Friends of the Forest Preserves

Analysis

Friends of the Forest Preserves is a registered charity in United States, based in Chicago, IL. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in January 2004, 22 years ago. Its declared purposes cover environment, which this site groups under environment and conservation. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (gross receipts test) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Friends of the Forest Preserves reported income of $4.1m and spending of $3.3m, spending 82% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $3.4m to $4.1m (+19%), an average of +4.4% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2021, when income rose by 42%. Over the whole period it spent 94% of the income it received.

Among 10,430 United States charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, Friends of the Forest Preserves sits at the 92nd percentile: it is larger than about 92% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 91st percentile, and in the 91st percentile within IL. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Prickly Pear Land Trust ($4.1m), Southern Plains Land Trust ($4.1m) and Southeastern Wildlife Exposition Inc ($4.0m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 61% and program service revenue 36% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $321k (9.6% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $1.6m. At year end it held assets of $3.0m against liabilities of $1.0m, net assets of $2.0m. It reported 191 employees.