The Wetlands Initiative
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO RESTORE THE WETLAND RESOURCES OF THE MIDWEST TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, INCREASE WILDLIFE HABITAT AND BIODIVERSITY, AND REDUCE FLOOD DAMAGE. THE WETLANDS INITIATIVE SEEKS TO CONDUCT AND SUPPORT HIGH-QUALITY RESTORATION PROJECTS THOUGH DIRECT, ON-THE-GROUND WORK AND BY FORMING LARGER PARTNERSHIPS TO DEMONSTRATE INNOVATIVE WAYS TO FINANCE LARGE-SCALE WETLAND RESTORATION, SUCH AS WATER QUALITY TRADING MARKETS WITH A FOCUS ON SCIENCE-BASED, ECONOMICALLY SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS AND COLLABORATIVE WORK WITH PUBLIC AGENCIES, THE ORGANIZATION'S GOAL IS TO DEVELOP RESTORATION METHODS AND MODELS THAT OTHERS MAY COPY.
- Income
- $3.5 million
- Spending
- $2.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 5.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
- Employees
- 27
- Volunteers
- 55
- Highest pay
- $182,587, president
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 75% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 2520 of 20 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 (2)
- $1.8 million spent. ON-THE-GROUND RESTORATION - 2024 WAS A GROWTH YEAR FOR THE WETLANDS INITIATIVE, DURING WHICH THE ORGANIZATION EXPANDED ITS ON-THE-GROUND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PROJECTS ACROSS ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA. IN PARTICULAR, TWI'S COLLABORATIVE WORK IN THE BI-STATE CALUMET REGION SAW SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION WITH FRESH PROJECT PHASES AND NEW MAJOR FUNDING AT IMPORTANT REMNANT WETLAND SITES IN BOTH SOUTHEAST CHICAGO AND NORTHWEST INDIANA. THESE EFFORTS ARE RETURNING IMPORTANT HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE AND RARE MARSH BIRDS, BOOSTING CLIMATE RESILIENCE, AND IMPROVING NATURE ACCESS AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THIS URBAN REGION'S UNDERSERVED RESIDENTS. PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: - TWI CONTINUED PHASE III HABITAT RESTORATION AT INDIAN RIDGE MARSH NORTH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT, BUILDING ON HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL SHORELINE MODIFICATION IN 2023 THAT CREATED VALUABLE TRANSITIONAL HABITAT.- AT SQUARE MARSH, OWNED BY THE ILLINOIS INTERNATIONAL PORT DISTRICT AND PART OF HISTORIC LAKE CALUMET, TWI AND THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF ILLINOIS TOOK THE FIRST STEPS IN A MULTI-YEAR RESTORATION PLAN WITH TREATMENT OF INVASIVE PHRAGMITES AND BUCKTHORN. - IN NW INDIANA, ALONG THE WEST BRANCH OF THE LITTLE CALUMET RIVER, TWI AND PARTNERS IN THE LITTLE CALUMET RIVER CONSERVATION COLLABORATIVE CONTINUED PHASE III HABITAT RESTORATION ON THREE HIGH-PRIORITY PARCELS TOTALING 436 ACRES, SHIFTING FOCUS TO LARGE NATIVE PLANT INSTALLATIONS AS SEED AND PLUGS WITH EXPANDED VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATION. THE COLLABORATIVE ALSO MOVED FORWARD WITH PLANNING FOR ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION AND IMPROVED PUBLIC ACCESS ON TWO MAJOR, HIGH-POTENTIAL TRACTS WITHIN THE LITTLE CALUMET CORRIDOR: MARSHALLTOWN MARSH AND THE CHASE STREET COMPLEX. BOTH DESIGN PROCESSES FOCUS ON STREAM RE-MEANDERING-NEVER PREVIOUSLY ACCOMPLISHED IN NW INDIANA-AND ARE BEING DRIVEN BY RESIDENT AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT TO ENSURE SITE PLANS ARE RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY DESIRES AND NEEDS.AT TWI'S 3,000-PLUS-ACRE SUE AND WES DIXON WATERFOWL REFUGE IN NORTH-CENTRAL ILLINOIS, A DESIGNATED RAMSAR WETLAND OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE, TWI STAFF ENHANCED PUBLIC ACCESS IN 2024 BY DEVELOPING NEW AMENITIES AND INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE AT THE NEWLY RESTORED VIOLET MEADOW PARCEL AND REFURBISHED THE REFUGE'S 30-FOOT OBSERVATION TOWER. IN ADVANCE OF LONGTIME SENIOR ECOLOGIST DR. GARY SULLIVAN'S RETIREMENT, TWI SCIENTISTS CREATED A COMPREHENSIVE REFUGE MANAGEMENT PLAN TO PROVIDE STRATEGIC GUIDANCE FOR THE SITE'S COMING YEARS. MEANWHILE, A NEW FULL-TIME SITE MANAGER LED THE RESTORATION CREW IN ENHANCING THE REFUGE'S DORE SEEP NATURE PRESERVE, MANAGING INVASIVE CATTAILS AND WOODY SHRUBS THAT WERE ENCROACHING THE HIGHLY DIVERSE SEEP PLANT COMMUNITY. FINALLY, TWI PREPARED 40 ACRES OF FORMER FARMLAND FOR RESTORATION TO GLOBALLY SAND PRAIRIE ON A NEW TRACT THAT TWI ACQUIRED ADJACENT TO THE REFUGE'S SANDY HOLLOW PARCEL IN LATE 2023. WITH THE COMPLETION OF A MASSIVE SEVEN-YEAR RESTORATION EFFORT IN 2023, IN 2024 TWI INITIATED A NEW, EQUALLY SIGNIFICANT PROJECT AT THE FOREST SERVICE'S MIDEWIN NATIONAL TALLGRASS PRAIRIE IN WILL COUNTY-THE LARGEST PROTECTED OPEN SPACE IN THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN REGION. IN COLLABORATION WITH OPENLANDS, TWI KICKED OFF THE FIRST PHASE OF THE GRANT CREEK STREAM RESTORATION, WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY LEAD TO THE CHICAGO WILDERNESS REGION'S FIRST STREAM RE-MEANDERING EFFORT. THE GRANT CREEK PARCEL COMPRISES 1,321 ACRES THAT WILL BE TRANSFORMED TO HEALTHY PRAIRIE, SAVANNA, AND FLOODPLAIN WETLAND HABITAT, BENEFITING DECLINING GRASSLAND BIRD SPECIES AND EXPANDING RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ADJACENT TO MIDEWIN'S HEAVILY VISITED BISON PASTURE. OVER 2024, TWI'S MIDEWIN FIELD CREW WORKED TO REMOVE SMALL INVASIVE TREES AND SHRUBS, WHILE A CONTRACTOR WAS SELECTED TO BEGIN LARGE-SCALE REMOVAL OF AGGRESSIVE/NON-NATIVE TREES.
- $339,765 spent. THROUGH THE "SMART WETLANDS" PROJECT, TWI IS WORKING TO SPREAD THE USE OF SMALL TILE-TREATMENT WETLANDS ON PRIVATE FARMLAND AS A NATURAL SOLUTION TO THE CRITICAL ISSUE OF NUTRIENT RUNOFF INTO LOCAL WATERWAYS AND ULTIMATELY, THE GULF OF MEXICO. THE ORGANIZATION PURSUES THIS GOAL THROUGH COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH AGENCIES AND PEERS IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, OUTREACH TO RAISE AWARENESS WITH LANDOWNERS AND THEIR TRUSTED ADVISERS, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS TO BUILD WETLANDS IN NEW COUNTIES AND WATERSHEDS. IN 2024, TWI EXECUTED THE FIRST STEPS IN A NEW BUSINESS PLAN TO EXPAND THE PROJECT'S REACH, INCLUDING FILLING A NEW ENGINEER POSITION TO ASSIST IN DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING MORE WETLAND SITES. THIS ADDED CAPACITY LED TO FIVE NEW SMART WETLAND DESIGNS IN PROCESS ACROSS FIVE NEW COUNTIES BY THE END OF THE YEAR. MEANWHILE, TWI FORMALIZED SEVERAL EXISTING AND NEW PARTNERSHIPS TO BEGIN A THREE-YEAR, STATEWIDE COORDINATED EFFORT TO INCREASE THE USE OF ON-FARM PRACTICES FOR WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN ILLINOIS, INCLUDING TILE-TREATMENT WETLANDS. FINALLY, DURING 2024, TWI BEGAN FORMING NEW PARTNERSHIPS TO EXPLORE DEPLOYING THE SMART WETLANDS CONCEPT AND PRACTICE IN INDIANA'S EXTENSIVE FARMING REGION.TWI IS ALSO EXPLORING OTHER INNOVATIVE WAYS THAT WETLANDS CAN BE INTEGRATED INTO THE FARM LANDSCAPE FOR CLEAN WATER. IN THE LAKE SPRINGFIELD WATERSHED, IN 2024 TWI WORKED WITH THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD'S CITY WATER, LIGHT, AND POWER UTILITY TO PURSUE THE USE OF LARGER, SPECIALLY DESIGNED TREATMENT WETLANDS ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTIES TO ADDRESS DRINKING WATER IMPAIRMENTS. FUNDING THROUGH THE STATE REVOLVING LOAN FUND COULD HELP MAKE THIS A REALITY, WITH POTENTIAL FOR IMPLEMENTATION ELSEWHERE IN ILLINOIS TO PROVIDE CLEANER DRINKING WATER. THE WETLANDS INITIATIVE IS INCREASINGLY PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING ITS WORK WITH A FOCUS ON THE POWERFUL ROLE THAT WETLAND RESTORATION CAN PLAY IN ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIETAL ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE. THE MIDWEST'S CLIMATE IS ALREADY SHIFTING TO MORE-INTENSE RAINFALL EVENTS, LONGER DRY SPELLS, AND IRREGULAR SEASONAL PRECIPITATION PATTERNS. RESTORED FRESHWATER WETLANDS PROVIDE RESILIENCE FUNCTIONS THAT INCLUDE STORING PRECIPITATION AND RUNOFF, MITIGATING LOCAL FLOOD RISKS, RECHARGING GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES DURING DROUGHTS, FILTERING AND PROCESSING NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTANTS, AND PROVIDING HABITAT REFUGES FOR DIVERSE SPECIES, AS WELL AS SEQUESTERING SOME ATMOSPHERIC CARBON IN HIGHLY ORGANIC SOILS. TWI'S VISION IS FOR THESE NATURAL "SPONGES" TO BE ONCE AGAIN SCATTERED ACROSS THE FLAT MIDWESTERN LANDSCAPE.
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 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 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 November 1999.
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.
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.