Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← DETROIT RIVERFRONT CONSERVANCY INC

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by DETROIT RIVERFRONT CONSERVANCY INC.

This return was superseded by a later amendment. matched by us It is kept because history is preserved rather than replaced.

What the amendment changed

Compared with the latest return for 2023 , filed 15 November 2025. matched by us Only the Part I totals and the names listed in Part VII are compared. We relate returns by organization, tax year and form, and order them by each return's own timestamp; the filer's own "amended return" checkbox is a separate fact.

Total revenue
$52,090,326 changed to $45,816,554
Total expenses
$16,942,133 changed to $17,295,370
Contributions and grants received
$51,342,366 changed to $45,904,939
Investment income
$903,487 changed to -$110,202
Other revenue
-$155,527 changed to $21,817
Total assets, end of year
$213,202,987 changed to $168,424,806
Total liabilities, end of year
$7,762,427 changed to $27,924,215
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$205,440,560 changed to $140,500,591
Program services expenses
$11,393,266 changed to $13,240,315
Management and general expenses
$3,170,696 changed to $1,593,632
Fundraising expenses
$2,378,171 changed to $2,461,423
Program service expenses (Part III)
$11,393,266 changed to $13,240,315

Listed only on the earlier return

  • Elena Nuno
  • Mariam Noland
  • Penny Bailer

Listed only on the later return

  • Andrew Kandrevas
  • David Massaron
  • Latrice McClendon
  • Leona Medley
  • M Scott Bowen
  • Matthew Walters
  • Paul Matthew
  • Sonya Mays

Listed under a different title

  • Beverly Watts: DIRECTOR then DIRECTOR - PART YEAR
  • Daniel Eichinger: DIRECTOR then DIRECTOR - PART YEAR
  • Khalil Rahal: DIRECTOR then DIRECTOR - PART YEAR
  • Nettie Seabrooks: DIRECTOR then DIRECTOR - PART YEAR

Totals

Total revenue
$52,090,326
Total expenses
$16,942,133
Contributions and grants received
$51,342,366
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$903,487
Other revenue
-$155,527
Total assets, end of year
$213,202,987
Total liabilities, end of year
$7,762,427
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$205,440,560
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$11,393,266
Management and general expenses
$3,170,696
Fundraising expenses
$2,378,171
Program service expenses (Part III)
$11,393,266

Program services were 67.2% 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.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $482,125

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $18,360,502

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $32,499,739

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $5,095,303

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $3,487 · excluded $3,487

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    other assets $2,000,000

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    other assets $1,100,000

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    other assets $900,000

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $900,000 · excluded $900,000

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $63,505

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $482,125

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $219,032

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$155,527 · excluded -$155,527

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $648,313 · management and general $648,313

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,322,161 · program services $567,837 · management and general $91,847 · fundraising $662,477

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $124,112 · program services $51,040 · management and general $22,032 · fundraising $51,040

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $178,002 · program services $62,899 · management and general $52,204 · fundraising $62,899

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $122,497 · program services $36,749 · management and general $48,999 · fundraising $36,749

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $367,767 · management and general $367,767

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $34,700 · management and general $34,700

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $60,000 · fundraising $60,000

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $567,386 · fundraising $567,386

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $36,547 · management and general $36,547

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,663,077 · program services $1,081,000 · management and general $166,308 · fundraising $415,769

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $495,650 · program services $99,130 · management and general $168,618 · fundraising $227,902

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $138,381 · management and general $138,381

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $208,057 · management and general $208,057

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $669,314 · management and general $669,314

  • 17 · Travel

    total $72,250 · management and general $72,250

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $7,788 · management and general $7,788

  • 20 · Interest

    total $283,146 · management and general $283,146

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $715,438 · program services $707,670 · management and general $7,768

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $121,833 · management and general $121,833

  • 24a · Other expenses: RIVERWALK MAINTENANCE

    total $6,930,459 · program services $6,930,459

  • 24b · Other expenses: RIVER DAYS EVENT

    total $1,846,141 · program services $1,846,141

  • 24c · Other expenses: FUNDRAISING EXPENSES

    total $293,949 · fundraising $293,949

  • 24d · Other expenses: VOLUNTEER EXPENSE

    total $10,191 · program services $10,191

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $24,974 · program services $150 · management and general $24,824

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $457,780 · end of year $1,865,299

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $575 · end of year $304

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $6,860,501 · end of year $12,865,889

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $667,583 · end of year $344,960

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

    $157,507,621

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

    $8,822,355

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $117,706,338 · end of year $148,685,266

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $212,503 · end of year $27,559

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $7,399,948 · end of year $7,699,646

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $41,873,987 · end of year $41,714,064

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $5,018,384 · end of year $7,180,253

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $737,863 · end of year $582,174

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $142,351,069 · end of year $178,368,661

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $27,071,899 · end of year $27,071,899

Mission and programs · 2023

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 RIVERFRONTTHE FACE OF OUR CITYINTO 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 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 IS MID-WAY THROUGH FULFILLMENT OF OUR BRIDGE-TO-BRIDGE VISION AND ARE COMPLETING CONSTRUCTION ON THE FINAL SEGMENT CONNECTING THE EAST RIVERFRONT TO RALPH WILSON PARK. WHEN THE NEW PARK OPENS IN 2025, IT WILL FEATURE 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 $11,393,266

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

Listed in Part VII

  • Dave Blaszkiewicz

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Garlin Gilchrist II

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Daniel Eichinger

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Eric Dietz

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Bradley Dick

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Patrick Devlin

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Peter Cummings

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mary Culler

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Antoine Bryant

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Beverly Watts

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Rachel Bendit

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Marvin Beatty

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Wendy Jackson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Sandy Baruah

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Penny Bailer

    DIRECTOR

    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
  • Matthew Cullen

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Steve Hamp

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Honorable Alisha Bell

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Hiram Jackson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Kevin Johnson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Scott Wickens

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Frank Venegas

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Pamela Rodgers

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Margaret Trimer

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Nancy Tellem

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • John Stroh III

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mary Sheffield

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Nettie Seabrooks

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Maria Elena Rodriguez

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Amy Robinson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Stephanie Washington

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Khalil Rahal

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Michael Rafferty

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Reimer Priester

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Elena Nuno

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mariam Noland

    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
  • Sarah McClure

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Robert Marans

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Eric Larson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • John Hartig

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mark Wallace

    PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

    Total calculated
    $387,125
    From this org
    $348,373
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $38,752
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $348,373
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $27,924
    Nontaxable benefits
    $10,828
    Filer's total
    $387,125
  • William Smith

    CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $261,188
    From this org
    $222,257
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $38,931
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $222,257
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $18,097
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,834
    Filer's total
    $261,188
  • Cassie Brenske

    CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $229,815
    From this org
    $204,503
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $25,312
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $204,503
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $16,400
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,912
    Filer's total
    $229,815
  • Stephan Bobalik

    SENIOR DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $144,533
    From this org
    $125,558
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,975
    Hours/week
    40
  • Rachel Frierson

    VP OF OPERATIONS & PROGRAMMING

    Total calculated
    $125,496
    From this org
    $108,682
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,814
    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 2023 THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER WERE ALLOWED A HEALTH AND SOCIAL CLUB MEMBERSHIP AS PART OF THEIR COMPENSATION PACKAGES.
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.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
15 November 2024
IRS schema version
2023v5.1
Source object
202433209349321323

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.