545K
FY2021$712K
FY2022$662K
FY2023$618K
FY2024$521K
Expenses
$520K
FY2024▼ -21%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$610K
FY2021$593K
FY2022$734K
FY2023$655K
FY2024$520K
Net assets
$377K
FY2024+0.1%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$268K
FY2021$486K
FY2022$414K
FY2023$377K
FY2024$377K

From the FY2024 Form 990 · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Exemption reinstated (2010-05-15). Per the IRS revocation list. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Feb 2013.

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

Where the money goes

51 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 51% · $263K Management & general 14% · $75K Fundraising 35% · $182K

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

15 people listed on the 990; $154K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$154,212Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Debra Walker Johnson’s $154K as President is at the 96th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1989 $100K–1M 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 · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2020
Debra Walker Johnson$154,212—
Shelley a Davis—$111,526
Laura Perlow—$40,680

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 Forest Preserve Foundation 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

Protecting and restoring natural habitats, enhancing outdoor experiences through private gifts.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $263K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Direct support of programs that align with the mission of the forest preserve FOUNDATION.REPRESENTATIVE grants to forest preserve district of cook county for the include:chicago conservation leadership corps program (cclc)-a conservation corps program of the forest preserve district of cook county for high school age students.

$263Kprogram 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 7 funders →
Grants paid · 8 grants · $909K · 2020–2024
Forest Preserve Dist of CcFY2024$70,000
Forest Preserve Dist of CcFY2023$161,966
Forest Preserve Dist of CcFY2022$246,606
Individual RecipientFY2022$15,025
Forest Preserve Dist of CcFY2021$155,384
Individual RecipientFY2021$24,975
Forest Preserve Dist of CcFY2020$180,758

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$521K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$510K
Investment incomeLn 3$11K
Money outPt IX
$520K
Ln 25
Programscol B$263K
Managementcol C$75K
Fundraisingcol D$182K
Owns and owesPt X
$377K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$330K
Total assetsLn 16$382K
LiabilitiesLn 26$4K
PeoplePt VI, VII
15
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a14
IndependentVI 1b14
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$510K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$24K
Investment incomeLn 3$11K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$521K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$0
SavingsLn 2$330K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$330K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$382K
LiabilitiesLn 26$4K
Net assetsLn 32$377K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 55
VolunteersI 620
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$359K$330K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Total assetsLn 16$385K$382K
LiabilitiesLn 26$8K$4K
Net assetsLn 32$377K$377K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$81K$81K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$154K$77K$39K$39K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$147K$62K$5K$80K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$27K$13K$7K$7K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$20K$17K$3K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$6K$5K$607
Office expensesLn 13$7K$7K$288
Information technologyLn 14$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$24K$12K$6K$6K
TravelLn 17$3K$452$2K$1K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$0
InsuranceLn 23$5K$5K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$45K$45K
All other expensesLn 24e$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$520K$263K$75K$182K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $521K$520K$509$377K 990 PDF
FY2023 $618K$655K−$38K$377K 990 PDF
FY2022 $662K$734K−$72K$414K 990 PDF
FY2021 $712K$593K$118K$486K 990 PDF
FY2020 $545K$610K−$65K$268K 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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $520,535 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $607,664$509,628
I-9 Program service revenue$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $10,104$10,907
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $617,768$520,535
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $161,966$81,250
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $379,236$327,947
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $114,276$110,829
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $655,478$520,026
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$37,710$509
Part VI · Governance 14 of 14 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body14
VI-1b Independent voting members14
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 $520,535 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1d Related organizations$24,400
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$485,228
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$24,400
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$509,628
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $10,907$10,907
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $10,907$520,535
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $520,026 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $81,250$81,250
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $77,106 · Management $38,553 · Fundraising $38,553$154,212
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $62,441 · Management $4,678 · Fundraising $79,759$146,878
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefits$0
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $13,429 · Management $6,714 · Fundraising $6,714$26,857
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $16,618 · Fundraising $3,060$19,678
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $5,132 · Fundraising $607$5,739
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $7,201 · Fundraising $288$7,489
IX-14 Information technology$0
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $12,200 · Management $6,100 · Fundraising $6,100$24,400
IX-17 TravelPrograms $452 · Management $1,709 · Fundraising $1,136$3,297
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortization$0
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $4,730$4,730
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Fundraising $45,496$45,496
IX-24e All other expenses$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $263,496 · Management $74,817 · Fundraising $181,713$520,026
Part X · Balance sheet $381,541 assets, 19 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearing$0
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $359,438$329,528
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $20,000$4,304
X-4 Accounts receivable$37,000
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $5,276$10,709
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, net$0
X-11 Publicly traded securities$0
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assets$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $384,714$381,541
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $7,982$4,300
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $7,982$4,300
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $365,232$371,241
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $11,500$6,000
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $376,732$377,241
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $384,714$381,541
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $377,241 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$520,535
XI-2 Total expenses$520,026
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$509
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$376,732
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$377,241

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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