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.
91¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$433K 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
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
91%
of spending
Looks good: 91% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$433K
to officers and key staff · 3% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 3% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $11.1M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 3.4 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
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
$5.6M
26% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 26% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
20
of 20 voting members
Looks good: 20 of 20 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$16.5M
Spent
$14.6M
To programs
91%
Net assets
$16.2M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$16.5M
FY2021
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
$14.6M
FY2021
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
$16.2M
FY2021
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 FY2021 Form 990 (year ending June 2021) · 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 Jun 1986.

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

Where the money goes

91 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 91% · $13.4M Management & general 3% · $508K Fundraising 5% · $760K

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; $433K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$165,352Pt VII · Sec A
Dir. of Programs for Restoration
$101,012Pt VII · Sec A
Dir. of Prog. for Outreach and Ed
$100,051Pt VII · Sec A
Dir. of Finance and Admin
$66,141Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$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 · $13.4M · in their own filed words · FY2020
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.

$9.1Mprogram expense
02

Community Stewardship

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

$3.6Mprogram expense
03

Environmental Education

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

$666Kprogram 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 FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$16.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$15.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$945K
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Money outPt IX
$14.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$13.4M
Managementcol C$508K
Fundraisingcol D$760K
Owns and owesPt X
$16.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.2M
Total assetsLn 16$21.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.6M
PeoplePt VI, VII
24
listed · VII A
PaidVII A4
Voting boardVI 1a20
IndependentVI 1b20
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$15.6M
Government grantsLn 1e$10.2M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$23K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$80K
Investment incomeLn 3$945K
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Gains on assetsLn 7$735K
Total revenueLn 12$16.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$4.2M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$4.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$11.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.1M
Other assetsLn 15$25K
Total assetsLn 16$21.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.6M
Net assetsLn 32$16.2M
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$708K$4.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$12.8M$11.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.1M$3.1M
Total assetsLn 16$19.6M$21.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$6.6M$5.6M
Net assetsLn 32$13.0M$16.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$11.5M$11.5M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$653K$653K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$302K$81K$165K$56K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.1M$680K$150K$251K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$57K$36K$8K$13K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$134K$81K$20K$32K
Payroll taxesLn 10$125K$70K$27K$28K
Accounting feesLn 11c$105K$74K$2K$30K
Investment management feesLn 11f$31K$31K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$27K$27K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$103K$103K
Office expensesLn 13$31K$17K$7K$7K
Information technologyLn 14$79K$44K$17K$18K
OccupancyLn 16$15K$8K$3K$3K
TravelLn 17$1K$569$223$229
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$2K$1K$460$474
InterestLn 20$77K$43K$17K$17K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$83K$47K$18K$19K
InsuranceLn 23$19K$11K$4K$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$214K$26K$10K$178K
Total functional expensesLn 25$14.6M$13.4M$508K$760K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $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 Viewing $16.5M$14.6M$1.9M$16.2M 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 FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $16,535,604 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $13,654,712$15,588,689
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $680,421$945,096
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $9,879$1,819
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $14,345,012$16,535,604
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $10,923,513$12,152,999
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,625,548$1,698,829
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $861,199$788,743
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $13,410,260$14,640,571
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $934,752$1,895,033
Part VI · Governance 20 of 20 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body20
VI-1b Independent voting members20
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 $16,535,604 across 9 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $2,987 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$80,373
VIII-1e Government grants$10,183,069
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$5,325,247
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$22,860
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$15,588,689
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $209,885$209,885
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $735,211$735,211
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$1,168−$1,168
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $946,915$16,535,604
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $14,640,571 across 20 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $11,500,014$11,500,014
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $652,985$652,985
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $80,632 · Management $164,545 · Fundraising $56,438$301,615
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $680,143 · Management $149,826 · Fundraising $250,952$1,080,921
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $36,087 · Management $8,254 · Fundraising $13,158$57,499
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $81,402 · Management $20,496 · Fundraising $32,016$133,914
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $69,683 · Management $27,224 · Fundraising $27,973$124,880
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $73,582 · Management $1,627 · Fundraising $29,538$104,747
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $30,797$30,797
IX-11g Other fees for servicesManagement $27,120$27,120
IX-12 Advertising and promotionFundraising $103,115$103,115
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $16,984 · Management $7,477 · Fundraising $6,818$31,279
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $44,112 · Management $17,234 · Fundraising $17,708$79,054
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $8,270 · Management $3,230 · Fundraising $3,321$14,821
IX-17 TravelPrograms $569 · Management $223 · Fundraising $229$1,021
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $1,180 · Management $460 · Fundraising $474$2,114
IX-20 InterestPrograms $43,162 · Management $16,863 · Fundraising $17,327$77,352
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $46,574 · Management $18,195 · Fundraising $18,696$83,465
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $10,842 · Management $4,236 · Fundraising $4,352$19,430
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $26,428 · Management $10,326 · Fundraising $177,674$214,428
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $13,372,649 · Management $508,133 · Fundraising $759,789$14,640,571
Part X · Balance sheet $21,830,338 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $707,713$4,159,171
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $2,828,426$3,374,544
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $31,512$32,888
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $54,880$48,992
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,146,003$3,098,182
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $12,814,075$11,091,092
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $29,988$25,469
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $19,612,597$21,830,338
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,112,282$717,426
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $3,352,283$3,117,256
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $6,586,600$5,634,243
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $12,576,687$15,199,290
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $449,310$996,805
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $13,025,997$16,196,095
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $19,612,597$21,830,338
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $16,196,095 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$16,535,604
XI-2 Total expenses$14,640,571
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,895,033
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$13,025,997
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$1,275,065
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$16,196,095

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

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