Form 990 for tax year 2024
Filed by DETROIT RIVERFRONT CONSERVANCY INC.
Totals
- Total revenue
- $38,859,268
- Total expenses
- $11,967,902
- Contributions and grants received
- $33,969,062
- Grants paid
- $0
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $17,744
- Other revenue
- $4,872,462
- Total assets, end of year
- $194,281,766
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $30,324,452
- Net assets or fund balances, end of year
- $163,957,314
- Program services expenses (Part IX)
- $9,049,403
- Management and general expenses
- $1,527,091
- Fundraising expenses
- $1,391,408
- Program service expenses (Part III)
- $9,049,403
Program services were 75.6% 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.
-
1c · Fundraising events
$408,423
-
1e · Government grants (contributions)
$4,180,260
-
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants
$29,380,379
-
1g · Noncash contributions included above
$1,975,260
-
3 · Investment income
total $17,744 · excluded $17,744
-
6a · Gross rents
real property $146,629
-
6b · Less rental expenses
real property $0
-
6c · Rental income or loss
real property $146,629
-
6d · Net rental income or loss
total $146,629 · excluded $146,629
-
8a · Fundraising events: gross income
$45,690
-
8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c
$408,423
-
8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses
$194,791
-
8c · Net income from fundraising events
total -$149,101 · excluded -$149,101
-
10a · Gross sales of inventory
$293,892
-
10b · Cost of goods sold
$418,958
-
10c · Net income from sales of inventory
total -$125,066 · excluded -$125,066
-
11a · Other revenue: CANCELLATION OF DEBT
total $5,000,000 · excluded $5,000,000
-
11e · Other revenue, total
$5,000,000
Functional expenses
Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.
-
5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
total $587,726 · management and general $297,652 · fundraising $290,074
-
7 · Other salaries and wages
total $1,270,988 · program services $774,703 · management and general $171,365 · fundraising $324,920
-
8 · Pension plan contributions
total $66,315 · program services $46,742 · management and general $5,085 · fundraising $14,488
-
9 · Other employee benefits
total $187,996 · program services $94,654 · management and general $35,757 · fundraising $57,585
-
10 · Payroll taxes
total $130,663 · program services $56,649 · management and general $31,528 · fundraising $42,486
-
11b · Fees: legal
total $200,489 · management and general $200,489
-
11d · Fees: lobbying
total $25,000 · fundraising $25,000
-
11e · Fees: professional fundraising services
total $169,206 · fundraising $169,206
-
11f · Fees: investment management
total $38,410 · management and general $38,410
-
11g · Fees: other
total $550,290 · program services $154,149 · management and general $387,434 · fundraising $8,707
-
12 · Advertising and promotion
total $183,536 · program services $154,809 · management and general $12,237 · fundraising $16,490
-
13 · Office expenses
total $230,388 · program services $50,098 · management and general $58,743 · fundraising $121,547
-
14 · Information technology
total $205,455 · program services $89,075 · management and general $49,575 · fundraising $66,805
-
16 · Occupancy
total $846,696 · program services $645,661 · management and general $85,636 · fundraising $115,399
-
17 · Travel
total $38,381 · program services $16,640 · management and general $9,261 · fundraising $12,480
-
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization
total $2,034,900 · program services $2,034,900
-
23 · Insurance
total $135,027 · management and general $135,027
-
24a · Other expenses: RIVERWALK MAINTENANCE
total $4,157,920 · program services $4,157,920
-
24b · Other expenses: RIVER DAYS EVENT
total $836,540 · program services $722,301 · fundraising $114,239
-
24c · Other expenses: VOLUNTEER EXPENSE
total $35,124 · program services $35,124
-
24d · Other expenses: DUES & SUBSCRIPTIONS
total $19,209 · program services $8,328 · management and general $4,635 · fundraising $6,246
-
24e · All other expenses
total $17,643 · program services $7,650 · management and general $4,257 · fundraising $5,736
Balance sheet
Part X, book values.
-
1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing
beginning of year $1,897,284 · end of year $3,453,415
-
2 · Savings and temporary cash investments
beginning of year $304 · end of year $304
-
3 · Pledges and grants receivable
beginning of year $9,207,254 · end of year $9,135,125
-
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges
beginning of year $344,960 · end of year $429,180
-
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis
$169,928,953
-
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation
$16,818,733
-
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net
beginning of year $128,643,985 · end of year $153,110,220
-
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities
beginning of year $39,260 · end of year $39,260
-
13 · Investments: program-related
beginning of year $7,687,945 · end of year $7,865,403
-
15 · Other assets
beginning of year $20,603,814 · end of year $20,248,859
-
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses
beginning of year $7,340,326 · end of year $10,014,814
-
18 · Grants payable
beginning of year $500,000 · end of year $146,912
-
25 · Other liabilities
beginning of year $20,083,889 · end of year $20,162,726
-
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions
beginning of year $110,411,592 · end of year $134,287,214
-
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions
beginning of year $30,088,999 · end of year $29,670,100
Mission and programs · 2024
Mission
THE DETROIT RIVERFRONT CONSERVANCY (DRFC), IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT, IMPROVEMENT, OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, SECURITY, PROGRAMMING AND EXPANSION OF THE DETROIT RIVERWALK AND ASSOCIATED GREEN SPACES. THROUGH ITS PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, THE DRFC WILL SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RIVERFRONT DISTRICT AND FACILITATE COMMUNITY ACCESS TO THE WATERFRONT.
Activities or mission (Part I)
THE DETROIT RIVERFRONT CONSERVANCY (DRFC), IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT, IMPROVEMENT, OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, SECURITY, PROGRAMMING AND EXPANSION OF THE DETROIT RIVERWALK AND ASSOCIATED GREEN SPACES. THROUGH ITS PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, THE DRFC WILL SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RIVERFRONT DISTRICT AND FACILITATE COMMUNITY ACCESS TO THE WATERFRONT. THE DRFC WILL:- DEVELOP A COLLECTIVE SENSE OF OWNERSHIP, ACCESSIBILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY- ENHANCE DETROIT'S IMAGE TO EMPHASIZE ITS ICONIC, INTERNATIONAL RIVERFRONT- CREATE AND MAINTAIN AN INVITING DESTINATION FOR ALL
-
AS A REGIONAL LANDMARK, A PUBLIC ASSET FOR DETROIT, AND AMERICA'S BEST RIVERWALK, ACCORDING TO USA TODAY, THE DETROIT RIVERFRONT AND OUR CONNECTED GREENWAYS PLAY A SPECIAL ROLE IN THE LIVES OF DETROITERS AND A CATALYTIC ROLE IN THE CONTINUED TRANSFORMATION OF DETROIT'S INTERNATIONAL WATERFRONT. A COMMUNITY ADVISORY TEAM OF 21 DETROITERS REFLECTING DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHIES, DEMOGRAPHICS, AND USER TYPES WAS ASSEMBLED AND TRAVELED TO NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA, AND CHICAGO TO LEARN ABOUT OTHER LANDMARK WATERFRONT PARKS AND TO INFORM PLANS FOR THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THE RALPH C. WILSON, JR. CENTENNIAL PARK. IN TOTAL, MORE THAN 5,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN DEVELOPING THE VISION FOR THE PARK AND FUTURE PROGRAMMING. THE DETROIT RIVERFRONT WELCOMES MORE THAN THREE MILLION VISITORS PER YEAR AND HAS GENERATED SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT SINCE ITS FOUNDING. THE DETROIT RIVERFRONT HAS BEEN NAMED AMERICA'S BEST RIVERWALK BY USA TODAY IN 2021, 2022, AND 2023.CELEBRATING OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2023, THE CONSERVANCY WAS ESTABLISHED WITH A VISION AND FOUNDING PROMISE TO TRANSFORM DETROIT'S RIVERFRONT, THE FACE OF OUR CITY, INTO A BEAUTIFUL, EXCITING, SAFE, ACCESSIBLE, WORLD-CLASS GATHERING PLACE FOR ALL. TODAY, THE CONSERVANCY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR: - STEWARDSHIP AND MAINTENANCE - SECURITY AND SAFETY - REINVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT - PROGRAMMING AND EVENT ADMINISTRATION THE RIVERFRONT ENCOMPASSES 5 PARKS 3 GREENWAYS, AND MULTIPLE PLAZAS PROVIDING A DIVERSITY OF OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES FOR VISITORS OF ALL AGES AND NOW HOST PROGRAMS FOR MORE THAN 350,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR: - CULLEN PLAZA - DEQUINDRE CUT - GABRIEL RICHARD PARK & CHRISTOPHER STROH PLAZA - MAYOR DENNIS W. ARCHER GREENWAY - MT. ELLIOTT PARK - RALPH C. WILSON, JR. CENTENNIAL PARK - ROBERT C. VALADE PARK - SOUTHWEST GREENWAYONCE A NEGLECTED STRETCH OF INDUSTRIAL SITES AND SHUTTERED BUSINESSES, THE DETROIT RIVERFRONT IS NOW A SERIES OF CHERISHED PUBLIC SPACES WHERE ALL FEEL WELCOME. BEGINNING WITH A BEST-IN-CLASS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, THE DETROIT RIVERFRONT CONSERVANCY HELD MORE THAN 100 COMMUNITY MEETINGS BEFORE STARTING CONSTRUCTION ON THE RIVERWALK, AN UNPRECEDENTED APPROACH AT THE TIME. THE LESSONS FROM THIS PROCESS CONTINUE TO INFORM PROGRAMMING ON THE DETROIT RIVERFRONT AND PLANS FOR NEW SPACES.THE DETROIT RIVERFRONT CONSERVANCY BROKE GROUND ON THE RALPH C. WILSON, JR. CENTENNIAL PARK IN MAY, 2022 AND HAS FULFILLED OUR BRIDGE-TO-BRIDGE VISION SINCE COMPLETING CONSTRUCTION ON THE FINAL SEGMENT CONNECTING THE EAST RIVERFRONT TO RALPH WILSON PARK. THE NEW PARK OPENED IN 2025; IT FEATURES THE DELTA DENTAL PLAY GARDEN, AN EXPANSIVE LAWN FOR PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS, BASKETBALL COURTS IN THE SPORT HOUSE AND A LARGE WATER GARDEN.
Expenses $9,049,403
As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.
Listed in Part VII
-
MATTHEW CULLEN
CHAIR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
JENNIFER HUDSON-PARKE
SECRETARY
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
JOHN BLANCHARD
TREASURER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
STEVE HAMP
VICE CHAIR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
SANDY BARUAH
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
MARVIN BEATTY
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
ALISHA BELL
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
DAVE BLASZKIEWICZ
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
M SCOTT BOWEN
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
LAURA CHEVEZ-WAZEERUD-DIN
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
MARY CULLER
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
PETER CUMMINGS
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
PATRICK DEVLIN
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
GARLIN GILCHRIST II
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
JOHN HARTIG
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
HIRAM JACKSON
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
WENDY JACKSON
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
KEVIN JOHNSON
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
ANDREW KANDREVAS
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
ERIC LARSON
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
ROBERT MARANS
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
DAVID MASSARON
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
PAUL MATTHEW
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
SONYA MAYS
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
LATRICE MCCLENDON
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
SARAH MCCLURE
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
LEONA MEDLEY
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
MITCHELL MONDRY
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
CLAUDE MOLINARI
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
REIMER PRIESTER
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
MICHAEL RAFFERTY
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
BRIAN RINEHART
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
AMY ROBINSON
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
PAMELA RODGERS
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
MARIA ELENA RODRIGUEZ
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
MARY SHEFFIELD
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
JOHN STROH III
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
MARGARET TRIMER
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
FRANK VENEGAS
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
MATTHEW WALTERS
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
SCOTT WICKENS
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
BRADLEY DICK
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
STEPHANIE WASHINGTON
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
ERIC DIETZ
DIRECTOR - PART YEAR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
ANTOINE BRYANT
DIRECTOR - PART YEAR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
RACHEL BENDIT
DIRECTOR - PART YEAR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
NANCY TELLEM
DIRECTOR - PART YEAR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
MARK WALLACE
PRESIDENT AND C.E.O. - THRU 5/2024
- Total calculated
- $197,878
- From this org
- $174,437
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $23,441
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $174,437
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $14,000
- Nontaxable benefits
- $9,441
- Filer's total
- $197,878
-
WILLIAM SMITH
C.F.O. - THRU 5/2024
- Total calculated
- $101,283
- From this org
- $82,770
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $18,513
- Hours/week
- 40
-
RYAN SULLIVAN
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
- Total calculated
- $62,933
- From this org
- $58,177
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $4,756
- Hours/week
- 40
-
CASSIE BRENSKE
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
- Total calculated
- $225,632
- From this org
- $200,517
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $25,115
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $199,517
- Bonus
- $1,000
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $16,080
- Nontaxable benefits
- $9,035
- Filer's total
- $225,632
-
STEPHAN BOBALIK
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
- Total calculated
- $149,612
- From this org
- $129,868
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $19,744
- Hours/week
- 40
-
RACHEL FRIERSON
VP OF OPERATIONS & PROGRAMMING
- Total calculated
- $149,638
- From this org
- $130,417
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $19,221
- Hours/week
- 40
-
KAREN SLAUGHTER-DUPERRY
EXECUTIVE IN CHARGE OF CONSTRUCTION
- Total calculated
- $133,557
- From this org
- $131,922
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $1,635
- 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
- 1a · Health or social club dues or initiation fees
- 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
- 3 · Compensation committee
- 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
- 3 · Compensation survey or study
- 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
Answered no
- 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
- 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
- 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
- 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
- 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
- 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
The filer's explanations (Part III)
- PART I, LINE 1A
- IN 2024 THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER WERE ALLOWED A HEALTH AND SOCIAL CLUB MEMBERSHIP AS PART OF THEIR COMPENSATION PACKAGES. THE MEMBERSHIP WAS NOT TREATED AS TAXABLE COMPENSATION.
- PART I, LINE 1B
- THE BOARD APPROVED THE MEMBERSHIP AS PART OF THE PRESIDENT'S COMPENSATION PACKAGE REVIEW AND APPROVAL PROCESS.
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.
Taxable family on this return
Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.
Disregarded entities
Part I: entities that legally are the filer and file no return of their own.
-
DETROIT RIVERWALK CAFE LLC
FOOD CONCESSIONS · MI · income $293,892 · assets $11,712
Directly controlled by DETROIT RIVERFRONT CONSERVANCY INC
Provenance
- Return type
- form_990
- Tax year
- 2024
- Filed
- 15 November 2025
- IRS schema version
- 2024v5.2
- Source object
- 202503219349316220
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