Forterra Nw

Tax-deductible

Seattle, WA501(c)(3)Since 1994EnvironmentEIN 94-3112461Revenue $12.8M in FY2024

On file with the IRSforterra.org5101 14th Ave Nw Ste 200 # 307, 98107-5143 · Seattle, WATax-exempt since Jan 1994Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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To enhance, support and steward the region's most precious resources. Many of the projects which Forterra undertakes to achieve our mission through efforts that can often span several years. Net revenues from completion of these projects can be reinvested to fund the development of projects in future periods, covering net losses in years with no significant project closings.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
80¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 1,449 volunteers and 100 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 $1.1M a year · 9% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 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
$1.7M
to officers and key staff · 16% of spending
Top officer’s pay lower than 52% of similar orgs
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 16% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.5 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $35K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$6.7M
15% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 15% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
20
of 21 voting members
Looks good: 20 of 21 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$12.8M
+156% vs prior year
Spent
$10.9M
To programs
80%
Net assets
$38.8M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$12.8M
FY2024▲ +156%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$17.8M
FY2021$15.5M
FY2022$10.3M
FY2023$5.0M
FY2024$12.8M
Expenses
$10.9M
FY2024▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$12.9M
FY2021$19.6M
FY2022$13.9M
FY2023$9.9M
FY2024$10.9M
Net assets
$38.8M
FY2024▲ +5%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$50.0M
FY2021$45.9M
FY2022$42.2M
FY2023$37.0M
FY2024$38.8M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · 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: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jan 1994.

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% · $8.7M Management & general 12% · $1.3M Fundraising 8% · $884K

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

30 people listed on the 990; $1.7M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Chief Operating Officer
$243,395Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Gov. & Innovation Officer
$240,270Pt VII · Sec A
President & CEO
$231,150Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Real Estate (thru 12/24)
$229,665Pt VII · Sec A
$191,982Pt VII · Sec A
SR. MD., Comms. Dev.(thru 08/24)
$133,359Pt VII · Sec A
SR. Director, Property Management
$109,235Pt VII · Sec A
Director, Fp&a
$108,566Pt VII · Sec A

Rachel Valdez’s $243K as Chief Operating Officer is at the 48th 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

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Michelle Connor$231,150$232,048$416,188$322,183$209,974
Tobias Levey——$332,877$220,263$137,829
Margaret Griffiths—$139,182$269,689$198,801$41,100
Kristi England$240,270$173,119$263,988$199,713$151,251
Rachel Valdez$243,395$213,404$262,564$152,381—
David Leon$229,665$141,680———
Erin Kindall$191,982$164,614———
Fred Swenson—$110,046$151,867$175,892$137,054

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
  • Loans to or from officersSch L · Pt II2 listed

Programs and updates

Conserves, restores, and stewards Pacific Northwest lands, parks, and urban forests through community partnerships, tree planting initiatives, and carbon capture programs.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $8.0M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Conservation

Forterra's landscape-scale approach ensures the conservation of critical lands for communities throughout the region. Forterra has conserved more than 280,240 acres of land since our founding in 1989. At any given time, we are working on dozens of projects to conserve lands for community, habitat and recreation.

$5.7Mprogram expense
02

Community Real Estate and Planning

Forterra looks across the rural and urban landscape to see the connection between people and land. We invest in towns and cities across the state. We leverage our land holdings and work in partnership with towns, cities, developers, and communities to improve infrastructure, housing, and cultural institutions.

$1.4Mprogram expense
03

Restoration and Stewardship

Forterra partners with organizations and communities throughout the region to restore and strengthen public lands, parks and urban forests. Through our evergreen restoration program (erp) and evergreen carbon capture (ecc) program, forterra plants thousands of trees each year in partnership with local companies and individuals.

$840Kprogram 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$35K
Grants paid · 24 grants · $1.5M · 2020–2024
Roslyn Downtown AssociationWA · FY2024$27,357
Tilth AllianceWA · FY2024$25,875
Whale Scout INCWA · FY2024$25,000
Tulalip Tribes of WashingtonFY2024$22,500
Environmental Science CenterWA · FY2024$13,585
Issaquah Alps Trails ClubWA · FY2024$13,500
Thornton Creek AllianceWA · FY2024$9,000
EarthcorpsWA · FY2024$9,000
Nature Vision INCWA · FY2024$9,000
Partner in EmploymentWA · FY2023$22,500
Unitemized GrantFY2023$20,970
Roslyn Downtown AssociationWA · FY2023$20,472
Puget Sound EnergyFY2023$9,465
See all 24 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$12.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$11.6M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$788K
Investment incomeLn 3$287K
Money outPt IX
$10.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$8.7M
Managementcol C$1.3M
Fundraisingcol D$884K
Owns and owesPt X
$38.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.1M
Total assetsLn 16$45.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$6.7M
PeoplePt VI, VII
30
listed · VII A
PaidVII A10
Voting boardVI 1a21
IndependentVI 1b20
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$11.6M
Government grantsLn 1e$7.1M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$1.6M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$100K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$788K
Investment incomeLn 3$287K
Other incomeLn 4–11$108K
Gains on assetsLn 7$103K
Total revenueLn 12$12.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.4M
SavingsLn 2$2.7M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$4.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$4.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$30.3M
Other assetsLn 15$3.9M
Total assetsLn 16$45.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$6.7M
Net assetsLn 32$38.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5100
VolunteersI 61,449
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.9M$4.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$3.3M$4.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$27.3M$30.3M
Total assetsLn 16$41.9M$45.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.9M$6.7M
Net assetsLn 32$37.0M$38.8M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$4.1M$4.1M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.2M$776K$258K$184K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.9M$1.2M$410K$293K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$61K$39K$13K$8K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$143K$92K$31K$20K
Payroll taxesLn 10$265K$170K$57K$37K
Legal feesLn 11b$8K$5K$1K$1K
Accounting feesLn 11c$50K$34K$8K$8K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$56K$39K$9K$9K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$8K$8K
Investment management feesLn 11f$19K$19K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.6M$1.1M$325K$194K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$12K$7K$3K$2K
Information technologyLn 14$146K$100K$23K$22K
OccupancyLn 16$83K$11K$54K$18K
TravelLn 17$11K$10K$362$591
InterestLn 20$205K$205K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$16K$11K$3K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$184K$113K$41K$30K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$550K$483K$37K$30K
All other expensesLn 24e$168K$121K$27K$20K
Total functional expensesLn 25$10.9M$8.7M$1.3M$884K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $12.8M$10.9M$1.9M$38.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $5.0M$9.9M−$4.9M$37.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $10.3M$13.9M−$3.6M$42.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $15.5M$19.6M−$4.1M$45.9M 990 PDF
FY2020 $17.8M$12.9M$4.9M$50.0M 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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $12,806,098 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,733,935$11,622,788
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $994,651$788,201
I-10 Investment incomePrior year −$1,268,524$287,206
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $535,460$107,903
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $4,995,522$12,806,098
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $1,974,608$4,134,494
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $4,521,616$3,624,254
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$7,500
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $3,443,947$3,130,520
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $9,940,171$10,896,768
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$4,944,649$1,909,330
Part VI · Governance 20 of 21 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body21
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 $12,806,098 across 11 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $5,932 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$100,088
VIII-1e Government grants$7,061,305
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$4,461,395
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$1,563,332
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$11,622,788
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $788,201$788,201
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $184,444$184,444
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $129,595$129,595
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $102,762$102,762
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$27,624−$27,624
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $788,201 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $395,109$12,806,098
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $10,896,768 across 21 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $4,134,494$4,134,494
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $776,207 · Management $257,579 · Fundraising $183,679$1,217,465
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,236,222 · Management $410,231 · Fundraising $292,535$1,938,988
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $39,192 · Management $13,360 · Fundraising $8,055$60,607
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $91,876 · Management $31,094 · Fundraising $19,654$142,624
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $170,072 · Management $57,330 · Fundraising $37,168$264,570
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $5,289 · Management $1,200 · Fundraising $1,155$7,644
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $34,331 · Management $7,789 · Fundraising $7,500$49,620
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $39,091 · Management $8,869 · Fundraising $8,540$56,500
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $7,500$7,500
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $18,734$18,734
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,105,109 · Management $324,873 · Fundraising $193,750$1,623,732
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $7,245 · Management $2,619 · Fundraising $1,920$11,784
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $100,278 · Management $23,121 · Fundraising $22,262$145,661
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $10,822 · Management $54,333 · Fundraising $18,111$83,266
IX-17 TravelPrograms $10,084 · Management $362 · Fundraising $591$11,037
IX-20 InterestPrograms $204,698$204,698
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $11,189 · Management $2,586 · Fundraising $1,896$15,671
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $113,174 · Management $40,906 · Fundraising $29,998$184,078
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $483,353 · Management $37,014 · Fundraising $30,051$550,418
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $120,508 · Management $27,213 · Fundraising $19,956$167,677
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $8,693,234 · Management $1,319,213 · Fundraising $884,321$10,896,768
Part X · Balance sheet $45,479,506 assets, 18 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $2,230,808; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,536,287$1,374,620
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $3,335,403$2,747,258
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $466,333$320,495
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $197,252$276,930
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $155,668$174,815
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $27,260,826$30,309,640
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $2,212,314$2,976,608
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $1,107,052$1,125,746
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $3,437,986$3,942,586
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $41,939,929$45,479,506
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $450,778$665,669
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $32,500$150,089
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $3,938$1,150
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $4,897,932$6,709,223
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $31,324,888$33,180,073
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $5,717,109$5,590,210
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $37,041,997$38,770,283
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $41,939,929$45,479,506
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $38,770,283 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$12,806,098
XI-2 Total expenses$10,896,768
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,909,330
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$37,041,997
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$181,044
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$38,770,283

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

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