Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC RYERSON FAMILY HOME AMOUNG PRISTINE WOODLANDS, BRUSHWOOD CENTER AT RYERSON WOODS PROMOTES THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURE FOR NURTURING PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING, CULTIVATING CREATIVITY, AND INSPIRING LEARNING.
- Income
- $3.7 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 7.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 18
- Volunteers
- 282
- Highest pay
- $162,375, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 50% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 50% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 2513 of 13 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 March 31, 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 (3)
- $90,627 spent. SMITH NATURE SYMPOSIUM - FOR 40 YEARS, THE SYMPOSIUM HAS BEEN AN OCCASION TO CELEBRATE NATURE AND SPEND THE EVENING WITH LUMINARIES WHO HAVE MADE A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCIENCE OF CONSERVATION AND DEEPENED OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURAL WORLD. FROM ROGER TORY PETERSON TO SIBYLLE AND ROBERT REDFORD, THE EVENT HONOREES HAVE REPRESENTED THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED NATURE LEADERS IN THE COUNTRY. THE SYMPOSIUM MEMORIALIZES THE SIGNIFICANT CIVIC LEGACY OF HERMON DUNLAP AND ELLEN THORNE SMITH, WHO DONATED THEIR LAND AND CABIN TO HELP FORM RYERSON WOODS.
- $28,189 spent. ART PROGRAMS - AT EASE VETERANS PROGRAM:BRUSHWOOD CENTER'S AT EASE PROGRAM IS AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO EMPOWER MILITARY VETERANS' WELLBEING THROUGH A SERIES OF NATURE-BASED ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS. THIS PROGRAM IS OFFERED AT NO CHARGE TO MILITARY VETERANS THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS AND PARTNERS. AT EASE BUILDS ON RESEARCH SHOWING THAT EXPOSURE TO NATURE AND THE ARTS IMPROVES MENTAL HEALTH, SELF-ESTEEM, AND OTHER OBSTACLES THAT VETERANS FACE FROM THE AFTER-EFFECTS OF MILITARY SERVICE, WHILE ALSO LEARNING A NEW SKILL AND HOBBY.YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMS:THE GOALS OF BRUSHWOOD CENTER'S YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMS ARE TO PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS FROM LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES WITH NATURE-INSPIRED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ABOUT LOCAL WOODLANDS AND TO EXPERIENCE THE MANY HEALTH BENEFITS OF NATURE. BRUSHWOOD CENTER EMPLOYS CUSTOMIZED, BILINGUAL PROGRAMS TO REACH 600 YOUTH IN COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTHERN CHICAGO REGION.
- OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, NATURE PROGRAMS, BOOK DISCUSSIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 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 March 2026.
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 November 1994.
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.
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.