Detroit Riverfront Conservancy
Detroit Riverfront Conservancy reported $38.9 million in revenue and $12.0 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $75.61 went to program services, $12.76 to management and general costs and $11.63 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 87.4% of the total. Government grants made up 10.8%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $225,632 (CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER). 5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 24% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $12MFor context, the median across 237 covered recreation & sports charities: $88.05 programs, $10.89 management, $1.06 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $39MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 75.6% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.8% | 10.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 11.6% | 1.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.04 | $0.05 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 87.4% | 25.2% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 10.8% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 61.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $225,632 | $365,322 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.89% | 2.14% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 164.4 | 14.9 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 43 of 43 | 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
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseAs a regional landmark, a public asset for detroit, and america's best riverwalk, according to USA today, the Detroit Riverfront and our connected greenways play a special role in the lives of detroiters and a catalytic role in the continued transformation of detroit's international waterfront. A community advisory team of 21 detroiters reflecting different geographies, demographics, and user types was assembled and traveled to new york, philadelphia, and chicago to learn about other landmark waterfront parks and to inform plans for the continued development of the ralph c. Wilson, jr.…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $200,517 | $0 | $25,115 | $225,632 |
| PRESIDENT AND C.E.O. - THRU 5/2024 Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $174,437 | $0 | $23,441 | $197,878 |
| VP OF OPERATIONS & PROGRAMMING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $130,417 | $0 | $19,221 | $149,638 |
| SENIOR DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $129,868 | $0 | $19,744 | $149,612 |
| EXECUTIVE IN CHARGE OF CONSTRUCTION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $131,922 | $0 | $1,635 | $133,557 |
| C.F.O. - THRU 5/2024 Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $82,770 | $0 | $18,513 | $101,283 |
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $58,177 | $0 | $4,756 | $62,933 |
5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Detroit Riverfront Conservancy (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $588K (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
2024 · 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–1b43 · 43 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bNo
- 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 5Yes
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aYes
- 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 519
- Volunteers Part I, line 643
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| EAGLE SECURITY SERVICES LLC Security | $4,726,431 |
| DOWNTOWN DETROIT PARTNERSHIP Cleaning/maintenance | $1,617,265 |
| BRIGHTVIEW LANDSCAPES LLC Landscaping | $1,431,790 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 31 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
23 private foundations reported grants to Detroit Riverfront Conservancy totaling $12M 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 Detroit Riverfront 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 Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Detroit Riverfront Conservancy spent in 2024, $75.61 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
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All recreation & sports charities · Largest charities in Michigan
Questions people ask
How much of Detroit Riverfront Conservancy's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy reported that 75.6% of its $12.0 million in expenses went to program services, 12.8% to management and general and 11.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Detroit Riverfront Conservancy pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Detroit Riverfront Conservancy reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $225,632, for the role of CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Detroit Riverfront Conservancy get its money?
Of $38.9 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 87.4% came from contributions and grants (including 10.8% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Detroit Riverfront Conservancy a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 30-0125283 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
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202503219349316220 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023 (amended), object 202523219349314962 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202313199349330056 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202203199349309805 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202142719349301004 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202023099349300737 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 30-0125283: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.