Friends of the Osa
Also known as Osa Conservation
Friends of the Osa reported $13.4 million in revenue and $3.7 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $92.02 went to program services, $5.72 to management and general costs and $2.26 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 97.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $71,084 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). Revenue rose 1092% between 2020 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $3.7MFor 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 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $13MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 92.0% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 5.7% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.3% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.01 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 97.9% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $71,084 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.94% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 0 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 83.5 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 6 of 7 | 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 expenseConservation science - conservation science is made up of six different programs that support science and research of tropical ecosystems and long-term conservation of the osa. These programs include extensive monitoring of sea turtles, endemic birds, monkeys, reptiles and mammals, and provide a research facility for scientists and students to study the osa's ecosystems and conduct research. Ridge to reef restoration & regenerative farming - this program restores landscapes across the region, engaging hundreds of local landowners through education, outreach and tree planting initiatives. The…
Land stewardship - this program engages in the purchase of intact rainforest land that would otherwise be sold for development that could destroy the fragile ecosystems. This program includes an extensive reforestation effort that will restore the land with native trees, identification and cultivation of native tree species, and the creation of an interactive trail system. This program also strives to protect the area from continued and growing environmental threats
Community outreach and citizen science - this program supports local organizations in their effort to protect wildlife and engage the osa communities in improving their local environment. This program also includes environmental education activities with local schools; and the empowerment of local communities through training and economic incentives to protect the ecosystems.ridge to reef youth club - this program engages hundreds of the nation's most rural and impoverished youth with the goal of immersing them in nature. Through hands-on field trips in a plethora of ecosystems, students are…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Director/trustee, officer, 20.00 hrs/week | $71,084 | $0 | $0 | $71,084 |
| FINANCE DIRECTOR Officer, 20.00 hrs/week | $35,333 | $0 | $0 | $35,333 |
0 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Friends of the Osa (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $106K (Part IX, line 5).
5 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–1b7 · 6 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 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 54
- Volunteers Part I, line 643
Private foundation grants it received
10 private foundations reported grants to Friends of the Osa totaling $1.8M 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 Friends of the Osa's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Friends of the Osa, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Friends of the Osa spent in 2024, $92.02 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Island ConservationSanta Cruz, CA · revenue $13M · programs 77.4% · 2024
- SjcogStockton, CA · revenue $13M · programs 62.7% · FY2025
- CalCef InnovationsBerkeley, CA · revenue $13M · programs 76.6% · 2024
- Young Womens Christian Association of Hanover PennsylvaniaHanover, PA · revenue $13M · programs 77.8% · FY2025
- Research Center on Natural ConservationHarriman, NY · revenue $13M · programs 83.2% · 2024
All environment charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Friends of the Osa's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Friends of the Osa reported that 92.0% of its $3.7 million in expenses went to program services, 5.7% to management and general and 2.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Friends of the Osa pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Friends of the Osa reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $71,084, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Friends of the Osa get its money?
Of $13.4 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 97.9% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Friends of the Osa a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 81-0621147 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 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 202503189349307885 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202423189349307817 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202303199349324085 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202213199349312706 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202103199349318160 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 81-0621147: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.