EIN 36-4519273

Friends of the Forest Preserves

IRS 501(c) type
501(c)(3)
Num. employees
229
Year formed
1998
Most recent tax filings
2022-12-01
Description
Friends of the Forest Preserves seeks to conserve the Forest Preserves in Cook County through restoration and engagement efforts. The organization's conservation corps programs are vital, where they recruit high school students, young adults, and adults from low-income neighborhoods on the south and west sides. Additionally, Friends engages with nearly 20,000 people through email and social media to promote the beauty of the Preserves.
Total revenues
$3,066,681
2022
Total expenses
$3,416,383
2022
Total assets
$2,326,330
2022
Num. employees
229
2022

Program areas at Friends of the Forest Preserves

Conservation corps, volunteer organizing, and summer programsfriends conservation corps programs are among the most important work we do. We recruit high school students, young adults, and adults, often from low-income neighborhoods on the south and west sides of chicago, to learn about conservation while gaining vital leadership and teamwork skills that can be used in future careers. All corps members are paid for their work restoring woods and prairies, creating meaningful jobs in under-served communities. Friends' corps members remove the invasive species that are the cancer of our ecosystems as well as plant seeds and prepare the earth for rejuvenation. They also gain essential skills like job readiness and financial literacy. And, maybe most importantly, they become the next generation of front line advocates for the Forest Preserves and nature. the health and future of our natural areas depend upon a diversity of individuals who contribute their hard work, talents, and love for nature through volunteering. Ecological restoration volunteers help care for nature by getting outside and doing the physical work of removing invasive trees, weeding, planting, seed collecting, trail fixing, and more. All of these activities help nature thrive and provide volunteers with numerous benefits such as quality time outdoors, a sense of community, and new discoveries into the lives of the animals and plants in the Forest Preserves in cook county.
Engagement - the Friends community connects through social media, events, and informal education and recreation activities. Friends engages nearly 20,000 people through email and a variety of social media platforms to promote the wonders of the Preserves, as well as opportunities to enjoy and advocate for them. Friends offers a variety of informal education and recreation activities in the Preserves to help people benefit from the wonderful nature and range of offerings that can be found in the Preserves. Friends also holds fundraising events that get people outside and in the woods, while helping to support the work of our community.

Who funds Friends of the Forest Preserves

Grants from foundations and other nonprofits
GrantmakerDescriptionAmount
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)Conservation Projects$287,031
Bobolink FoundationConservation Corps$200,000
Walder FoundationEngagement and Outreach Programs$137,372
...and 29 more grants received totalling $1,223,512

Personnel at Friends of the Forest Preserves

NameTitleCompensation
Benjamin CoxExecutive Director$182,169
Jillian DicarloFinance and Administration Director
Radhika MiragliaProgram Director$100,595
Brenda ElmoreProduction Manager
David Tijerina , PalosAssistant Crew Manager
...and 17 more key personnel

Financials for Friends of the Forest Preserves

RevenuesFYE 12/2022
Total grants, contributions, etc.$1,377,109
Program services$1,602,248
Investment income and dividends$194
Tax-exempt bond proceeds$0
Royalty revenue$0
Net rental income$0
Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets$0
Net income from fundraising events$73,061
Net income from gaming activities$0
Net income from sales of inventory$0
Miscellaneous revenues$14,069
Total revenues$3,066,681

Form 990s for Friends of the Forest Preserves

Fiscal year endingDate received by IRSFormPDF link
2022-122023-06-08990View PDF
2021-122022-05-16990View PDF
2020-122021-06-01990View PDF
2019-122020-09-04990View PDF
2018-122019-09-10990View PDF
...and 8 more Form 990s

Organizations like Friends of the Forest Preserves

OrganizationLocationRevenue
OpenlandsChicago, IL$8,469,184
Trees ForeverMarion, IA$5,015,732
Keep Brevard BeautifulCocoa, FL$988,155
Buzzards Bay CoalitionNew Bedford, MA$7,909,667
The Mountains to Sound Greenway TrustSeattle, WA$3,655,768
Trees For HoustonHouston, TX$2,376,072
Casey TreesWashington, DC$9,584,913
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation (BRPF)Winstonsalem, NC$3,148,231
Up With TreesTulsa, OK$1,144,467
Trees AtlantaAtlanta, GA$8,607,747
Data update history
December 24, 2023
Received grants
Identified 3 new grant, including a grant for $100,000 from Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF)
September 24, 2023
Received grants
Identified 2 new grant, including a grant for $24,760 from The Chicago Community Trust
August 19, 2023
Received grants
Identified 13 new grant, including a grant for $287,031 from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)
August 12, 2023
Posted financials
Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2021
August 2, 2023
Posted financials
Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2022
Nonprofit Types
Social advocacy organizationsEnvironmental organizationsHeadquarter / parent organizationsCharities
Issues
Land and water conservationEnvironment
Characteristics
LobbyingFundraising eventsState / local levelReceives government fundingCommunity engagement / volunteeringFundraising races, competitions, and tournamentsTax deductible donations
General information
Address
411 S Wells St Ste 300
Chicago, IL 60607
Metro area
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
County
Cook County, IL
Website URL
fotfp.org/ 
Phone
(312) 356-9990
Facebook page
forestpreserves 
IRS details
EIN
36-4519273
Fiscal year end
December
Taxreturn type
Form 990
Year formed
1998
Eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions (Pub 78)
Yes
Categorization
NTEE code, primary
C50: Environmental Beautification and Open Spaces
NAICS code, primary
813312: Environment, Conservation, and Wildlife Organizations
Parent/child status
Independent
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