Form 990 for tax year 2023

Totals

Total revenue

$4,329,772

Total expenses

$3,577,743

Contributions and grants received

$3,996,889

Grants paid

$0

Program service revenue

$0

Investment income

$437,741

Other revenue

-$104,858

Total assets, end of year

$11,282,273

Total liabilities, end of year

$190,273

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$11,092,000

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$2,154,683

Management and general expenses

$736,566

Fundraising expenses

$686,494

Program service expenses (Part III)

$2,154,683

Program services were 60.2% 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.

Mission and programs · 2023

• IN FY 2024 THE CONSERVANCY CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE FOR SEVERAL IMPORTANT PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT THE EMERALD NECKLACE, INCLUDING WHITE STADIUM IN HISTORIC FRANKLIN PARK, THE CHARLESGATE REVITALIZATION PROJECT, SHATTUCK HOSPITAL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN PARKLAND PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING, ARBORWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, MUDDY RIVER RESTORATION PHASE II PROJECT, ADVOCATING FOR INCREASED LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL INVESTMENTS IN PARKS MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, AND CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEMATIC GUIDELINES THAT COULD APPLY TO DEVELOPMENT CITYWIDE.

  Expenses $979,870

• THE CONSERVANCY'S SHATTUCK VISITOR CENTER IS LOCATED IN THE BACK BAY FENS AT 125 THE FENWAY, ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS. THE VISITOR CENTER IS BOTH AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE ABOUT THE PARKS AND A GATHERING PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

  Expenses $332,648

• THE EMERALD NECKLACE CONSERVANCY ADVOCATES FOR AND CONSERVES THE EMERALD NECKLACE THROUGH PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS TO RESTORE AND RENEW THE LANDSCAPE, WATERWAYS AND PARKWAYS OF THE OLMSTED-DESIGNED PARK SYSTEM. THE CONSERVANCY BRINGS TOGETHER THE MANY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARK PARTNERS TO PRIORITIZE, FUND AND IMPLEMENT RESTORATION INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT THE PARK SYSTEM. IN CONJUNCTION WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERS, ORGANIZES AND IMPLEMENTS MAINTENANCE INITIATIVES TO PRESERVE THE NATURALISTIC BEAUTY OF OLMSTED'S PARKS AS WELL AS MAINTAIN THE GARDENS AND PATHWAYS. IN FY 2024 THE CONSERVANCY BEGAN THE SECOND SEVEN YEAR CYCLE OF PRUNING THE TREE INVENTORY; THE CONSERVANCY PRUNED 715 TREES IN OLMSTED PARK WHICH WILL KEEP THE TREES AND PARK HEALTHY AND SAFE FOR YEARS TO COME. IN ADDITION, IN LATE FY 2024, THE CONSERVANCY CONDUCTED A RE-INVENTORY OF THE TREES IN THE BACK BAY FENS TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT PARK PRUNING PROJECT TO TAKE PLACE IN FY 2025.

  Expenses $296,794

• COMMUNITY PROGRAMS:IN FY 2024, THE CONSERVANCY PARTNERED WITH ORGANIZATIONS ALREADY HOSTING EVENTS IN THE PARKS TO OFFER MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING ELEMENTS LIKE AMERICAN SIGN-LANGUAGE ("ASL") INTERPRETATION, BIPOC-LED MUSICAL PERFORMANCES, AND SIGNAGE IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES. PARTNERS INCLUDED: BAMSFEST, JAMAICA PLAIN (JP) PORCHFEST AND FENWAY PORCHFEST. THE CONSERVANCY ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE BROOKLINE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TO HOST THE SECOND ANNUAL BROOKLINE COMMUNITY PARKFEST IN OLMSTED PARK IN BROOKLINE WHICH WAS A DAY OF FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES, DANCE PERFORMANCE AND MUSIC, AND INFORMATIONAL BOOTHS FROM LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.

  Expenses $220,957

• YOUTH PROGRAMS:THE CONSERVANCY'S GREEN TEAM IS A SUMMER YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL CAREER EXPLORATION PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND REAL WORK EXPERIENCE IN THE PARKS DURING AN INTENSIVE SIX WEEKS THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOSTON OFFICE OF YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND OPPORTUNITY. IN FY 2024, 11 BOSTON TEENS FROM BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS PARTICIPATED IN THIS PAID EDUCATIONAL EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM. TWO PART-TIME CREW LEADERS AND TWO ASSISTANT CREW LEADERS WERE HIRED AND TRAINED TO ASSIST EDUCATION STAFF IN PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION. PARTICIPANTS REGULARLY WORKED IN VARIOUS EMERALD NECKLACE PARKS MAINTAINING THE LANDSCAPE; TOOK FIELD TRIPS AND EDUCATIONAL TOURS WITHIN THE NECKLACE AND BEYOND; PARTICIPATED IN AN ANTI-BULLYING AND INCLUSION WORKSHOP; EXPLORED CAREER PATHWAYS IN ENVIRONMENTAL FIELDS WITH THE USDA FOREST SERVICE AND ARNOLD ARBORETUM PROFESSIONAL STAFF; PARTICIPATED IN TEAM BUILDING, AND CAREER SOFT-SKILLS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. CANOPY CLASSROOM IS A PLACE-BASED, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULUM AND STATE STANDARDS. THE FIELD-TRIP PROGRAM HELD IN EMERALD NECKLACE PARKS CONNECTS BOSTON THIRD GRADERS WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF SCIENCE IN THE REAL WORLD AND THEIR DAILY LIVES. IN FY 2024, THE CONSERVANCY WORKED WITH 28 SCHOOLS AND PROVIDED 1,019 STUDENT ENGAGEMENTS THROUGH CANOPY CLASSROOM, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF ENGAGEMENTS BY 289 STUDENTS THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, AND THE MOST ENGAGEMENTS FOR THE PROGRAM SINCE IT STARTED IN 2016.

  Expenses $205,360

• VOLUNTEER PROGRAM:THE CONSERVANCY'S CORPORATE VOLUNTEER DAYS, DAYS IN THE DIRT, AND OUR FREE PUBLIC VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, TUESDAYS WITH ROSES AND SECOND SATURDAYS, REMAINED A POPULAR OFFERING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS IN FY 2024. OVER 1,280 PEOPLE VOLUNTEERED WITH THE CONSERVANCY FROM OCTOBER 2023 - SEPTEMBER 2024 AND HELPED MAINTAIN AND RESTORE THE EMERALD NECKLACE BY RAKING LEAVES, PICKING UP GARBAGE, REMOVING INVASIVE PLANTS, OR PLANTING NEW TREES AND SHRUBS. VOLUNTEERS SPENT 2,829 HOURS CARING FOR THE EMERALD NECKLACE-WORK THAT IS CRITICAL TO THE CONSERVANCY'S MISSION.

  Expenses $70,966

• CHARLESGATE PROJECT:CHARLESGATE PARK, LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF BOSTON'S BACK BAY, FENWAY AND KENMORE NEIGHBORHOODS, WAS DESIGNED BY FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED AS A CRITICAL LINK TO CONNECT THE EMERALD NECKLACE, CHARLES RIVER ESPLANADE AND THE COMMONWEALTH AVENUE MALL. OUR PROPOSED DESIGN FOR CHARLESGATE WILL REBUILD AND EXPAND A PEOPLE-FRIENDLY AND REGIONAL PATHWAY NETWORK, RESTORING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE EMERALD NECKLACE, CHARLES RIVER ESPLANADE AND COMMONWEALTH MALL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN FIVE DECADES. WHEN COMPLETE, THIS RESTORED SYSTEM WILL ALLOW DIRECT WALKING AND CYCLING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN LOCATIONS AS DISTANT AS BOSTON'S NORTH STATION, CHARLESTOWN, DORCHESTER, CAMBRIDGE AND WATERTOWN.

  Expenses $48,088

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

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

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

2023

Filed

6 August 2025

IRS schema version

2023v6.0

Source object

202522189349300812

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