The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit Corporation
The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit Corporation reported $329.4 million in revenue and $319.7 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $95.40 went to program services, $2.38 to management and general costs and $2.22 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 63.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,048,812 (CEO & PRESIDENT). 114 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 49% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $320MFor 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
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $329MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 95.4% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 2.4% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.2% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.06 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 34.6% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 3.5% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 63.2% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $1,048,812 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.33% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 114 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 17.9 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseConservation real estate activitiesthe Conservation Fund was founded on a straightforward conviction: conservation and economic growth depend on and reinforce each other. For more than 40 years, the Conservation Fund has secured at-risk land with high conservation value to protect it from degradation, fragmentation, or development, working with partners to protect the land's long-term environmental and economic vitality. Top ranked for efficiency and mission effectiveness, the Conservation Fund has conserved over 9 million acres across all 50 states including working forests, farms, wildlife…
Other conservation servicesthe Conservation Fund's communities-focused programs are dedicated to advancing the organization's dual mission by integrating conservation and economic development to build vibrant communities. These programs focus on impact areas such as urban conservation, rural economic development, sustainable food systems, water quality/supply protection, and aquaculture. This program area provides expertise to communities across the country to achieve the multiple benefits gained by investing in clean air, clean water, and community livability. The Conservation Fund brings…
Highest reported compensation
2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO & PRESIDENT Officer, 36.50 hrs/week | $922,078 | $0 | $126,734 | $1,048,812 |
| EVP & CFO Officer, 36.50 hrs/week | $483,103 | $0 | $60,431 | $543,534 |
| EVP & GENERAL COUNSEL Key employee, 36.50 hrs/week | $491,046 | $0 | $49,215 | $540,261 |
| SVP CONSERVATION ACQUISITION Key employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $349,752 | $0 | $73,675 | $423,427 |
| SVP CONSERVATION ACQUISITION Key employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $350,099 | $0 | $57,834 | $407,933 |
| SVP & DIRECTOR OF WORKING FOREST FUND Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $332,968 | $0 | $60,797 | $393,765 |
| SVP GOVERNMENT RELATIONS Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $350,722 | $0 | $42,454 | $393,176 |
| SVP & TREASURER Officer, 31.50 hrs/week | $331,882 | $0 | $55,673 | $387,555 |
114 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit Corporation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $4.5M (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · 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 2Yes
- 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5243
- Volunteers Part I, line 621
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| BARNETT LOGGING INC Forestry-logging and hauling | $1,518,106 |
| SOLA STELLA HOMES MGMT LLC Construction services-building | $697,810 |
| ROBERT PIPER LOGGING Forestry-logging and hauling | $426,896 |
| BOHLER ENGINEERING NC PLLC Land survey services | $339,127 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 38 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
27 private foundations reported grants to The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit Corporation totaling $4.3M 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 The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit Corporation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit Corporation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit Corporation spent in 2025, $95.40 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Conservation International FoundationArlington, VA · revenue $309M · programs 87.3% · FY2025
- Center for Sustainable EnergySan Diego, CA · revenue $336M · programs 92.9% · 2024
- Windward FundWashington, DC · revenue $308M · programs 95.3% · 2024
- World Wildlife FundWashington, DC · revenue $367M · programs 78.9% · FY2025
- Iso New EnglandHolyoke, MA · revenue $303M · programs 87.9% · 2025
Questions people ask
How much of The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit Corporation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit Corporation reported that 95.4% of its $319.7 million in expenses went to program services, 2.4% to management and general and 2.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit Corporation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit Corporation reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $1,048,812, for the role of CEO & PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit Corporation get its money?
Of $329.4 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 34.6% came from contributions and grants (including 3.5% from government grants) and 63.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit Corporation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-1388917 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, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202612099349300131 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202501979349300830 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202402149349300510 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202322779349301302 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202212629349301061 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202142819349300104 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202022539349300012 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-1388917: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.