Openlands
Openlands reported $11.5 million in revenue and $7.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $73.87 went to program services, $18.00 to management and general costs and $8.13 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 92.1% of the total. Government grants made up 16.4%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $246,535 (President and CEO). 5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 61% between FY2020 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 $7.7MFor context, the median across 2,433 covered unclassified charities: $88.27 programs, $11.68 management, $0.05 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 $11M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$75.07 $8.7M
- Government grants$16.20 $1.9M
- Program service revenue$1.29 $150K
- Investment income$7.44 $863K
Other revenue was negative: −$106K. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 73.9% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 18.0% | 11.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 8.1% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.06 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 92.1% | 29.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 16.4% | 3.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 1.3% | 58.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $246,535 | $301,601 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.22% | 1.38% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 64.3 | 6.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 29 of 29 | 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 expenseForestry and Community Engagement - Openlands Forestry programming supports the planting of trees with community residents on public land and educates residents in the care and advocacy around the urban forest. In FY 25, Openlands planted 1,3158 trees. Through the Openlands TreeKeeper Certification Course, community residents gain the knowledge and skills needed to care for, protect, and advocate for trees. In FY25 trained 123 individuals. TreeKeepers participated in 255 volunteer events, resulting in 4,446 trees pruned and 1,362 trees inventoried
Restoration and Greenways - Openlands works to return the Chicago Region to a healthy state for nature, wildlife, and people. We work with diverse partners to accomplish ecological restoration goals that ensure resilient and biodiverse ecosystems for years to come.In 2025: we continued phase 1 of a 1,500 acre grassland bird restoration project in the Grant Creek Watershed at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Land Preservation - As Chicago's regional land trust, Openlands connects and energizes the region through strategic collaboration and local partnerships that protect land, water, and wildlife. In 2025, Openlands acquired and transferred land holdings to regional partners in and around the metro Chicago area. The Lands In Harmony program allowed over 70 private landowners to learn about sustainable land management for their properties
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 and CEO Officer, 35.0 hrs/week | $232,538 | $0 | $13,997 | $246,535 |
| COO Officer, 35.0 hrs/week | $157,829 | $0 | $16,904 | $174,733 |
| VP of Policy and Land Preservation Highest compensated employee, 35.0 hrs/week | $133,027 | $0 | $15,169 | $148,196 |
| Director of Finance Highest compensated employee, 35.0 hrs/week | $111,476 | $0 | $11,527 | $123,003 |
| Director of Development Highest compensated employee, 35.0 hrs/week | $100,865 | $0 | $9,509 | $110,374 |
5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Openlands (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $473K (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–1b29 · 29 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 560
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,269
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Studio Watershed Strategic Planning Consulting | $198,000 |
| Hilton Chicago Park US Lessee Event Service | $103,948 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
49 private foundations reported grants to Openlands totaling $3.1M 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 Openlands's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Openlands, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Openlands spent in FY2025, $73.87 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Mystic Valley Young Men's Christian AssociationMalden, MA · revenue $11M · programs 92.5% · FY2025
- Community Action Partnership of Greater St JosephSt Joseph, MO · revenue $11M · programs 91.8% · FY2025
- WithinreachSeattle, WA · revenue $11M · programs 84.6% · FY2025
- North Fork Valley Community Health BoardHazard, KY · revenue $11M · programs 95.4% · FY2025
- NW3CRichmond, VA · revenue $11M · programs 76.3% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Openlands's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Openlands reported that 73.9% of its $7.7 million in expenses went to program services, 18.0% to management and general and 8.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Openlands pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Openlands reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $246,535, for the role of President and CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Openlands get its money?
Of $11.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 92.1% came from contributions and grants (including 16.4% from government grants) and 1.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Openlands a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 36-2649603 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 202601779349301405 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202502069349300845 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202421219349301282 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202311369349301821 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202210949349301011 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202111409349301106 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 36-2649603: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.