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Nonprofiteer
← FRIENDS OF THE FOREST PRESERVES

Form 990 for tax year 2025

Filed by FRIENDS OF THE FOREST PRESERVES.

Totals

Total revenue
$3,822,926
Total expenses
$4,330,197
Contributions and grants received
$2,264,030
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$1,494,312
Investment income
$30,269
Other revenue
$34,315
Total assets, end of year
$2,497,429
Total liabilities, end of year
$854,248
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$1,643,181
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$3,400,004
Management and general expenses
$472,824
Fundraising expenses
$457,369
Program service expenses (Part III)
$3,400,004

Program services were 78.5% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $992,399

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $1,271,631

  • 2a · Program service revenue: CONTRACTS

    total $1,494,312 · related or exempt $1,494,312

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $30,269 · excluded $30,269

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $29,818

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $6,795

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $23,023 · excluded $23,023

  • 11a · Other revenue: OTHER REVENUE

    total $11,292 · related or exempt $11,292

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $11,292

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $2,862,855 · program services $2,287,125 · management and general $312,550 · fundraising $263,180

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $666,578 · program services $531,800 · management and general $73,090 · fundraising $61,688

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $19,205 · management and general $19,205

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $144,003 · program services $80,342 · management and general $41,104 · fundraising $22,557

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $1,880 · program services $180 · fundraising $1,700

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $171,982 · program services $129,497 · management and general $17,704 · fundraising $24,781

  • 17 · Travel

    total $97,344 · program services $95,225 · management and general $361 · fundraising $1,758

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $76,220 · program services $73,153 · management and general $817 · fundraising $2,250

  • 20 · Interest

    total $8,646 · program services $6,808 · management and general $998 · fundraising $840

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $17,998 · program services $17,998

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $14,058 · program services $9,471 · management and general $3,418 · fundraising $1,169

  • 24a · Other expenses: EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

    total $113,243 · program services $101,116 · management and general $2,001 · fundraising $10,126

  • 24b · Other expenses: VEHICLE INSURANCE AND M

    total $67,002 · program services $67,002 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

  • 24c · Other expenses: NEWSLETTER, PRINTING AN

    total $42,595 · program services $287 · management and general $0 · fundraising $42,308

  • 24d · Other expenses: POSTAGE AND SHIPPING

    total $16,377 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $16,377

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $10,211 · management and general $1,576 · fundraising $8,635

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $175,970 · end of year $165,574

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $1,092,988 · end of year $1,219,071

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $1,354,311 · end of year $760,351

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $24,734 · end of year $157,091

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $296,895

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $230,279

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $47,615 · end of year $66,616

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $240,634 · end of year $128,726

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $120,105 · end of year $208,627

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $729,150 · end of year $645,621

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $756,085 · end of year $775,219

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,330,912 · end of year $867,962

Mission and programs · 2025

Mission

THE ORGANIZATION UNITES PEOPLE TO PROTECT, PROMOTE, AND CARE FOR THE PUBLIC OUTDOOR SPACES OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. THEIR MULTIFACETED APPROACH ENSURES EQUITABLE ACCESS TO NATURE, RESTORES THREATENED NATIVE HABITATS, AND ADVOCATES FOR POLICIES THAT PRESERVE REGIONAL GREEN SPACE.

Activities or mission (Part I)

CONSERVATION OF THE FOREST PRESERVES IN COOK COUNTY

  • CONSERVATION CORPS: FRIENDS DIRECTLY WORKS TO INCREASE EQUITABLE ACCESSAND ENGAGEMENT WITHIN THE FOREST PRESERVES AND BROADEN COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN HABITAT RESTORATION THROUGH ITS AWARD-WINNINGCONSERVATION CORPS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. THE CONSERVATIONCORPS PROGRAM BREAKS DOWN BARRIERS TO ACCESSING TECHNICAL TRAINING ANDEMPLOYMENT IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR AND SINCE 2007 HAS EMPLOYED,TRAINED, AND MENTORED MORE THAN 2,350 ADULTS AND YOUTH. SINCE 2020ALONE, YOUTH AND ADULT CREWS HAVE HELPED RESTORE 1,790 ACRES.

    Expenses $1,793,857 · Revenue $699,255

  • ENGAGEMENT: FRIENDS ENGAGES PEOPLE DIRECTLY IN NATURE PROGRAMMINGTHROUGH ITS ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS, WHICH INCLUDES HOSTING FREE, PUBLICEVENTS FOR RESIDENTS LOCAL TO A FOREST PRESERVE, SUCH AS MORNING YOGAOR BIRD WALKS. THESE EVENTS ARE INFORMED BY THE RESULTS OF OUTREACHFRIENDS CONDUCTS IN SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, AND ARE OFTEN DEVELOPEDIN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, WHO ARE PAID A STIPEND TOSUPPORT EVENT PLANNING AND NETWORK BUILDING. IN THE PAST TWO YEARSALONE, FRIENDS HAS HOSTED MORE THAN 200 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS ANDMORE THAN 2,500 PARTICIPANTS IN POSITIVE EXPERIENCES IN THE PRESERVES.THROUGH THIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORK AND OTHER PROGRAMMING, THEFRIENDS PROGRAM TEAM MADE UP OF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS HAS DEVELOPEDEXPERTISE IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, EDUCATION, CONSERVATION, ECOLOGY,

    Expenses $858,972 · Revenue $2,500

  • SUMMER PROGRAMS: EVERY SUMMER, FRIENDS FACILITATES TWO SUMMERINTERNSHIP PROGRAMS: FOREST PRESERVE EXPERIENCE (FPE) AND BEAUBIENWOODS YOUTH AMBASSADORS (BYOA). BEGINNING IN 2016, THE FPE YOUTHCONSERVATION CORPS PROGRAM HAS ENGAGED APPROXIMATELY 70-150 TEENS PERYEAR, OFFERING TEENS PAID SUMMER POSITIONS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THEPRESERVES THROUGH CONSERVATION PROJECTS. THE BYOA PROGRAM, WHICH ISSPECIFIC TO BEAUBIEN WOODS, EMPLOYED 9 HIGH SCHOOL-AGE STUDENTS TOENGAGE IN SEVERAL ACTIVITIES WHILE GAINING EXPOSURE TO THE FORESTPRESERVES AND JOBS IN CONSERVATION.

    Expenses $747,175 · Revenue $792,558

As filed on the 2025 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Thomas Greenhaw Jr

    BOARD CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Cory Chaplin

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Margaret A Frisbie

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Corryn Antonizio

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kathleen Bruch

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Walter Burlack

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Dr Charles D Dillon MD

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Tonyisha Harris

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Barbara C Hill

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Dr Gaylon Alcaraz

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Dr Akilah R Martin PhD

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Pilar Audain

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Dr Ronald M Milnarik DDS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kelly O'Brien

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Derk Osenberg

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Michelle Thom

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Ryan Wilson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Carmen Scott-Boria

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Benjamin M Cox

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $231,997
    From this org
    $209,251
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,746
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $209,251
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,746
    Filer's total
    $231,997

  • Radhika Miraglia

    PROGRAM DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $156,905
    From this org
    $133,827
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $23,078
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $133,827
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,078
    Filer's total
    $156,905

  • Jillian Dicarlo

    FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

    Total calculated
    $145,862
    From this org
    $122,837
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $23,025
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2025
Filed
6 August 2026
IRS schema version
2025v4.2
Source object
202642189349300024

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