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This return was superseded by a later amendment.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 NunoELENA NUNO
- Mariam NolandMARIAM NOLAND
- Penny BailerPENNY BAILER
Listed only on the later return
- Andrew KandrevasANDREW KANDREVAS
- David MassaronDAVID MASSARON
- Latrice McClendonLATRICE MCCLENDON
- Leona MedleyLEONA MEDLEY
- M Scott BowenM SCOTT BOWEN
- Matthew WaltersMATTHEW WALTERS
- Paul MatthewPAUL MATTHEW
- Sonya MaysSONYA MAYS
Listed under a different title
- Beverly WattsBEVERLY WATTS: DIRECTOR then DIRECTOR - PART YEAR
- Daniel EichingerDANIEL EICHINGER: DIRECTOR then DIRECTOR - PART YEAR
- Khalil RahalKHALIL RAHAL: DIRECTOR then DIRECTOR - PART YEAR
- Nettie SeabrooksNETTIE 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 BlaszkiewiczDAVE BLASZKIEWICZ
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Garlin Gilchrist IIGARLIN GILCHRIST II
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Daniel EichingerDANIEL EICHINGER
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Eric DietzERIC DIETZ
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Bradley DickBRADLEY DICK
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Patrick DevlinPATRICK DEVLIN
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Peter CummingsPETER CUMMINGS
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Mary CullerMARY CULLER
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Antoine BryantANTOINE BRYANT
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Beverly WattsBEVERLY WATTS
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Rachel BenditRACHEL BENDIT
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Marvin BeattyMARVIN BEATTY
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Wendy JacksonWENDY JACKSON
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Sandy BaruahSANDY BARUAH
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Penny BailerPENNY BAILER
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Jennifer Hudson-ParkeJENNIFER HUDSON-PARKE
SECRETARY
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
John BlanchardJOHN BLANCHARD
TREASURER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Matthew CullenMATTHEW CULLEN
CHAIR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Steve HampSTEVE HAMP
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Honorable Alisha BellHONORABLE ALISHA BELL
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Hiram JacksonHIRAM JACKSON
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Kevin JohnsonKEVIN JOHNSON
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Scott WickensSCOTT WICKENS
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Frank VenegasFRANK VENEGAS
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Pamela RodgersPAMELA RODGERS
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Margaret TrimerMARGARET TRIMER
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Nancy TellemNANCY TELLEM
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
John Stroh IIIJOHN STROH III
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Mary SheffieldMARY SHEFFIELD
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Nettie SeabrooksNETTIE SEABROOKS
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Maria Elena RodriguezMARIA ELENA RODRIGUEZ
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Amy RobinsonAMY ROBINSON
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Stephanie WashingtonSTEPHANIE WASHINGTON
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Khalil RahalKHALIL RAHAL
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Michael RaffertyMICHAEL RAFFERTY
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Reimer PriesterREIMER PRIESTER
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Elena NunoELENA NUNO
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Mariam NolandMARIAM NOLAND
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Mitchell MondryMITCHELL MONDRY
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Claude MolinariCLAUDE MOLINARI
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Sarah McClureSARAH MCCLURE
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Robert MaransROBERT MARANS
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Eric LarsonERIC LARSON
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
John HartigJOHN HARTIG
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Mark WallaceMARK 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 SmithWILLIAM 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 BrenskeCASSIE 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 BobalikSTEPHAN 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 FriersonRACHEL 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
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