Form 990 for tax year 2022

Totals

Total revenue

$1,203,374

Total expenses

$1,084,889

Contributions and grants received

$1,051,899

Grants paid

$0

Program service revenue

$37,308

Investment income

$54,886

Other revenue

$59,281

Total assets, end of year

$18,758,522

Total liabilities, end of year

$619,369

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$18,139,153

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$1,020,642

Management and general expenses

$51,598

Fundraising expenses

$12,649

Program service expenses (Part III)

$1,020,642

Program services were 94.1% 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 · 2022

• LAND PRESERVATION - PROTECT NATURAL AREAS THROUGH ACQUISITION OR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. BROTHERS JOHN AND ROBERT CARLETON HAVE HAD CONSERVATION AGREEMENTS (OTHERWISE KNOWN AS CONSERVATION EASEMENTS) ON A PORTION OF THEIR LAND SINCE 2006. IN 2022, WITH A GRANT FROM THE ILLINOIS CLEAN ENERGY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, THEY WERE ABLE TO PUT THE REMAINDER OF THEIR LAND INTO CONSERVATION AGREEMENTS NEXT TO NLI'S CONKLIN PRESERVE WHICH NOW PROTECTS 380 ACRES OF THIS BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF THE PECATONICA RIVER FLOODPLAIN FOREST. THIS 380 ACRES IS ALSO PART OF A MUCH LARGER COMPLEX ALONG THE RIVER OF BIRD AND ANIMAL HABITAT. IT IS PART OF AN AREA KNOWN TO HOUSE SEVEN THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES. THERE ARE LIKELY MANY OTHER SPECIES OF CONCERN THAT UTILIZE THIS IMPORTANT HABITAT CORRIDOR. THE PECATONICA RIVER CORRIDOR MAKES FOR SOME OF THE BEST WILD BIRD HABITAT IN THE COUNTY AND IS HOME TO OVER 100 SPECIES OF BIRDS. PROTECTING LAND WITHIN THIS IMPORTANT RIVER CORRIDOR HAS BEEN A PRIORITY, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE CARLETON'S FOR THEIR VISION THAT PRESERVES OUR CLEAN WATER, CLEAN AIR, AND HOLDS FLOODWATERS AND CARBON IN THE SOIL. JOHN AND HIS BROTHER ROBERT WILL CONTINUE RESTORING FOREST HEALTH TO RELEASE DESIRABLE TREES FROM BEING CHOKED OUT BY INVASIVE SPECIES, AND FOR GROWTH AND REGENERATION OF BUR OAK, PIN OAK, POST OAK, BITTERNUT HICKORY, SYCAMORE, AND RIVER BIRCH AND ALL THE CREATURES THAT THEY SUPPORT.FOR 14 YEARS NLI AND HAS OWNED AND MANAGED MILAN BOTTOMS, A 94-ACRE FLOODPLAIN FOREST WITH ACCESS TO THE BACKWATERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. MILAN BOTTOMS IS A LARGE, BIOLOGICALLY RICH FLOODPLAIN FOREST AREA IN ROCK ISLAND COUNTY. THE SITE BOASTS HABITAT FOR SEVERAL ILLINOIS LISTED SPECIES, WHERE BALD EAGLES LIVE AND THRIVE. IT ALSO CONTAINS DIVERSE WETLAND ECOSYSTEMS IMPORTANT TO MIGRATORY WATERFOWL AND WILDLIFE SPECIES. IT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF A LARGE NATURAL AREA COMPLEX OF 3,500 ACRES OWNED BY SEVERAL AGENCIES INCLUDING THE U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE AND THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS. THE ILLINOIS DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES PURCHASED THIS PRESERVE FROM NLI WITH A DEED RESTRICTION TO PROTECT IT IN PERPETUITY. WE ARE USING THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE PARTIALLY TO INVEST IN OUR LANDS OWNED STEWARDSHIP ENDOWMENT FUND AND PARTIALLY TO FUND FUTURE ACQUISITIONS.NLI CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE FOR THE PROTECTION OF BELL BOWL PRAIRIE, LOCATED AT THE CHICAGO ROCKFORD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. AIRPORT EXPANSION PLANS INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT ON THIS PRAIRIE, A PORTION OF WHICH IS AN ILLINOIS NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY SITE (INAI) THAT HAS NOT ONLY HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE TO ROCKFORD FROM THE EARLY DAYS OF CAMP GRANT AND THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS, BUT HOSTS A SIGNIFICANT NATURAL DRY GRAVEL PRAIRIE COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS RARE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES. IT IS ONE OF THE FEW OF THESE LEFT IN ILLINOIS AND MANY MIGRATORY BIRDS REST THERE ON THEIR JOURNEY, ATTRACTING BIRDERS FROM ACROSS THE MIDWEST. NLI'S FOUNDER, GEORGE B. FELL, FOUGHT TO PROTECT THIS PIECE OF OUR HISTORIC ILLINOIS LANDSCAPE AND AT ONE TIME SAVED IT FROM THE BULLDOZERS. THE ENTIRE PRAIRIE WAS 25 ACRES, WITH 4.88 ACRES LISTED AS THE INAI. THE NATURAL LAND INSTITUTE AND ITS MANY PARTNERS HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF STEWARDING THE BELL BOWL PRAIRIE. IN 2021, THE RUSTY PATCHED BUMBLE BEE, A FEDERALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES, WAS OBSERVED ON THE PRAIRIE. NLI PARTICIPATED IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE IDNR AND THE ILLINOIS ENDANGERED SPECIES PROTECTION BOARD. NLI HOPES THE CONSULTATION PROCESS LEADS TO WORKING WITH ALL PARTIES TO ALTER THE FOOTPRINT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND BELL BOWL PRAIRIE CAN BE SAVED.

  Expenses $283,701 · Revenue $10,370

• Withheld by Nonprofiteer: this text may name a private individual.

  Expenses $163,000 · Revenue $5,958

• RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT OF PRESERVESNLI STEWARDSHIP STAFF BEGAN DIGGING INTO A NEW PROJECT AT THE RECENTLY EXPANDED LIND-MCGEACHIE PRESERVE IN ROCKFORD. THIS PRESERVE INCREASES THE AMOUNT OF PROTECTED HABITAT SOUTHWEST OF ROCKFORD WITH FULLER MEMORIAL PRESERVE TO THE WEST AND NLI'S SILVER CREEK WOODS PRESERVE TO THE NORTH. NLI HIRED MCMAHON ENGINEERS|ARCHITECTS AS WELL AS BLUESTEM ECOLOGICAL SERVICES TO STABILIZE AN ERODED GULLY IN AN AREA THAT WILL BE PART OF A LARGER POLLINATOR PLANTING THROUGH FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE ILLINOIS CLEAN ENERGY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION (ICECF). ROCK CHECK-DAMS AND RE-GRADING WILL SLOW THE FLOW OF WATER OVER THE SURFACE AND INCREASE DEPOSITION OF SEDIMENTS FLOWING DOWNHILL TOWARDS SILVER CREEK. THE POLLINATOR HABITAT WILL CONSIST OF DEEP-ROOTED PERENNIAL WILDFLOWERS AND GRASSES THAT WILL PROVIDE LOTS OF GREAT HABITAT FOR MANY FORMS OF WILDLIFE AND ALSO SERVE TO FURTHER REDUCE RUNOFF FROM THIS FALLOW FARM FIELD. A TRAIL NETWORK WILL ALLOW VISITORS TO REACH THE NEW PRAIRIE AND APPRECIATE GRAND OLD OAKS FROM A SMALL PARKING AREA ON FITZGERALD ROAD THAT WILL BE INSTALLED THROUGH A PUBLIC AMENITY GRANT, ALSO FROM ICECF.NLI BEGAN COORDINATING WITH A SMALL GROUP OF LOCAL OREGON VOLUNTEERS TO LAUNCH RESTORATION EFFORTS AT CARPENTER WOODS PRESERVE AND KYTE RIVER BOTTOMS LAND AND WATER RESERVE, LOCATED IN OGLE COUNTY. BOTH ARE THREATENED BY INVASIVE SPECIES AND THIS DEDICATED AND ENTHUSIASTIC GROUP WILL DRASTICALLY EXPAND OUR LAND STEWARDSHIP FOR BOTH OF THESE PRESERVES. ANOTHER BENEFIT OF THE EXPANDED RESTORATION EFFORTS IS THE ABILITY TO COLLECT MORE NATIVE SEEDS. BOTH OF THESE PRESERVES SUPPORT POPULATIONS OF PLANTS (AND ANIMALS) THAT WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO IN OUR OTHER PRESERVES AND HAVE BEEN PROVIDING NLI'S RESTORATION PROJECTS WITH NATIVE SEEDS FOR DECADES. ENTER SILVER CREEK WOODS PRESERVE (ROCKFORD, ILL.) AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT YOU CAN SEE THROUGH THE WOODS. IN 2016 NLI ENGAGED IN A CONTRACT WITH THE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS) CALLED ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM (EQIP). THE PROGRAM PROVIDED A COST-SHARE FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR REMOVAL OF INVASIVE SPECIES, AND TO PURCHASE AND PLANT NATIVE SEEDS AND TREES, MOSTLY OAK TREES. WE COULDN'T HAVE ACCOMPLISHED ALL THIS WITHOUT A STALWART GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS SHOWING UP EVERY THIRD SATURDAY OF THE MONTH. SILVER CREEK WOODS REMAINS ONE OF OUR MOST ACTIVE PRESERVES WHEN IT COMES TO VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT. AS OF DECEMBER 2021, WE COMPLETED THE EQIP TASKS. OUR LAST BIG PUSH CAME OVER THE COURSE OF TWO DAYS WHEN WE PLANTED 544 TREES AND 100 SHRUBS ACROSS 23 ACRES. ON ANOTHER RESTORATION DAY WE SCATTERED 47 POUNDS OF NATIVE SEED, BRINGING OUR TOTAL OF NATIVE SEED INTRODUCED TO 183 LBS. WILLIAM & GAYLE KEEFER NATURE RESERVE. DONATED TO NLI BY GAYLE KEEFER IN 2017 AND LOCATED ON THE EDGE OF THE VILLAGE OF ROCKTON, THE KEEFER NATURE RESERVE IS 37 ACRES OF DIVERSE LANDSCAPES AND HABITATS. FROM OLD RIVER ROAD YOU CAN SEE A STEEP BLUFF THAT IS HOME TO NUMEROUS OAK TREES AND IN THE SPRING IS COVERED BY CUT-LEAVED TOOTHWORT (CARDAMINE CONCATENTA). HIDDEN FARTHER BACK INTO THE PROPERTY ARE THREE OLD LIMESTONE QUARRIES. ALL OF THIS IS SURROUNDED BY DENSE WOODLAND THAT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO WALK THROUGH. BUCKTHORN AND HONEYSUCKLE ARE BOTH NATIVE TO EUROPE AND ASIA AND ARE THE TWO MAJOR INVASIVE SPECIES ISSUES ON THIS PROPERTY THAT WE ARE WORKING TO REMOVE. WE STARTED BY USING A FORESTRY MOWER TO CLEAR BRUSH AND SMALL TREES ALONG THE PROPERTY BOUNDARY. AS OUR RESTORATION ACTIVITIES PROGRESS, NEW INTERIOR HIKING TRAILS TO VIEW THE RARE CHINQUAPIN OAK HABITAT, OAK SAVANNA RESTORATION, AND PRAIRIE RESTORATION WILL BE AVAILABLE TO EXPLORE. NIEMAN MARSH, IS LOCATED JUST EAST OF PECATONICA AND IS HOME TO MANY PLANTS AND ANIMALS THAT ARE RARE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. THE KING RAIL (RALLUS ELEGANS), ONE OF THE RAREST MARSH BIRDS IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS, CAN BE HEARD IN THE SEDGE MEADOW AND SHALLOW MARSH HABITATS PRESENT ON SITE. IN COORDINATION WITH ILLINOIS DUCKS UNLIMITED, NATURAL LAND INSTITUTE AND OTHER REGIONAL PARTNERS ARE PARTICIPATING IN A GRANT AWARDED BY THE U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE THROUGH THE NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION ACT (NAWCA). THE PORTION OF THE AWARD ALLOTTED TO NIEMAN MARSH WILL BE USED TO RESTORE HEALTHY WETLAND HABITAT MORE SUITABLE FOR THE SUSTAINED UTILIZATION OF THE SITE BY THE KING RAIL AND OTHER RARE WETLAND SPECIES, SUCH AS AMERICAN BITTERNS, OCCASIONAL YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS, BALTIMORE CHECKERSPOT BUTTERFLIES, AND BAND-WINGED MEADOWHAWKS, A SPECIES OF DRAGONFLY CLASSIFIED AS IMPERILED IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. RESTORATION ACTIVITIES WILL IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF NIEMAN MARSH THROUGH THE REMOVAL OF INVASIVE SPECIES, CONTROLLED BURNING, AND COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF SEEDS OF MANY NATIVE PLANTS THAT GROW IN WET PRAIRIES, SEDGE MEADOWS, AND MARSHES.

  Expenses $392,181 · Revenue $14,336

• NLI IS HONORED TO BE PART OF THE ILLINOIS WORKING LANDS, WATER AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP. THIS IS A COLLABORATIVE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP LED BY THE CONSERVATION FUND, AND SUPPORTED BY USDA NRCS'S REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (RCPP). ALL PROJECTS ADDRESS INADEQUATE HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE SPECIES, WATER QUALITY CONCERNS INCLUDING EXCESS FIELD NUTRIENT AND SOIL LOSS, AND LONG-TERM FARMLAND PROTECTION. OVER A MILLION ACRES OF ILLINOIS FARMLAND HAS BEEN LOST SINCE 1992. NATURAL AREAS ARE HIGHLY FRAGMENTED AND OUR VULNERABLE WILDLIFE SPECIES NEED CONNECTED HABITAT TO THRIVE. COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS SUCH AS AGRICULTURAL LAND AGREEMENT (OTHERWISE KNOWN AS EASEMENT) AND CONSERVATION PRACTICES ARE VOLUNTARY CONSERVATION ACTIONS BY PRIVATE LANDOWNERS THAT HELP WITH THIS CONNECTIVITY. THE LAND STAYS IN PRIVATE OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL, WITH A PERMANENT EASEMENT RECORDED ON THE DEED THAT LIMITS NON-AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT. PAYMENT FROM THE SALE OF AN EASEMENT CAN BE USED BY THE FARMER TO REINVEST IN THE FARMING OPERATION, PAY OFF LOANS, SUPPORT A GENERATIONAL LAND TRANSFER, PURCHASE MORE LAND, OR PROVIDE CASH-IN-HAND. LAND MANAGEMENT INCENTIVES - WHERE FARMERS CREATE A CONSERVATION PLAN FOR THEIR FARM THAT MEETS THEIR GOALS, AND ALLOWS FOR BOTH TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO INSTALL CONSERVATION PRACTICES THAT IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND PROVIDE WILDLIFE HABITAT ON THEIR FARMS.NLI HAS BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN A PARTNER IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY OF ROCKFORD'S KEITH CREEK WATERSHED PLAN AND THE STEPHENSON COUNTY WINNESHEIK CREEK WATERSHED PLAN, BOTH FUNDED BY THE ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (IEPA) THROUGH THEIR SECTION 319 GRANT PROGRAM. THE WINNESHEIK CREEK WATERSHED IS LOCATED IN AN AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY AND WAS DEVELOPED WITH GRASSROOTS FARMERS INPUT TO ASSIST WITH CLEANING POLLUTED WATERS. ROCKFORD'S KEITH CREEK IS WITHIN A HIGHLY URBANIZED AREA THAT SUFFERS FROM REPEATED FLOODING. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE PLANS UNLOCKS FURTHER IEPA FUNDS TO DO PROJECTS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED IN THE PLANS, ASSISTING THESE COMMUNITIES WITH CREATING GREENWAYS, STREAM RE-MEANDERING, AND PRACTICES TO ASSIST LANDOWNERS WITH PROVIDING WATER CLEANSING FEATURES ON THEIR LAND. BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT OF HABITAT WITHIN THESE STREAM CORRIDORS, AND WE SEE FURTHER PARTNERING OPPORTUNITIES AS THESE HABITAT PROJECTS ARE IDENTIFIED. POLLINATOR, AND ESPECIALLY CORRIDOR HABITAT FOR MONARCHS, TURTLES AND BIRDS TO SUPPORT CORE PROTECTED HABITAT WILL BE A PRIORITY FOR NLI. WE ALSO SEE THAT IN BOTH THE AGRICULTURAL AND URBAN WATERSHEDS, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE PEOPLE TO CONNECT WITH NATURE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AS PROJECTS ARE DEVELOPED AND ACCESS IS IMPROVED.WILDFLOWER WALKABOUT: NATURAL LAND INSTITUTE AND SEVERSON DELLS NATURE CENTER CO-SPONSORED THE 10 WEEK SERIES OF HIKES THAT WERE LED BY AREA EXPERTS THROUGHOUT APRIL, MAY AND JUNE. JOINING THE WILDFLOWER WALKABOUT IS A GREAT WAY TO SEE AND LEARN ABOUT OUR AREA'S NATURAL HISTORY, NATIVE PLANTS, AND ANIMALS. THE 2022 SERIES INCLUDED VISITS TO KINNIKINNICK CREEK CONSERVATION AREA, FUNDERBURG FOREST PRESERVE, DEER RUN FOREST PRESERVE, PECATONICA RIDGE PRAIRIE, CEDAR CLIFF FOREST PRESERVE, AND DEDICATED NATURE PRESERVES BURR OAK VALLEY, HOWARD D. COLMAN DELLS, PECATONICA WETLANDS FOREST PRESERVE, JARRETT PRAIRIE, AND SEARLS PRAIRIE."OAKTOBER" - NLI PARTICIPATED IN THE STATE-WIDE OAKTOBER BY PROMOTING A HIKE THROUGH THE ROLLING HILLS OF BURR OAK VALLEY PRESERVE TO CELEBRATE ALL TYPES OF OAK TREES AND THEIR HABITATS. STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PROMOTED THE CONSERVATION@HOME PROGRAM THROUGH SITE VISITS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. NLI HELD FALL PRAIRIE HARVEST DAY, ON OCTOBER 2, AT NYGREN WETLAND PRESERVE. INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS COLLECTED SEEDS FROM NATIVE PRAIRIE WILDFLOWERS AND GRASSES. THE SEEDS WILL BE USED IN FUTURE PLANTINGS AT NLI PRESERVES.MARKETING INTERN, MIKE TACKETT, A MASS COMMUNICATIONS MAJOR AT UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE, SPENT THE SUMMER ASSISTING WITH ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS THAT ENGAGED THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, IN THE MISSION OF NLI. MIKE HELPED WITH SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, CREATED A TIKTOK ACCOUNT FOR NLI, MADE SEVERAL TIKTOK VIDEOS, HELPED WITH SETTING UP AND WORKED AT EVENTS, UPDATED THE NLI WEBSITE AND LEARNED HOW TO WRITE NEWS RELEASES. AMERICORP MEMBERS AMELIA NEWBERRY AND ASHLYN LUCKEY, WORKED WITH NLI STEWARDSHIP STAFF DURING THE SUMMER TO REMOVE INVASIVE SPECIES, WATER TREES AND SEEDLINGS, AND SETTING UP EVENTS.

  Expenses $181,760 · Revenue $6,644

As filed on the 2022 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here. A text marked withheld matched a screen for wording that may name a private individual, such as an honorific or "in memory of". Most of what it withholds names no one; it is withheld so that what does is never shown.

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.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2022

Filed

15 May 2023

IRS schema version

2022v5.0

Source object

202321429349300782

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