Chesapeake Conservancy
Chesapeake Conservancy reported $14.0 million in revenue and $12.6 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $83.30 went to program services, $10.73 to management and general costs and $5.97 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 55.6% of the total. Government grants made up 23.7%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $237,429 (PART-YEAR PRESIDENT AND CEO). 12 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 116% between 2019 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $13MFor 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 September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $14MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 83.3% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 10.7% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.0% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.10 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 55.6% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 23.7% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 38.7% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $237,429 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.88% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 12 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 18.8 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 18 of 18 | 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 expenseConserve: the worlds leading scientists are calling for dramatic increases in conservation efforts to conserve 30% of the earths lands and waters by 2030. Here in the chesapeake, were working with partners to conserve 30% of the chesapeakes lands and waters by 2030, which is critical for climate resilience, biodiversity and water quality. Conserving land and forests provides habitat for wildlife and does a job that nature intended - filtering stormwater before it reaches the bay, helping to prevent sediment and nutrients from entering our waterways. When we conserve land, we also strive to…
Restore streams: together with our partners, Chesapeake Conservancy is using the latest groundbreaking data and precision conservation to create a healthier environment upstream, for a healthier chesapeake bay downstream. Restoration is possible through partnerships and a data-driven approach-starting with the streams. Restoring the bays 100,000 small tributaries is key to restoring the chesapeake as the watersheds land-to- water ratio is 14:1, the largest of any of the large enclosed coastal water bodies in the world. With all of that land draining into very little water by comparison…
Empower with data: chesapeake conservancys conservation innovation center (cic) serves as a catalyst for change, leveraging cutting-edge geospatial data science, artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to tackle pressing environmental and conservation challenges in the chesapeake bay watershed. Our goal is to transform data into precise and actionable insights that restore and sustain the bays health for current and future generations. The cic has pioneered the use of high-resolution data products to deepen our understanding of both precision-based and landscape-scale conservation.…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PART-YEAR PRESIDENT AND CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $208,445 | $0 | $28,984 | $237,429 |
| DATA SCIENCE LEAD/SENIOR DATA SCIENTIST Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $127,620 | $0 | $24,851 | $152,471 |
| SENIOR DATA SCIENTIST Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $129,410 | $0 | $21,039 | $150,449 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $140,097 | $0 | $8,445 | $148,542 |
| SR VP OF DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS STRATEGY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $133,061 | $0 | $13,971 | $147,032 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 25.00 hrs/week | $121,325 | $0 | $18,720 | $140,045 |
| SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $129,184 | $0 | $6,669 | $135,853 |
12 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Chesapeake Conservancy (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $222K (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–1b18 · 18 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 543
- Volunteers Part I, line 6200
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| LEWIS CONTRACTORS Construction | $703,178 |
| COASTAL CONSTRUCTION SERVICES LLC Construction and beach restoration | $609,006 |
| UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT Technical/gis services | $353,350 |
| CREEKSIDE CONCRETE CONSTRUCTIONS Construction and beach restoration | $183,622 |
| GROW HOME Landscaping | $122,109 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 7 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
19 private foundations reported grants to Chesapeake Conservancy totaling $2.8M 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 Chesapeake Conservancy's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Chesapeake Conservancy, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Chesapeake Conservancy spent in FY2025, $83.30 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Efi FoundationWashington, DC · revenue $14M · programs 80.0% · 2024
- Sustainable Resources CenterMinneapolis, MN · revenue $14M · programs 94.5% · 2025
- West Creek ConservancyParma, OH · revenue $14M · programs 94.6% · 2024
- Zion Natural History AssociationSpringdale, UT · revenue $14M · programs 67.8% · 2025
- The Wildlands ConservancyOak Glen, CA · revenue $14M · programs 85.1% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Chesapeake Conservancy's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Chesapeake Conservancy reported that 83.3% of its $12.6 million in expenses went to program services, 10.7% to management and general and 6.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Chesapeake Conservancy pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Chesapeake Conservancy reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $237,429, for the role of PART-YEAR PRESIDENT AND CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Chesapeake Conservancy get its money?
Of $14.0 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 55.6% came from contributions and grants (including 23.7% from government grants) and 38.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Chesapeake Conservancy a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 26-2271377 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 September 30, 2025, object 202640449349300319 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202540429349301129 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202430459349300308 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202201329349300515 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202111899349300606 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202032959349300408 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 26-2271377: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.