Form 990 for tax year 2024

Totals

Total revenue

$2,233,067

Total expenses

$1,913,946

Contributions and grants received

$1,825,903

Grants paid

$0

Program service revenue

$0

Investment income

$106,521

Other revenue

$300,643

Total assets, end of year

$4,406,525

Total liabilities, end of year

$219,779

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$4,186,746

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$1,163,933

Management and general expenses

$493,830

Fundraising expenses

$256,183

Program service expenses (Part III)

$1,163,933

Program services were 60.8% 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 · 2024

• BELLE ISLE AQUARIUM AND ANNA SCRIPPS WHITCOMB CONSERVATORY: THE BELLE ISLE AQUARIUM AND ANNA WHITCOMB CONSERVATORY OPENED IN 1904 AND REMAINS ONE OF DETROIT'S CULTURAL JEWELS. THE BELLE ISLE AQUARIUM DELIGHTED VISITORS FOR OVER A CENTURY BEFORE THE CITY CLOSED IT IN 2005 DUE TO BUDGET REDUCTIONS. IN 2012, THE BELLE ISLE CONSERVANCY NEGOTIATED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CITY OF DETROIT TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR OPENING THE AQUARIUM. THE CONSERVANCY CONTINUES TO OPERATE UNDER THAT AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF MICHIGAN NOW MANAGING THE PARK INSTEAD OF THE CITY. SINCE THE CONSERVANCY'S MANAGEMENT BEGAN IN 2012 OVER 6 MILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN INVESTED INTO THE FACILITY TO ENSURE IT'S SAFETY AND LONG-TERM VIABILITY. HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROJECTS SUCH AS THE RESTORATION OF THE FAMED CEILING TILES, REPAIRING THE COPPER ROOF OF THE THE BUILDING, REPAIRING AND RESTORING PLASTER ELEMENTS IN THE BUILDING, REOPENING THE ORIGINAL SKYLIGHTS IN THE BUILDING, AND FABRICATING THE ORIGINAL LIGHTING IN THE BUILDING HAVE ALL HELPED KEEP IMPORTANT ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS OF THE BUILDING ALIVE. ADDITIONALLY, THE AQUARIUM EXHIBITS HAVE BEEN RENOVATED WITH NEEDED REPAIRS SUCH AS GLASS, MODERN FILTRATION AND WATER SYSTEMS, MODERN PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, AND CONCRETE REPAIR THROUGHOUT. MANY OF THE BUILDINGS MECHANICAL SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN UPGRADED TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO INCREASING THE BUILDINGS GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND SAVE OR REUSE WATER. CURRENTLY A MAJOR HVAC SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION IS UNDERWAY FOR THE AQUARIUM. AQUARIUM WELCOMES AROUND 180,000 VISITORS EACH YEAR, ALL FREE OF CHARGE. OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS THE CONSERVANCY HAS CURATED AN EXCEPTIONAL VISITOR ENGAGEMENT AND INTERPRETATION EXPERIENCE FOR OUR VISITORS SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND AND BECOME EXCITED ABOUT THE CONSERVATION OF AQUATIC LIFE AND HABITATS. THE CONSERVANCY ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR THE ANNA SCRIPPS WHITCOMB CONSERVATORY. THE STATE OF MICHIGAN MANAGES THE CONSERVATORY, BUT LEANS ON THE CONSERVANCY VOLUNTEERS TO FACILITATE FIELD TRIP PROGRAMS, LEAD TOURS,SUPPORT SCHEDULING, TRAIN DOCENTS AND INTERPRETERS, FACILITATE COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS, SUPPLEMENT THE PLANT COLLECTIONS WITH ADDITIONAL FLOWERS AND PLANTS, AND HELP IN THE FUND RAISING OF MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS,MOST NOTABLY THE RESTORATION OF THE CONSERVATORY'S MAIN DOME.

  Expenses $819,251

• HISTORIC PRESERVATION: PRESERVING THE BUILDINGS, FOUNTAINS, STATUES, HISTORIC LANDSCAPE AND OTHER HISTORIC AMENITIES OF BELLE ISLE PARK; INCLUDES PLANNING, RESEARCH AND IMPLEMENTING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. THE BELLE ISLE CONSERVANCY RAISES PRIVATE SUPPORT FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACTIVITIES, WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY OF DETROIT AND THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. IN 2012, THE BELLE ISLE CONSERVANCY RAISED FUNDS FOR A COMPLETE RESTORATION OF THE ROOF OF THE HORSE STABLES, A LARGE COMPLEX DESIGNED BY ARCHITECT GEORGE MASON IN THE 1920'S. THE CLAY TILE ROOF WAS COMPLETELY REPAIRED AND WHERE NECESSARY, REBUILT, ENSURING THE PRESERVATION OF THE BUILDING, WHICH IS LOCATED IN A PROMINENT AREA OF THE PARK. ANOTHER MAJOR PROJECT HAS BEEN RAISING FUNDS TO REPLACE THE PEWABIC TILES IN THE JAMES SCOTT MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN. THE CONSERVANCY HAS ALSO SUPPORTED THE CITY'S EFFORT TO RENEW THE NATIONAL REGISTER FOR HISTORIC PLACES DESIGNATION FOR BELLE ISLE, THROUGH DOCUMENTATION, RESEARCH AND PUBLIC MEETINGS. THE BELLE ISLE CONSERVANCY HAS ACTED AS A FIDUCIARY FOR THE CITY OF DETROIT FOR STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE GRANTS TO RESTORE THE NANCY BROWN PEACE CARILLON TOWER WHICH IS IN DISREPAIR, AND TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF RECONNECTING THE BELLE ISLE AQUARIUM AND ANNA SCRIPPS WHITCOMB CONSERVATORY, AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED BY ALBERT KAHN IN THE EARLY 1900S. CONSERVANCY VOLUNTEERS CONSTANTLY MONITOR THE CONDITION OF BELLE ISLE STRUCTURES, STREETLIGHTS, FOOTPATH BRIDGES OVER THE CANALS AND OTHER STRUCTURES AND REPORT PROBLEMS TO BELLE ISLE CONSERVANCY, THE CITY OF DETROIT AND THE STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

  Expenses $57,188

• THE BELLE ISLE CONSERVANCY'S EDUCATION AND VISITOR ENGAGEMENT TEAM INSPIRES A LIFETIME OF CURIOSITY, PASSION, AND STEWARDSHIP FOR AQUATIC AND PLANT ECOSYSTEMS IN PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE ON-SITE FIELD TRIPS FOR THIRD THROUGH FIFTH GRADERS AT THE BELLE ISLE AQUARIUM AND ANNA SCRIPPS WHITCOMB CONSERVATORY AND PRIVATE TOURS FOR ADULTS AND SENIORS.

  Expenses $150,641

• ALL OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: ARE THOSE SERVICES THAT IMPROVE BELLE ISLE PARK FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF ALL, BUT ARE NOT SPECIFICALLY COVERED UNDER HISTORIC PRESERVATION, AQUARIUM AND CONSERVATORY, OR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP ( I.E. REGULAR REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE, CONSULTING SERVICES, ETC.). VOLUNTEER SERVICES: THE BELLE ISLE CONSERVANCY RECRUITS, MANAGES, AND TRAINS VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE SERVING AT BELLE ISLE PARK. THESE VOLUNTEERS WORK IN MYRIAD CAPACITIES SUCH AS FACILITY GREETERS AT THE AQUARIUM AND CONSERVATORY, STEWARDSHIP VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP KEEP THE PARK CLEAN AND SAFE, EDUCATIONAL VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP US IMPLEMENT OUR EDUCATIONAL FIELDTRIPS, EVENT VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP TO PLAN AND FACILITATE COMMUNITY EVENTS AND FUNDRAISING EVENTS, COMMUNITY VOULNTEERS, STEWARDS, AND MORE. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS AT THE HEART OF THE ORGANIZATION'S WORK AND GREATLY SUPPORTS THE WORK OF MDNR AND THE CITY OF DETROIT.IT IS ESSENTIAL TO UNDERSTAND THE PRIORITIES OF RESIDENTS WHO OWN THIS BELOVED PUBLIC SPACE AND THE BELLE ISLE CONSERVANCY PRIDES ITSELF ON NOT ONLY STRONG ENGAGEMENT DURING PLANNING PROCESSES, BUT A CONSISTENTLY OPEN "FRONT DOOR" TO HEAR FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES ON A DAILY BASIS. ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP: BELLE ISLE'S 982 ACRES INCLUDE A LARGE WETLAND FOREST, A SYSTEM OF CANALS AND INTERIOR LAKES IN THIS PARK THAT IS ITSELF AN ISLAND, AND TREES AND OTHER PLANTINGS THROUGHOUT THE HEAVILY USED PICNIC AND PLAYGROUND AREAS. THROUGH THE CONSERVANCY'S KEEP BELLE ISLE BEAUTIFUL PROGRAM WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOBILIZE HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS EACH YEAR TO HELP KEEP THE ISLAND, IT'S WATERWAYS, AND THE DETROIT RIVER FREE OF HARMFUL RUBBISH AND MICROPLASTICS. IN 2019, WITH HELP FROM THE EPA, THE CONSERVANCY GREW THIS PROGRAM TO FORM THE BI-NATIONAL DETROIT RIVER COALITION, A GROUP OF ENTITIES IN CANADA AND DETROIT HELPING TO PRESERVE OUR WATERWAYS. OVER 50,000 DAFFODILS HAVE BEEN PLANTED THROUGHOUT THE PARK THROUGH A VOLUNTEER EFFORT AND WITH SUPPORT FROM THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. STUDENTS THAT ATTEND OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING ALSO HELP IN MONITORING THE VERNAL PONDS ON THE ISLAND AND ASSIST IN WATER COLLECTION AND TESTING IN THE CANALS OF THE ISLAND. WE ALSO COORDINATE WITH THE MDNR ON SUPPORTING THE STRONGEST ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES FOR DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND SHORELINE WORK FOR ANY CAPTIAL INITIATIVE UNDERWAY.

  Expenses $136,853

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

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

2024

Filed

13 November 2025

IRS schema version

2024v5.0

Source object

202523219349321612

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

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