New Jersey Conservation Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
RECOGNIZING THAT A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT IS CRITICAL TO THE WELL-BEING AND SURVIVAL OF ALL LIVING THINGS, NEW JERSEY CONSERVATION FOUNDATION IS DEVOTED TO PRESERVING LAND AND PROTECTING NATURAL RESOURCES THROUGHOUT NEW JERSEY'S (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)RURAL, SUBURBAN, AND URBAN LANDSCAPES. SINCE 1960, THE NONPROFIT, NONPARTISAN, STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION HAS PRESERVED MORE THAN 140,000 ACRES OF OPEN SPACE, FARMLAND, AND PARKS. THE ORGANIZATION MANAGES MORE THAN A DOZEN NATURE PRESERVES, CONDUCTS PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND ADVOCATES FOR SENSIBLE LAND USE AND CLIMATE POLICIES THAT WILL PROTECT THE HEALTH OF NEW JERSEY'S PLANTS, WILDLIFE, AND PEOPLE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
- Income
- $6.2 million
- Spending
- $5.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 33.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 86%
- Employees
- 43
- Volunteers
- 250
- Highest pay
- $161,229, co-executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 33.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2524 of 24 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 December 31, 2024, 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)
- $4.5 million spent. PRESERVE AND STEWARD LAND NEARLY 900 ACRES PRESERVED IN 2024! WE PRESERVED 16 PROPERTIES ACROSS NEW JERSEY IN 2024, INCLUDING FAMILY FARMS AND NATURAL AREAS THAT SAFEGUARD CLEAN DRINKING WATER, PRODUCE LOCAL FOOD, AND PROVIDE WILDLIFE HABITAT, SCENIC BEAUTY, AND OUTDOOR RECREATION. MANY OF THESE PROJECTS INVOLVED ESSENTIAL PARTNERSHIPS. MAURICE RIVER WATERSHED WE PERMANENTLY PROTECTED 141 ACRES IN GLOUCESTER COUNTY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SOUTH JERSEY LAND AND WATER TRUST. THIS LAND ACQUISITION PREVENTED THE DEFORESTATION OF AN ECOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT PROPERTY AND PRESERVED QUALITY WILDLIFE HABITAT AND CLEAN DRINKING WATER. SILTY POND MUSSEL ERADICATION - AS PART OF A MULTI-YEAR EFFORT, WE REMOVED INVASIVE SILTY POND MUSSELS FROM NINE PONDS NEAR THE HEADWATERS OF WICKECHEOKE CREEK, A DELAWARE RIVER TRIBUTARY. THIS WAS THE FIRST KNOWN OCCURRENCE OF THIS INVASIVE SPECIES IN NORTH AMERICA, AND THE MUSSEL WAS IN DANGER OF SPREADING TO LOCAL WATERWAYS, WHERE IT COULD THREATEN NATIVE SHELLFISH AND MUSSEL POPULATIONS AND IMPACT LONG-TERM ECOSYSTEM HEALTH. MORE 2024 SUCCESSES WE EXPANDED CANDACE MCKEE ASHMUN PRESERVE IN OCEAN COUNTY TO NEARLY 4,000 ACRES WITH THE ADDITION OF PINE AND OAK UPLANDS, PITCH PINE LOWLANDS, AND CEDAR SWAMPS. AFTER THREE YEARS OF STUDIES AND PUBLIC SURVEYS, A PROPOSED MAP OF DESIGNATED MOTOR VEHICLE ROUTES HAS BEEN PROPOSED FOR WHARTON STATE FOREST. THIS MEASURE WILL HELP TO PROTECT ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREAS FROM OFF-ROAD VEHICLE DAMAGE WHILE PRESERVING REASONABLE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE FOREST. WE STEWARDED OVER 29,000 ACRES OF LAND, INCLUDING 19 PRESERVES AND 75 MILES OF TRAILS, AS WELL AS CONSERVATION AND FARMLAND EASEMENTS TOTALING ALMOST 6,000 ACRES. WE ADVANCED STRONG LAND USE POLICIES AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL TO HELP PROTECT LANDS, AND MET WITH KEY LEGISLATORS TO DISCUSS FOREST MANAGEMENT LEGISLATION. WE FORMED A COMMITTEE TO CONVENE STATEWIDE GROUPS TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO ACCELERATING THE RATE OF LAND PRESERVATION. MITIGATE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE NEW JERSEY CONTINUES TO FACE INCREASED FLOODING RISKS AND HIGH CLIMATE VULNERABILITY. WE FOCUSED OUR EFFORTS ON INITIATIVES THAT ENHANCE NEW JERSEY'S CLIMATE RESILIENCE, PROTECT CRITICAL HABITATS, AND PRESERVE LAND THAT PROVIDES VITAL ECOSYSTEM SERVICES SUCH AS STORM WATER ABSORPTION, CARBON SEQUESTRATION, AND BIODIVERSITY. MARSH MIGRATION IN 2024, WE BEGAN DEVELOPING A LAND PROTECTION PLAN TO IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE KEY LANDS FOR PRESERVATION ALONG THE DELAWARE BAYSHORE TO PROTECT MARSHES AND BAY BEACHES THREATENED BY SEA-LEVEL RISE, WHICH COULD REACH UP TO 5.1 FEET BY 2100. THESE AREAS PROVIDE CRITICAL HABITAT FOR MIGRATORY SHOREBIRDS, WHICH HAVE FED AND NESTED IN THE REGION FOR MILLENNIA. ADVOCATING FOR CLIMATE-RESILIENT POLICIES WE ADVOCATED FOR NJPACT (PROTECTING AGAINST CLIMATE THREATS) STATE RULES AIMED AT IMPROVING STORM WATER MANAGEMENT AND SAFEGUARDING COMMUNITIES FROM COASTAL FLOODING. THESE MEASURES ARE THE FIRST OF THEIR KIND IN THE NATION. MORE 2024 SUCCESSES WE STRENGTHENED LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS IN CAMDEN BY PRESERVING A SMALL URBAN LOT, THE SITE OF THE CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSFORMATION'S URBAN GARDEN, WHICH WAS SLATED FOR REDEVELOPMENT. BY PERMANENTLY PRESERVING THIS PLOT, WE HELPED TO PROTECT THIS IMPORTANT COMMUNITY RESOURCE WHICH IMPROVES URBAN CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. INCREASE ACCESS TO NATURE WE ARE WORKING TO EXPAND ACCESS TO NATURE, CREATE HEALTHIER AND GREENER URBAN SPACES, AND BUILD STRONGER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE AND THE NATURAL WORLD, ENSURING THESE SPACES WILL INSPIRE AND BENEFIT COMMUNITIES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. IN 2024, MORE THAN 1,200 PEOPLE ATTENDED NEW JERSEY CONSERVATION-LED EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS, INCLUDING FREE FISHING DAY IN CAMDEN, "BIG DAY AND "BIG SIT" BIRDING EVENTS IN JERSEY CITY, CADWALADER PARK BIRDING EVENT IN TRENTON, COFFEE & CONSERVATION SERIES AT BAMBOO BROOK OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER, PINE BARRENS PLANT COURSES, AND MORE. GREEN & HEALTHY CITIES INITIATIVE WE BEGAN LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR THE LAUNCH OF A STATEWIDE INITIATIVE TO INCREASE GREEN INVESTMENTS IN URBAN COMMUNITIES. IN 2024, WE CONVENED A STATEWIDE URBAN TREE FORUM THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER REPRESENTATIVES FROM CAMDEN, TRENTON, ELIZABETH, AND NEWARK TO TALK ABOUT GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS IN NEW JERSEY'S CITIES. MORE 2024 SUCCESSES WE OPENED THE GREGORY ROMANO TRAIL AT MENANTICO PRESERVE, CREATING A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY, WHICH HAS A LOT OF PRESERVED FARMLAND BUT NOT MANY HIKING OPPORTUNITIES IN NATURAL SETTINGS. WE PLANTED NEARLY 400 SHADE TREES ALONG URBAN STREETS IN TRENTON AND IN CAMDEN'S GATEWAY PARK. THESE TREES HELPED REFOREST CITY PARKS THAT HAVE SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT TREE LOSS AND CREATED COOL, SHADED STREET CORRIDORS TO REDUCE THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT AND IMPROVE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE. WE PARTNERED TO LAUNCH TREES FOR TRENTON, A COMMUNITY TREE-PLANTING INITIATIVE TO INCREASE GREEN SPACES IN THE CITY, AND INTRODUCED "TRENTON WALKS!", A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT FEATURES WALKS IN AND AROUND NEW JERSEY'S CAPITAL CITY. WE CONTINUED IMPORTANT ADVOCACY WORK HELPING TO SECURE FUNDING FOR CAPITAL STATE PARK IN TRENTON AND CREATE THE BEST FUTURE FOR LIBERTY STATE PARK.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.
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 January 1965.
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 October 21, 2026.
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