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Friends of the Forest Preserves

EIN 36-4519273 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION UNITES PEOPLE TO PROTECT, PROMOTE, AND CARE FOR THE PUBLIC OUTDOOR SPACES OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. THEIR MULTIFACETED APPROACH ENSURES EQUITABLE ACCESS TO NATURE, RESTORES THREATENED NATIVE HABITATS, AND ADVOCATES FOR POLICIES THAT PRESERVE REGIONAL GREEN SPACE.

Income
$3.8 million
Spending
$4.3 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 39%
Employees
207
Volunteers
2,500
Highest pay
$231,997, 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

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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

    18 of 18 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. $1.8 million spent. CONSERVATION CORPS: FRIENDS DIRECTLY WORKS TO INCREASE EQUITABLE ACCESSAND ENGAGEMENT WITHIN THE FOREST PRESERVES AND BROADEN COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN HABITAT RESTORATION THROUGH ITS AWARD-WINNINGCONSERVATION CORPS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. THE CONSERVATIONCORPS PROGRAM BREAKS DOWN BARRIERS TO ACCESSING TECHNICAL TRAINING ANDEMPLOYMENT IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR AND SINCE 2007 HAS EMPLOYED,TRAINED, AND MENTORED MORE THAN 2,350 ADULTS AND YOUTH. SINCE 2020ALONE, YOUTH AND ADULT CREWS HAVE HELPED RESTORE 1,790 ACRES.
  2. $858,972 spent. ENGAGEMENT: FRIENDS ENGAGES PEOPLE DIRECTLY IN NATURE PROGRAMMINGTHROUGH ITS ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS, WHICH INCLUDES HOSTING FREE, PUBLICEVENTS FOR RESIDENTS LOCAL TO A FOREST PRESERVE, SUCH AS MORNING YOGAOR BIRD WALKS. THESE EVENTS ARE INFORMED BY THE RESULTS OF OUTREACHFRIENDS CONDUCTS IN SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, AND ARE OFTEN DEVELOPEDIN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, WHO ARE PAID A STIPEND TOSUPPORT EVENT PLANNING AND NETWORK BUILDING. IN THE PAST TWO YEARSALONE, FRIENDS HAS HOSTED MORE THAN 200 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS ANDMORE THAN 2,500 PARTICIPANTS IN POSITIVE EXPERIENCES IN THE PRESERVES.THROUGH THIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORK AND OTHER PROGRAMMING, THEFRIENDS PROGRAM TEAM MADE UP OF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS HAS DEVELOPEDEXPERTISE IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, EDUCATION, CONSERVATION, ECOLOGY,
  3. $747,175 spent. SUMMER PROGRAMS: EVERY SUMMER, FRIENDS FACILITATES TWO SUMMERINTERNSHIP PROGRAMS: FOREST PRESERVE EXPERIENCE (FPE) AND BEAUBIENWOODS YOUTH AMBASSADORS (BYOA). BEGINNING IN 2016, THE FPE YOUTHCONSERVATION CORPS PROGRAM HAS ENGAGED APPROXIMATELY 70-150 TEENS PERYEAR, OFFERING TEENS PAID SUMMER POSITIONS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THEPRESERVES THROUGH CONSERVATION PROJECTS. THE BYOA PROGRAM, WHICH ISSPECIFIC TO BEAUBIEN WOODS, EMPLOYED 9 HIGH SCHOOL-AGE STUDENTS TOENGAGE IN SEVERAL ACTIVITIES WHILE GAINING EXPOSURE TO THE FORESTPRESERVES AND JOBS IN CONSERVATION.

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 January 2004.

    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.