Form 990 for tax year 2024
Filed by CARY INSTITUTE OF ECOSYSTEM STUDIES INC.
Totals
- Total revenue
- $30,981,844
- Total expenses
- $18,220,907
- Contributions and grants received
- $9,856,437
- Grants paid
- $118,347
- Program service revenue
- $234,860
- Investment income
- $20,799,768
- Other revenue
- $90,779
- Total assets, end of year
- $155,867,052
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $6,652,209
- Net assets or fund balances, end of year
- $149,214,843
- Program services expenses (Part IX)
- $13,756,986
- Management and general expenses
- $3,780,770
- Fundraising expenses
- $683,151
- Program service expenses (Part III)
- $13,756,986
Program services were 75.5% 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.
-
1c · Fundraising events
$55,350
-
1e · Government grants (contributions)
$5,469,906
-
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants
$4,331,181
-
2a · Program service revenue: HOUSING - RESEARCH & EDUCATION
total $168,195 · related or exempt $168,195
-
2b · Program service revenue: TUITION - EDUCATION
total $66,665 · related or exempt $66,665
-
3 · Investment income
total $278,747 · unrelated business -$18,916 · excluded $297,663
-
7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory
securities $34,877,690 · other assets $6,000
-
7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses
securities $14,362,669 · other assets $0
-
7c · Gain or loss
securities $20,515,021 · other assets $6,000
-
7d · Net gain or loss
total $20,521,021 · unrelated business $46,767 · excluded $20,474,254
-
8a · Fundraising events: gross income
$108,550
-
8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c
$55,350
-
8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses
$57,288
-
8c · Net income from fundraising events
total $51,262 · excluded $51,262
-
11a · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS INCOME
total $39,517 · excluded $39,517
-
11e · Other revenue, total
$39,517
Functional expenses
Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.
-
2 · Grants to domestic individuals
total $118,347 · program services $118,347
-
5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
total $678,063 · program services $40,109 · management and general $580,501 · fundraising $57,453
-
7 · Other salaries and wages
total $6,852,386 · program services $5,534,732 · management and general $909,287 · fundraising $408,367
-
8 · Pension plan contributions
total $640,476 · program services $495,747 · management and general $105,931 · fundraising $38,798
-
9 · Other employee benefits
total $1,081,837 · program services $817,100 · management and general $198,906 · fundraising $65,831
-
10 · Payroll taxes
total $545,601 · program services $405,607 · management and general $106,499 · fundraising $33,495
-
11b · Fees: legal
total $15,060 · program services $15,060
-
11c · Fees: accounting
total $75,256 · management and general $75,256
-
11f · Fees: investment management
total $1,024,327 · management and general $1,024,327
-
11g · Fees: other
total $1,121,972 · program services $888,711 · management and general $213,052 · fundraising $20,209
-
13 · Office expenses
total $524,488 · program services $403,376 · management and general $105,718 · fundraising $15,394
-
16 · Occupancy
total $175,323 · program services $166,773 · management and general $6,093 · fundraising $2,457
-
17 · Travel
total $412,909 · program services $401,750 · management and general $7,137 · fundraising $4,022
-
19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings
total $80,488 · program services $68,086 · management and general $3,385 · fundraising $9,017
-
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization
total $1,265,311 · program services $1,197,304 · management and general $48,467 · fundraising $19,540
-
23 · Insurance
total $359,766 · management and general $359,766
-
24a · Other expenses: SUBCONTRACTS
total $2,985,511 · program services $2,985,511
-
24b · Other expenses: MISCELLANEOUS
total $157,495 · program services $116,909 · management and general $35,704 · fundraising $4,882
-
24c · Other expenses: PRINTING
total $106,291 · program services $101,864 · management and general $741 · fundraising $3,686
Balance sheet
Part X, book values.
-
2 · Savings and temporary cash investments
beginning of year $449,651 · end of year $7,133,337
-
3 · Pledges and grants receivable
beginning of year $1,325,245 · end of year $1,147,222
-
4 · Accounts receivable
beginning of year $55,775 · end of year $56,352
-
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges
beginning of year $275,616 · end of year $137,378
-
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis
$36,734,136
-
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation
$18,780,545
-
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net
beginning of year $18,338,076 · end of year $17,953,591
-
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities
beginning of year $41,481,592 · end of year $50,980,319
-
12 · Investments: other securities
beginning of year $86,409,507 · end of year $78,458,853
-
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses
beginning of year $1,065,647 · end of year $1,282,229
-
19 · Deferred revenue
beginning of year $3,667,131 · end of year $4,797,714
-
24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable
beginning of year $268
-
25 · Other liabilities
beginning of year $625,403 · end of year $572,266
-
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions
beginning of year $45,787,101 · end of year $47,463,689
-
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions
beginning of year $97,189,912 · end of year $101,751,154
Mission and programs · 2024
Mission
THE CARY INSTITUTE OF ECOSYSTEM STUDIES GENERATES RIGOROUS SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE TO HUMAN WELL-BEING.
Activities or mission (Part I)
ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION
-
RESEARCH - UNBIASED ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH TO ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING OF ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS AND CLIMATE CHANGE. WE PROVIDE SOLUTIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS. OUR STAFF ARE GLOBAL EXPERTS IN THE ECOLOGY OF CITIES, DISEASE, FORESTS AND FRESHWATER.
Expenses $10,602,994 · Grants $118,347
-
ALL OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDING GROUNDS, AUXILIARY AND LIBRARY - MAINTENANCE OF THE 2000 ACRE CAMPUS USED FOR RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, HOUSING FOR VISITING SCIENTISTS AND STAFF AND A 10,000 VOLUME LIBRARY THAT INCLUDES WEB OF SCIENCE AND ECOLOGY REFERENCE SERVICES.
Expenses $1,417,146 · Revenue $168,195
-
EDUCATION - INNOVATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE ECOLITERACY FOR ALL AGES. WE SERVE K-12 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS THROUGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SUMMER CAMP, DATA JAMS, TEACHER WORKSHOPS AND CURRICULUM. WE PROVIDE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS. WE OFFER RESEARCH EXPERIENCE, COURSES AND MENTORING FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS.
Expenses $1,329,751 · Revenue $66,665
-
OUTREACH - TRANSLATE SCIENCE IN MANY WAYS THAT ADVANCE THE PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND INFORM PUBLIC POLICY. WE SHARE OUR FINDINGS WIDELY AND PROVIDE LECTURES, FORUMS, TOURS, FIELD GUIDES AND MAPS TO RESEARCH OUR PROPERTY. OUR PROGRAMS ARE GENERALLY FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
Expenses $407,095
As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.
Listed in Part VII
-
Scott J UlmSCOTT J ULM
CHAIR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Elizabeth M HewittELIZABETH M HEWITT
VICE CHAIR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Soohyung KimSOOHYUNG KIM
CO-VICE CHAIR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Robbianne Mackin MfrROBBIANNE MACKIN MFR
SECRETARY
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Kim M WielandKIM M WIELAND
TREASURER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Frances BeineckeFRANCES BEINECKE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Emily Bernhardt PhDEMILY BERNHARDT PHD
BOARD OF TRUSTEES (UNTIL 11/24)
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Farran Tozer BrownFARRAN TOZER BROWN
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Indy Burke PhDINDY BURKE PHD
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Hugo CassirerHUGO CASSIRER
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
J Barclay CollinsJ BARCLAY COLLINS
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
John M Drake PhDJOHN M DRAKE PHD
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Eric S EwingERIC S EWING
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Elizabeth R HilpmanELIZABETH R HILPMAN
BOARD OF TRUSTEES (UNTIL 11/24)
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Erich D Jarvis PhDERICH D JARVIS PHD
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Everette Joseph PhDEVERETTE JOSEPH PHD
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Ruben KraiemRUBEN KRAIEM
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Christopher J McKenzieCHRISTOPHER J MCKENZIE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Simon RooseveltSIMON ROOSEVELT
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Muriel PostonMURIEL POSTON
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Beth ComstockBETH COMSTOCK
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Lawrence KellyLAWRENCE KELLY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Allan ShopeALLAN SHOPE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Nichola Tucker GrayNICHOLA TUCKER GRAY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Linda GreerLINDA GREER
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Jed HartJED HART
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Joshua R GinsbergJOSHUA R GINSBERG
PRESIDENT
- Total calculated
- $474,988
- From this org
- $401,805
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $73,183
- Hours/week
- 35
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $401,805
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $41,400
- Nontaxable benefits
- $31,783
- Filer's total
- $474,988
-
Holly A TalbotHOLLY A TALBOT
SR. DIRECTOR OF ADMIN/COMPTROLLER
- Total calculated
- $267,480
- From this org
- $216,130
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $51,350
- Hours/week
- 35
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $216,130
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $26,466
- Nontaxable benefits
- $24,884
- Filer's total
- $267,480
-
Steward Ta PickettSTEWARD TA PICKETT
DISTINGUISHED SENIOR SCIENTIST
- Total calculated
- $254,196
- From this org
- $210,372
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $43,824
- Hours/week
- 35
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $210,372
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $25,573
- Nontaxable benefits
- $18,251
- Filer's total
- $254,196
-
Richard S OstfeldRICHARD S OSTFELD
DISTINGUISHED SENIOR SCIENTIST
- Total calculated
- $258,585
- From this org
- $200,162
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $58,423
- Hours/week
- 35
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $200,162
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $25,025
- Nontaxable benefits
- $33,398
- Filer's total
- $258,585
-
Kathleen C WeathersKATHLEEN C WEATHERS
SENIOR SCIENTIST
- Total calculated
- $227,511
- From this org
- $185,092
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $42,419
- Hours/week
- 35
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $185,092
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $22,866
- Nontaxable benefits
- $19,553
- Filer's total
- $227,511
-
Alan BerkowitzALAN BERKOWITZ
HEAD OF EDUCATION
- Total calculated
- $199,025
- From this org
- $159,344
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $39,681
- Hours/week
- 35
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $159,344
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $18,901
- Nontaxable benefits
- $20,780
- Filer's total
- $199,025
-
Chris SolomonCHRIS SOLOMON
SENIOR SCIENTIST
- Total calculated
- $213,934
- From this org
- $154,468
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $59,466
- Hours/week
- 35
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $154,468
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $19,854
- Nontaxable benefits
- $39,612
- Filer's total
- $213,934
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 · Independent compensation consultant
- 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
- 3 · Compensation survey or study
- 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
Answered no
- 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
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
- 2024
- Filed
- 17 December 2025
- IRS schema version
- 2024v5.5
- Source object
- 202600839349301400
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