Monmouth Conservation Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MONMOUTH CONSERVATION FOUNDATION WAS ORGANIZED IN 1977 BY A GROUP OF CITIZENS FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES: TO ACQUIRE, HOLD, PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE OPEN LANDS, HISTORIC AREAS AND PARK AND RECREATIONAL AREAS OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY. TOGETHER WITH ANY BUILDINGS LOCATED THEREON; TO SOLICIT AND RECEIVE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO GIFTS, BEQUESTS, LEGACIES, CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND CONVEYANCES OF REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY IN FURTHERANCE OF THE PURPOSES AFORESAID; TO APPLY FOR, RECEIVE AND ADMINISTER GRANTS FROM PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SOURCES, FEDERAL, STATE, AND COUNTY IN FURTHERANCE OF THE PURPOSES AFORESAID; AND TO EXERCISE ALL THE RIGHTS, POWERS, AND DUTIES CONFERRED ON NON-PROFIT CORPORATIONS UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 50%
- Reserves
- 29.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $145,250, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 29.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 80% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1550% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2528 of 28 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $547,499 spent. LAND PRESERVATION HIGHLIGHTS IN AUGUST 2019, AFTER YEARS OF NEGOTIATIONS, MCF AND THE NJ DEPARTMENT OF ENVIROMENTAL PROTECTION'S GREEN ACRES PROGRAM ACQUIRED 190-ACRES OF NATURAL HABITAT AS AN ADDITION TO ALLAIRE STATE PARK. KNOWN AS THE MCDOWELL, THE PRICE TAG ON THIS RARE, UNDEVELOPED TRACT IN WALL TOWNSHIP COST 3,819,000. IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER 2019 MCF PRESERVED TWO FARMS LOCATED IN COLTS NECK, KNOWN AS THE DEGROOT AND DRUESNE FARMS . CONSISTING OF A COLLECTIVE 60 ACRES, THIS FARMLAND IS NOW FOREVER PROTECTED FROM DEVELOPMENT INTO AS MANY AS 30 HOMES. THESE FARMLAND PRESERVATION PROJECTS TOTALED 2.1 MILLION AND WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE ASSISTAMCE OF COLTS NECK TOWNSHIP, MONMOUTH COUNTY, AND THE NJ DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. IN NOVEMBER 2019 - ACRES, SLATED FOR A 9-HOME DEVELOPMENT, WAS PURCHASED BY NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP WITH THE HELP OF THE NJ DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION'S GREEN ACRES PROGRAM. FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE OLIVER/SHARK RIVER HILLS ESTATES PROPERTY, THIS LAND WHICH WAS ACQUIRED FOR 1,255,000 IS SURROUNDED BY A RESIDENTAL AREA AND ADJACENT TO ACCESS TO THE SHARK RIVER AND A PUBLIC MARIA, WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK. ADVOCACY HIGHLIGHTS MCF PROMOTED GRASS ROOTS EFFORTS TO CREATE PARKS AND SAVE OPEN SPACE IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES. WORK INCLUDED PARTNERSHIPS WITH CONCERNED RESIDENTS, MUNICIPAL OFFICALS AND MUNICIPAL COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES TO ENSURE THE IMPORTANCE OF PARKS AND ACCESSIBLE GREENSPACE ARE ADVOCATED FOR IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTY. EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS MCF OFFERED YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS ON CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY. MCF EDUCATED 1000+ STUDENTS ABOUT LAND CONSERVATION AS A NATURAL CLIMATE SOLUTION AND PROVIDED HANDS ON STEM TRAINING ABOUT SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE ACROSS THE COUNTY. PARTNERSHIPS WITH ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL PROVIDED PROGRAM PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES TO EDUCATE STUDENTS ABOUT THE MISSION OF MCF. STEWARDSHIP HIGHLIGHTS MCF DEFENDED 1,100 ACRES OF PERMANENTLY PROTECTED LANDS THROUGH THE ANNUAL MONITORING OF EASEMENTS. MCF MONITORS CONSERVATION AND AGRICULTURAL EASEMENTS THAT ARE HELD BY THE ORGANIZATION AND THOSE HELD BY THE COUNTY OF MONMOUTH THROUGH A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND MCF. PROJECTS-UNDERWAY PROGRESS CONTINUES FOR 100- ACRES OF PARK ACQUISITION PROJECTS IN HOWELL AND 7 ACRES IN ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, THREE FARMS CONSISITING OF 270 - ACRES OF FARMLAND PRESERVATION IN COLTS NECK. MCF IS ALSO WORKING TO IMPROVING ACCESS TO PARKS IN UNDERSERVED AREAS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY IN MUNICIPALITES SUCH AS LONG BRANCH. ADDITIONALLY, MCF IS HELPING SEA BRIGHT IMPROVE A WATERFRONT COMMUNITY PARK THAT WILL PROVIDE NEW PASSIVE RECREATING AMENITIES FOR THE RESIDENTS. A CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MONMOUTH COUNTY PARKS SYSTEM ON THE LONG-TERM EFFORT TO TRANSFORM THE FORMER CHRIS' MARINA PROPERTY INTO SWIMMING RIVER PARK. MCF IS WORKING TO FURTHER EXPAND THE PARK WHILE ALSO FACILITATING THE EXTENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION OF THE OVERALL PARK AREA. IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW PRESERVATION PROGRAM WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE THROUGH THE U.S. NAVY AND THEIR REPI PROGRAM CONTINUES. THIS PROGRAM WILL BE A NEW FUNDING SOURCE FOR LAND PRESERVATION EFFORTS AND WILL REQUIRE A 50% COST SHARE TO MATCH THE GOVERMENT FUNDS THAT MCF WILL FUNDRAISE. SERVERAL POTENTIAL PROJECTS ARE LINED UP TO UTILIZE THIS NEW FUNDING SOURCE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1980.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
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