Conservation Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES BY PRESERVING AND RESTORING NATURAL AREAS, PROTECTING RIVERS AND WATERSHEDS, AND PROMOTING STEWARDSHIP OF OUR ENVIRONMENT.
- Income
- $7.5 million
- Spending
- $4.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- -13.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 78%
- Employees
- 57
- Volunteers
- 750
- Highest pay
- $255,595, president/ceo
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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 33% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 47% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 85% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 2522 of 22 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)
- $3.4 million spent. FACILITATED THE DONATION OF 102 ACRES OF LAND TO THE KANE CTY FPD. PURCHASED 122 ACRES OF LAND IN KANE CTY FOR EVENTUAL NEW FOREST PRESERVE. RESTORED AND MANAGED MORE THAN 1,137 ACRES OF NATURAL AREA. SERVED MORE THAN 1900 FAMILIES FROM OUR ORGANIC VEGETABLE FARM, INCLUDING LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, PROVIDED MORE THAN 26,000 POUNDS OF FOOD TO LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES. PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL STAFFING TO 4 LOCAL WATERSHED GROUPS THAT PROTECT THE STREAM RESOURCE QUALITY FOR 7.4 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE SALT CREEK, DUPAGE, DES PLAINES RIVER, AND CHICAGO AREA WATERSHEDS. PROVIDED SALT SMART WINTER BEST PRACTICES TRAINING FOR OVER 1,300 PARTICIPANTS. PROVIDED ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION PROGRAMMING AND OUTREACH TO NEARLY 18,000 PEOPLE. ORGANIZED THE DUPAGE RIVER AND FOX RIVER CLEANUP EVENTS, ENGAGING MORE THAN 1160 VOLUNTEERS AND CLEANING 47 MILES OF RIVERS. EXPANDED NATURE RX PROGRAM INTO KANE COUNTY; INVOLVED MORE THAN 1,400 PEOPLE IN THE TAKE-A-HIKE CHALLENGE. ENGAGED OVER 2,500 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH CONSERVATION@ HOME AND CONSERVATION@ WORK, DISTRIBUTED OVER 900 RAIN BARRELS TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES, INSTALLED 3 NEW POLLINATOR AND NATIVE PLANT DEMONSTRATION GARDENS, AND DISTRIBUTED THOUSANDS OF NATIVE PLANTS, TREES AND SHRUBS TO HOMEOWNERS. ENGAGED OVER 50 PARTNERS THROUGH NATURE RX INITIATIVE, REACHING OVER 3,600 PARTICIPANTS. SERVED MORE THAN 3,200 CHILDREN AND EDUCATORS IN OUR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1973.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.