Conservation Law Foundation
Conservation Law Foundation reported $24.2 million in revenue and $28.6 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $81.85 went to program services, $8.74 to management and general costs and $9.41 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 88.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $426,463 (PRESIDENT (EX OFFICIO)). 57 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 75% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending July 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $29MFor context, the median across 371 covered environment charities: $85.82 programs, $10.80 management, $3.38 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending July 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $24MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 81.8% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.7% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 9.4% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.13 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 88.2% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 5.9% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $426,463 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.49% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 57 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 18.3 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 23 of 24 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseClean energy & climate change: clf is tackling the root causes of the climate crisis and pushing clean energy solutions at the state and regional levels. We must collectively cut climate-damaging emissions to net-zero by 2050 and transition our economy to one run on clean-renewable energy - while ensuring that no new englander is left behind. Today, clf is fighting for laws that will end our region's addiction to fossil fuels for good; pushing for economy-wide change through policies and projects that boost low-cost local clean energy, save families and businesses money, and create…
Healthy & resilient communities: for 50 years clf has fought to create healthy communities for people across new england. It is how we made our name: returning a clean boston harbor to the people and connecting more of US to reliable public transportation. Creating healthy communities that are resilient in the face of climate impacts means putting people and their well-being at the center of our work. That's why we help to create affordable neighborhood housing developments close to open space, healthy food, and public transit. It's why we push for a strong, local food economy regionwide. And…
Ocean conservation: the ocean plays an integral role in new englanders' lives, our economy, and our communities. However, pollution, overfishing, habitat loss, and climate change threaten its health and our future. Clf has safeguarded new england's ocean for decades - from blocking oil and gas drilling on georges bank, to curbing overfishing, to pioneering smart ocean planning across the region. We fight for a clean, healthy, and productive ocean to ensure that endangered right whales can recover from the brink of extinction, our waters can once again abound with cod and our fisheries…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT (EX OFFICIO) Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $375,985 | $0 | $50,478 | $426,463 |
| SENIOR VP DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $270,569 | $0 | $14,053 | $284,622 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $235,286 | $0 | $42,754 | $278,040 |
| SENIOR VP, COMMS & MARKETING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $244,771 | $0 | $27,421 | $272,192 |
| VP CLF MAINE, SENIOR COUNSEL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $206,499 | $0 | $52,770 | $259,269 |
| SENIOR VP, LAW & POLICY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $238,821 | $0 | $12,419 | $251,240 |
| SENIOR VP PEOPLE, CULTURE, & EQUITY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $219,266 | $0 | $25,713 | $244,979 |
57 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Conservation Law Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $722K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b24 · 23 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5177
- Volunteers Part I, line 6145
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| BEACON HILL SOLUTIONS GROUP LLC Consulting | $406,184 |
| SUSTAINABILITY VISIONS LLC Consulting | $104,001 |
| CITRIN COOPERMAN Accounting | $101,740 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
108 private foundations reported grants to Conservation Law Foundation totaling $9.1M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Conservation Law Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Conservation Law Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Conservation Law Foundation spent in FY2025, $81.85 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Council on the EnvironmentNew York, NY · revenue $24M · programs 74.4% · FY2025
- Highlander Research & Education CenterNew Market, TN · revenue $24M · programs 88.2% · FY2025
- The Neighborhood Recycling CorporationMinneapolis, MN · revenue $24M · programs 93.6% · 2025
- National Recreation and Park AssociationAshburn, VA · revenue $24M · programs 84.5% · FY2025
- Project InnerspaceBoston, MA · revenue $23M · programs 87.1% · 2024
All environment charities · Largest charities in Massachusetts
Questions people ask
How much of Conservation Law Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, Conservation Law Foundation reported that 81.8% of its $28.6 million in expenses went to program services, 8.7% to management and general and 9.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Conservation Law Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Conservation Law Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025 was $426,463, for the role of PRESIDENT (EX OFFICIO) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Conservation Law Foundation get its money?
Of $24.2 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, 88.2% came from contributions and grants and 5.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Conservation Law Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 04-6149986 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, object 202641319349301144 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2024, object 202531259349301473 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2023, object 202401439349301105 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2022, object 202301459349300700 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2021, object 202201619349301110 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2020, object 202120969349302122 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 04-6149986: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.