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Nonprofiteer
← NATURE FORWARD INC

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by NATURE FORWARD INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$4,492,927
Total expenses
$4,682,589
Contributions and grants received
$2,849,339
Grants paid
$61,958
Program service revenue
$1,169,339
Investment income
$382,637
Other revenue
$91,612
Total assets, end of year
$15,099,049
Total liabilities, end of year
$903,862
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$14,195,187
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$3,903,979
Management and general expenses
$258,893
Fundraising expenses
$519,717
Program service expenses (Part III)
$3,903,979

Program services were 83.4% 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.

  • 1b · Membership dues

    $127,305

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $2,722,034

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $214,443

  • 2a · Program service revenue: Education Programs

    total $1,169,339 · related or exempt $1,169,339

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $312,108 · excluded $312,108

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $586,288

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $649,598

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property -$63,310

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total -$63,310 · excluded -$63,310

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $3,405,958

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

    securities $3,335,429

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $70,529

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $70,529 · excluded $70,529

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $235,124

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $81,771

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $153,353 · related or exempt $153,353

  • 11a · Other revenue: Other

    total $1,569 · related or exempt $1,569

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $1,569

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $38,605 · program services $38,605

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $23,353 · program services $23,353

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $334,999 · program services $297,583 · management and general $1,350 · fundraising $36,066

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $2,156,494 · program services $1,895,066 · management and general $9,436 · fundraising $251,992

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $79,790 · program services $70,878 · management and general $322 · fundraising $8,590

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $284,293 · program services $247,468 · management and general $1,329 · fundraising $35,496

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $176,218 · program services $156,536 · management and general $711 · fundraising $18,971

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $500 · management and general $500

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $21,386 · program services $17,564 · management and general $1,982 · fundraising $1,840

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $39,067 · management and general $39,067

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $821,703 · program services $562,653 · management and general $163,770 · fundraising $95,280

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $7,781 · program services $5,858 · management and general $1,223 · fundraising $700

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $134,315 · program services $106,115 · management and general $4,131 · fundraising $24,069

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $214,422 · program services $183,886 · management and general $15,846 · fundraising $14,690

  • 17 · Travel

    total $69,227 · program services $68,618 · management and general $368 · fundraising $241

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $32,155 · program services $15,372 · management and general $2,455 · fundraising $14,328

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $128,142 · program services $119,925 · management and general -$1,219 · fundraising $9,436

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $43,466 · program services $36,758 · management and general $2,325 · fundraising $4,383

  • 24a · Other expenses: Bank and Merchant Fees

    total $65,271 · program services $57,741 · management and general $3,895 · fundraising $3,635

  • 24b · Other expenses: Miscellaneous

    total $11,402 · management and general $11,402

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $2,635,643 · end of year $1,959,732

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $294,211 · end of year $210,222

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $966,065 · end of year $614,752

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $55,189 · end of year $169,083

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $311,723 · end of year $331,665

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $92,929 · end of year $65,965

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

    $5,045,214

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

    $1,663,242

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $3,080,617 · end of year $3,381,972

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $7,142,298 · end of year $8,365,658

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $487,818 · end of year $386,677

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $560,139 · end of year $484,283

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    end of year $32,902

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $6,795,144 · end of year $7,136,213

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $6,735,574 · end of year $7,058,974

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

Nature Forward inspires residents of the DC area to appreciate, understand, and protect their natural environment through outdoor experiences, education and advocacy, and creates a larger and more diverse community of people who treasure the natural world and work to preserve it.

  • Environmental Education Nature Forwards educational mission is to nurture a lifetime of outdoor discovery, exploration and stewardship of nature for people in the Washington, DC metro region. The Organization connects with individuals and groups of all ages to create a community of people who actively care for the natural world. Through our children and youth programs we reach more than 14,000 children each year with classroom visits, school field trips, afterschool programs, a licensed preschool, and summer camps. Our GreenKids program partners with public schools in Montgomery and Prince Georges counties in Maryland, Loudon County in Virginia and the District of Columbia to foster a culture of environmental stewardship in schools and provide professional development to teachers. Our continuing education programs educate and train more than 2,000 adults annually in natural history and conservation topics. Our outreach programs work to reach families in their communitiesnear where people live, work, and go to schooland connect them to nearby nature through engaging, hands-on activities and trainings. We work with community leaders, partner organizations, and empowered community members.

    Expenses $1,594,043 · Grants $26,359

  • Sanctuaries Nature Forward maintains two nature sanctuaries: our headquarters 40-acre Woodend Sanctuary in Chevy Chase, MD and our 68-acre Rust Sanctuary in Leesburg, VA. The Organization provides free public access to our sanctuaries and invites people to enjoy our trails, including a new wheelchair accessible trail at Woodend. The sanctuaries protect critical wildlife habitats in the DC metro region and provide opportunities for people to discover and appreciate the natural world through self-guided and naturalist-led experiences. The sanctuaries educate people of all ages and abilities about environmental stewardship, serve as gathering places for environmental classes and provide a hub for organizations working to preserve the quality of the environment in the Washington, DC area. The Organization actively works to restore the habitats at its nature sanctuaries.

    Expenses $978,763

  • The Organization has the annual support of more than 1,884 active member households representing approximately 5,000 individuals in the DC metro region. Members participate in environmental education programs, support conservation programs through grassroots advocacy and environmental stewardship, restore habitats, and provide volunteer support in many capacities. Annually, more than 330 people volunteer for the Organization by serving on the Board of Directors and its committees, monitoring the water quality of local streams, maintaining and restoring Nature Forward sanctuaries, leading nature education programs, representing Nature Forward at community events, supporting office functions, and testifying at public hearings.

    Expenses $707,907 · Grants $925

  • The Nature Forward conservation program works to promote healthy communities for people and wildlife through advocacy and policy across four priority areas in the DC Metro Region: human health & access to nature; biodiversity & habitats; the climate crisis; and sustainable land use. The Organizations conservation outreach brings community members together to collect data on local flora, fauna and stream health and then uses that data to advocate for preservation of our regions special natural places. Each year we train and mobilize thousands of people to take action as monitors, stewards and advocates of our precious environment. Through our advocacy Action Network, more than 6,000 people learn about and take grassroots action with the Organization annually to protect nature in the DC region.

    Expenses $623,266 · Grants $31,229

As filed on the 2023 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • Lisa Alexander

    Executive Director - Until 12

    Total calculated
    $283,237
    From this org
    $232,500
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $50,737
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $187,500
    Bonus
    $45,000
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $30,904
    Nontaxable benefits
    $19,833
    Filer's total
    $283,237

  • Amy Ritsko-Warren

    Deputy Director of Administra

    Total calculated
    $118,204
    From this org
    $102,497
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,707
    Hours/week
    40

  • Sherrice Ajebon

    Deputy Director of Finance

    Total calculated
    $117,692
    From this org
    $103,031
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,661
    Hours/week
    40

  • Alison Pearce

    Executive Director - As of 1

    Total calculated
    $107,634
    From this org
    $102,499
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $5,135
    Hours/week
    40

  • Al Carr

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Bill McGrath

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Charles Costen-Sumpter

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Barbara Wahl

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Deborah Cowan

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Maria Felski

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Rebecca Long

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Sarah Davidson

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Noel Carson

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Abel Olivo

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Josefina Doumbia

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • James Burris

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • John Green

    Vice President

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Hughey Newsome

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Nancy Voit

    President

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Diane Wood

    Immediate Past President

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

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 · Written employment contract
  • 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
2023
Filed
20 February 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202510519349300416

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