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Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation Inc

EIN 36-3913497 · Elizabeth, IL

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

JDCF WORKS TO PRESERVE AND STEWARD LAND AND WATER FOR THE LASTING WELL-BEING OF ALL PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE.

Income
$5.4 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
48.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
21
Volunteers
133
Highest pay
$113,796, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 48.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 59% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 83% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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)
  1. $802,498 spent. STEWARDSHIP AND PUBLIC ACCESS: IN ANY GIVEN YEAR THESE SERVICES MAKE UP THE LARGEST ANNUAL PROGRAM EXPENSE FOR JDCF. LABOR AND EQUIPMENT COMPRISE THE BULK OF THESE PROGRAM SERVICES FOR THE CARE, MAINTENANCE AND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF PROPERTY HELD IN PUBLIC TRUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE IN NW ILLINOIS. IN 2025, JDCF'S DRIFTLESS STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE (DSI) PROGRAM WAS WOUND DOWN. OF THE MORE THAN 2,000 ACRES THAT JDCF OWNS, APPROXIMATELY 1,500 ACRES WITH OVER 60 MILES OF TRAILS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR PASSIVE RECREATION AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING TWO PARTNER PRESERVES. IN 2025, WE ESTIMATE OVER 25,000 PEOPLE VISITED OUR PRESERVES. OUR DEDICATED TEAM OF RESTORATION SPECIALISTS ACQUIRED A NEW SURE TRAC TRAILER AND ATV THROUGH AN ILDNR GRANT. REVENUE FOR STEWARDSHIP TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $432,000; DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS TOTALED $68,756.
  2. $283,868 spent. EDUCATIONAL SERVICES: IN 2025, JDCF CONTINUED MAKING DEEP CONNECTIONS WITH INDIGENOUS TRIBES (WHO FORMERLY CALLED JO DAVIESS COUNTY HOME), SPECIFICALLY THE HO-CHUNK (AND WINNEBAGO) NATIONS AND THE SAC AND FOX NATION OF OKLAHOMA. IN COLLABORATION WITH THESE GROUPS, JDCF IS AT THE BEGINNING OF A LONG-TERM LEARNING JOURNEY WITH AN END GOAL OF PROVIDING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES FOR LISTENING, LEARNING, AND CELEBRATING THE HERITAGE OF THE LAND IT PRESERVES AND STEWARDS. OUR EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ADDED ONE NEW STAFF MEMBER IN 2025 AND LAUNCHED THE MIGHTY ACORNS PROGRAM BRINGING CONSERVATION EDUCATION THAT MEETS STATE EDUCATION STANDARDS INTO LOCAL SCHOOL CLASSROOMS. DELIVERING JDCF'S EDUCATION AND OUTREACH SERVICES DEPENDS ON PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SUPPORT FROM A ROBUST VOLUNTEER CORPS OF OVER 50 VOLUNTEERS, AND SUPPORT FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES AND GRANTS FROM PRIVATE GIVING FOUNDATIONS. GRANTS, INDIVIDUAL AND LOCAL BUSINESS PARTNER CONTRIBUTIONS TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $90,000.
  3. $233,799 spent. LAND PRESERVATION: JDCF PRESERVES LAND IN TWO DISTINCT WAYS, CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND ACQUISITIONS. DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $5,000.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1994.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.

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.