Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Chesapeake Bay Foundation reported $35.4 million in revenue and $37.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $79.81 went to program services, $8.98 to management and general costs and $11.21 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 77.4% of the total. Government grants made up 8.2%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $403,312 (President). 27 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 6% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $37MFor 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 June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $35MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 79.8% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.0% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 11.2% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.15 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 77.4% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 8.2% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 3.4% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $403,312 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.08% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 27 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 39.2 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 30 of 31 | 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 expenseAdvocacy & RestorationThe Advocacy & Restoration Department's primary objective is to drive significant improvements in the health of Chesapeake Bay as measured by CBF's Bay Health Index. Consistent with the CBF strategic plan, this involves developing and recommending priorities for the organization's policy work, engaging our members and implementing restoration elements of the plan. The Program utilizes a combination of strategies to help achieve a reduction in Bay pollution, restoration of critical habitat, and better-managed fisheries
Education CBF's Education Department is responsible for leading students, teachers, and adults in hands-on, on-the-water, environmental education experiences about the Bay. Through education programs, our professional educators use innovative teaching methods to engage students in real-world issues and scientific inquiry, exciting and encouraging them to take action to protect our natural resources. Student Leadership courses during the summer further train student leaders from high schools across the region
Marketing & CommunicationsThe Marketing & Communications Department's charge is to market CBF and its policy agenda, educate and engage the public, and mobilize support for organizational priorities and Bay restoration efforts. Marketing & Communications also manages internal communications and public opinion research
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 Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $367,595 | $0 | $35,717 | $403,312 |
| Chief Development Officer Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $230,289 | $0 | $30,329 | $260,618 |
| VP - Enviro. Protec. & Restor. Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $219,558 | $0 | $29,910 | $249,468 |
| Treasurer, CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $220,467 | $0 | $24,193 | $244,660 |
| VP - People Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $198,689 | $0 | $28,782 | $227,471 |
| VP - Education Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $192,924 | $0 | $28,466 | $221,390 |
| VP - Communications Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $192,512 | $0 | $27,707 | $220,219 |
| VP - Litigation Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $191,317 | $0 | $28,455 | $219,772 |
27 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Chesapeake Bay Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.6M (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–1b31 · 30 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5283
- Volunteers Part I, line 635,577
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Production Solutions Inc Mass production printing | $1,520,682 |
| Midship Marine Green boat builder | $1,078,400 |
| Jenack Construction Construction projects | $236,265 |
| SC&H Group Inc IT Consultants | $228,371 |
| Lautman Maska Neill & Co Fundraising content & consulting | $202,250 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 16 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
220 private foundations reported grants to Chesapeake Bay Foundation totaling $5.7M 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 Bay 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 Chesapeake Bay Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Chesapeake Bay Foundation spent in FY2025, $79.81 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Clean Future ForumWashington, DC · revenue $35M · programs 96.3% · FY2025
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- Serc Reliability CorporationCharlotte, NC · revenue $35M · programs 55.4% · 2025
- National Marine Sanctuary FoundationSilver Spring, MD · revenue $36M · programs 84.7% · 2024
- Marine Stewardship CouncilUnited Kingdom, · revenue $35M · programs 96.5% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Chesapeake Bay Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Chesapeake Bay Foundation reported that 79.8% of its $37.4 million in expenses went to program services, 9.0% to management and general and 11.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Chesapeake Bay Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Chesapeake Bay Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $403,312, for the role of President (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Chesapeake Bay Foundation get its money?
Of $35.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 77.4% came from contributions and grants (including 8.2% from government grants) and 3.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Chesapeake Bay Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-6065757 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 June 30, 2025, object 202631129349300928 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202541229349302104 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202431309349304003 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202331149349301103 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202201179349301530 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202141189349301349 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-6065757: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.