Chesapeake Bay Trust

Tax-deductible

Tampa, FL501(c)(3)Since 1985EIN 52-1454182Revenue $36.0M in FY2025

On file with the IRScbtrust.org4211 W Boy Scout Blvd Ste 500, 33607-5767 · Tampa, FLTax-exempt since Jun 1986Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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Chesapeake Bay Trust is a public, nonprofit grant-making organization (continuation sch. O) created to promote public awareness of and participation in the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Since its establishment in 1985 by the maryland general assembly, the Trust has awarded more than $140 million in the areas of environmental education, on-the-ground restoration and community outreach.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
94¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 69 volunteers and 32 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

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
5 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $2.2M a year · 9% of revenue · last 5 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 5 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
94%
of spending
Looks good: 94% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$722K
to officers and key staff · 2% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 2% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.1 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $162K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$26.8M
51% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 51% of assets; 50% to 65%.
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
$36.0M
+27% vs prior year
Spent
$32.8M
To programs
94%
Net assets
$25.4M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$36.0M
FY2025▲ +27%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$16.5M
FY2022$16.0M
FY2023$22.2M
FY2024$28.4M
FY2025$36.0M
Expenses
$32.8M
FY2025▲ +24%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$14.6M
FY2022$13.8M
FY2023$20.2M
FY2024$26.6M
FY2025$32.8M
Net assets
$25.4M
FY2025▲ +18%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$16.2M
FY2022$15.9M
FY2023$18.7M
FY2024$21.5M
FY2025$25.4M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 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 Jun 1986.

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

Where the money goes

94 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 94% · $31.0M Management & general 3% · $958K Fundraising 3% · $850K

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

24 people listed on the 990; $722K 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
$197,828Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Finance and Administration
$142,095Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Prog. for Outreach/Education
$135,749Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Programs for Restoration
$131,450Pt VII · Sec A
Former VP of Development
$114,908Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 7 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Jana L Davis PHD$197,828$179,531$175,828$172,121$165,352
Jeanne Nelson$142,095$129,648$117,989$109,455$66,141
Kacey M Wetzel$135,749$117,514$111,226$103,975—
Sadie R Drescher$131,450$117,055$110,846$104,991—
Suzanne Armstrong$114,908$105,424$100,020——
Sadie Drescher————$101,012
Kacey Wetzel————$100,051

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

Awards grants to fund environmental education, community outreach, and on-the-ground restoration projects that protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $31.0M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Restoration Programs

Encouraging outreach and community engagement activities that increase stewardship ethic of natural resources and on-the-ground restoration activities that demonstrate restoration techniques and engaging residents in the restoration and protection of the chesapeake bay and its rivers.

$15.6Mprogram expense
02

Community Stewardship

Increasing public awareness and involvement in activities that restore and promote maryland's natural resources.

$14.4Mprogram expense
03

Environmental Education

Striving to advance kindergarten through twelfth grade environmental education through experiential learning, outdoor experiences and curriculum development.

$951Kprogram 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 2 funders$162K
Grants paid · 272 grants · $63.4M · 2022–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$2,355,303
Baltimore Tree Trust INCMD · FY2024$2,274,240
Prince George's County MarylandFY2024$1,085,000
Montgomery County Dept of Environmental Protection Watershed Restoration DFY2024$769,943
Baltimore County DepsFY2024$625,000
Shorerivers INCMD · FY2024$599,082
Arundel Rivers Federation INCMD · FY2024$392,853
National Wildlife FederationVA · FY2024$336,472
Scenic Rivers Land Trust INCMD · FY2024$330,324
Clean Water FundDC · FY2024$325,474
Defensores De La CuencaMD · FY2024$283,000
Blue Water BaltimoreMD · FY2024$281,322
See all 272 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$36.0M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$34.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.8M
Other incomeLn 4–11$23K
Money outPt IX
$32.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$31.0M
Managementcol C$958K
Fundraisingcol D$850K
Owns and owesPt X
$25.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.9M
Total assetsLn 16$52.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$26.8M
PeoplePt VI, VII
24
listed · VII A
PaidVII A5
Voting boardVI 1a19
IndependentVI 1b19
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$34.2M
Government grantsLn 1e$26.3M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$52K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$94K
Investment incomeLn 3$1.8M
Other incomeLn 4–11$23K
Gains on assetsLn 7$53K
Total revenueLn 12$36.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$2.9M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$42.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.6M
Other assetsLn 15$28K
Total assetsLn 16$52.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$26.8M
Net assetsLn 32$25.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 532
VolunteersI 669
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
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$2.3M$2.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$33.9M$42.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.0M$3.6M
Total assetsLn 16$43.0M$52.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$21.4M$26.8M
Net assetsLn 32$21.5M$25.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$25.3M$25.3M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$2.4M$2.4M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$384K$98K$218K$68K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.0M$2.2M$438K$318K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$160K$119K$25K$17K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$287K$210K$44K$33K
Payroll taxesLn 10$294K$205K$56K$34K
Accounting feesLn 11c$54K$38K$10K$6K
Investment management feesLn 11f$36K$36K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$69K$48K$13K$8K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$140K$140K
Office expensesLn 13$96K$67K$18K$11K
Information technologyLn 14$216K$150K$41K$25K
OccupancyLn 16$32K$22K$6K$4K
TravelLn 17$25K$17K$5K$3K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$24K$17K$5K$3K
InterestLn 20$60K$42K$11K$7K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$73K$51K$14K$8K
InsuranceLn 23$31K$22K$6K$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$233K$59K$12K$162K
Total functional expensesLn 25$32.8M$31.0M$958K$850K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $36.0M$32.8M$3.2M$25.4M 990 PDF
FY2024 $28.4M$26.6M$1.9M$21.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 $22.2M$20.2M$2.0M$18.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $16.0M$13.8M$2.1M$15.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 $16.5M$14.6M$1.9M$16.2M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $36,042,524 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $27,471,938$34,248,101
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $932,801$1,771,414
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $22,668$23,009
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $28,427,407$36,042,524
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $22,556,108$27,635,394
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $3,032,834$4,092,246
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $967,808$1,089,122
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $26,556,750$32,816,762
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,870,657$3,225,762
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 $36,042,524 across 9 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $4,631 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$94,413
VIII-1e Government grants$26,303,262
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$7,850,426
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$52,407
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$34,248,101
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,718,393$1,718,393
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $53,021$53,021
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $18,378$18,378
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,794,423$36,042,524
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $32,816,762 across 20 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $25,280,091$25,280,091
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $2,355,303$2,355,303
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $98,028 · Management $217,775 · Fundraising $67,979$383,782
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,210,813 · Management $437,920 · Fundraising $317,915$2,966,648
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $118,842 · Management $24,650 · Fundraising $16,930$160,422
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $210,284 · Management $43,547 · Fundraising $33,129$286,960
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $204,515 · Management $56,121 · Fundraising $33,798$294,434
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $37,686 · Management $10,341 · Fundraising $6,228$54,255
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $35,807$35,807
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $47,784 · Management $13,113 · Fundraising $7,897$68,794
IX-12 Advertising and promotionFundraising $139,582$139,582
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $66,512 · Management $18,251 · Fundraising $10,992$95,755
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $149,919 · Management $41,139 · Fundraising $24,776$215,834
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $22,231 · Management $6,100 · Fundraising $3,674$32,005
IX-17 TravelPrograms $17,462 · Management $4,792 · Fundraising $2,886$25,140
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $16,717 · Management $4,587 · Fundraising $2,763$24,067
IX-20 InterestPrograms $41,767 · Management $11,461 · Fundraising $6,902$60,130
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $50,886 · Management $13,964 · Fundraising $8,410$73,260
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $21,553 · Management $5,915 · Fundraising $3,562$31,030
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $58,981 · Management $12,069 · Fundraising $162,413$233,463
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $31,009,374 · Management $957,552 · Fundraising $849,836$32,816,762
Part X · Balance sheet $52,181,608 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,283,511$2,906,492
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $3,697,414$3,210,232
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $15,866$7,805
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $71,916$170,654
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,022,019$3,582,029
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $33,850,220$42,276,772
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $20,294$27,624
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $42,961,240$52,181,608
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $820,657$1,230,446
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $19,085,912$24,120,894
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $6,245$3,276
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $21,433,604$26,785,178
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $18,715,614$22,573,134
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $2,812,022$2,823,296
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $21,527,636$25,396,430
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $42,961,240$52,181,608
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $25,396,430 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$36,042,524
XI-2 Total expenses$32,816,762
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$3,225,762
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$21,527,636
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$643,032
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$25,396,430

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

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