THE WETLANDS INITIATIVE

As filed

Subsection

03

NTEE code

C320

Classification

1000

Street

333 N MICHIGAN AVE STE 628

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

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

  Expenses $1,838,449 · Grants $35,612

• THROUGH THE "SMART WETLANDS" PROJECT, TWI IS WORKING TO SPREAD THE USE OF SMALL TILE-TREATMENT WETLANDS ON PRIVATE FARMLAND AS A NATURAL SOLUTION TO THE CRITICAL ISSUE OF NUTRIENT RUNOFF INTO LOCAL WATERWAYS AND ULTIMATELY, THE GULF OF MEXICO. THE ORGANIZATION PURSUES THIS GOAL THROUGH COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH AGENCIES AND PEERS IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, OUTREACH TO RAISE AWARENESS WITH LANDOWNERS AND THEIR TRUSTED ADVISERS, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS TO BUILD WETLANDS IN NEW COUNTIES AND WATERSHEDS. IN 2024, TWI EXECUTED THE FIRST STEPS IN A NEW BUSINESS PLAN TO EXPAND THE PROJECT'S REACH, INCLUDING FILLING A NEW ENGINEER POSITION TO ASSIST IN DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING MORE WETLAND SITES. THIS ADDED CAPACITY LED TO FIVE NEW SMART WETLAND DESIGNS IN PROCESS ACROSS FIVE NEW COUNTIES BY THE END OF THE YEAR. MEANWHILE, TWI FORMALIZED SEVERAL EXISTING AND NEW PARTNERSHIPS TO BEGIN A THREE-YEAR, STATEWIDE COORDINATED EFFORT TO INCREASE THE USE OF ON-FARM PRACTICES FOR WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN ILLINOIS, INCLUDING TILE-TREATMENT WETLANDS. FINALLY, DURING 2024, TWI BEGAN FORMING NEW PARTNERSHIPS TO EXPLORE DEPLOYING THE SMART WETLANDS CONCEPT AND PRACTICE IN INDIANA'S EXTENSIVE FARMING REGION.TWI IS ALSO EXPLORING OTHER INNOVATIVE WAYS THAT WETLANDS CAN BE INTEGRATED INTO THE FARM LANDSCAPE FOR CLEAN WATER. IN THE LAKE SPRINGFIELD WATERSHED, IN 2024 TWI WORKED WITH THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD'S CITY WATER, LIGHT, AND POWER UTILITY TO PURSUE THE USE OF LARGER, SPECIALLY DESIGNED TREATMENT WETLANDS ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTIES TO ADDRESS DRINKING WATER IMPAIRMENTS. FUNDING THROUGH THE STATE REVOLVING LOAN FUND COULD HELP MAKE THIS A REALITY, WITH POTENTIAL FOR IMPLEMENTATION ELSEWHERE IN ILLINOIS TO PROVIDE CLEANER DRINKING WATER. THE WETLANDS INITIATIVE IS INCREASINGLY PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING ITS WORK WITH A FOCUS ON THE POWERFUL ROLE THAT WETLAND RESTORATION CAN PLAY IN ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIETAL ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE. THE MIDWEST'S CLIMATE IS ALREADY SHIFTING TO MORE-INTENSE RAINFALL EVENTS, LONGER DRY SPELLS, AND IRREGULAR SEASONAL PRECIPITATION PATTERNS. RESTORED FRESHWATER WETLANDS PROVIDE RESILIENCE FUNCTIONS THAT INCLUDE STORING PRECIPITATION AND RUNOFF, MITIGATING LOCAL FLOOD RISKS, RECHARGING GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES DURING DROUGHTS, FILTERING AND PROCESSING NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTANTS, AND PROVIDING HABITAT REFUGES FOR DIVERSE SPECIES, AS WELL AS SEQUESTERING SOME ATMOSPHERIC CARBON IN HIGHLY ORGANIC SOILS. TWI'S VISION IS FOR THESE NATURAL "SPONGES" TO BE ONCE AGAIN SCATTERED ACROSS THE FLAT MIDWESTERN LANDSCAPE.

  Expenses $339,765

As filed on the 2024 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.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

• 2024

  Revenue

  $3,465,450

  Expenses

  $2,723,493

  Contributions

  $3,279,517

  Grants paid

  $35,612

• 2023

  Revenue

  $1,976,921

  Expenses

  $2,801,091

  Contributions

  $1,854,680

  Grants paid

  $14,034

• 2022

  Revenue

  $4,955,328

  Expenses

  $2,791,326

  Contributions

  $4,865,011

  Grants paid

  $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

• 2021 · 990

  Revenue

  $2,934,398

  Expenses

  $2,348,685

  Assets (EOY)

  $10,732,259

• 2020 · 990

  Revenue

  $2,434,760

  Expenses

  $1,984,747

  Assets (EOY)

  $10,049,194

• 2019 · 990

  Revenue

  $2,025,878

  Expenses

  $2,391,673

  Assets (EOY)

  $9,873,656

• 2018 · 990

  Revenue

  $2,367,451

  Expenses

  $2,591,048

  Assets (EOY)

  $10,229,543

• 2017 · 990

  Revenue

  $4,259,807

  Expenses

  $1,917,514

  Assets (EOY)

  $10,393,114

• 2016 · 990

  Revenue

  $2,783,224

  Expenses

  $1,615,330

  Assets (EOY)

  $7,973,583

• 2015 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,566,801

  Expenses

  $1,526,824

  Assets (EOY)

  $6,892,449

• 2014 · 990

  Revenue

  $4,815,206

  Expenses

  $1,495,560

  Assets (EOY)

  $7,205,066

• 2013 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,175,812

  Expenses

  $1,377,729

  Assets (EOY)

  $3,649,518

• 2012 · 990

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  $1,588,408

  Assets (EOY)

  $3,876,001

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

• CALUMET COLLABORATIVE

  $18,500

  2024 · SUPPORT FOR A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONSULTANT.

• AUDUBON GREAT LAKES

  $12,398

  2023 · SUPPORT OF THE WETLAND RESTORATION PROJECTS ALONG THE CALUMET RIVER IN NORTHWEST INDIANA.

• BROWN FACES GREEN SPACES INC

  $12,000

  2024 · SUPPORT FOR LITTLE CALUMET RIVER-CHASE STREET RESTORATION PROJECT.

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

• NATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATION

  $673,731

  2022 · SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS

• NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION

  $575,912

  2023 · EXPANDING NATIVE PLANTING IN LITTLE CALUMET RIVER

• IGRB FOUNDATION

  $500,000

  2022 · General Operating Support

• NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION

  $375,182

  2024 · ASSIST IL FARMS WITH WATER QUALITY PRACTICES

• OPENLANDS

  $165,341

  2024 · Subgrant to The Wetlands Initiative for wetland restoration at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

• NATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATION

  $104,521

  2024 · CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

• NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TR

  $90,000

  2023 · ENVIRONMENT, ANIMALS

• NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TR

  $85,000

  2024 · HUMAN SERVICES

• NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TR

  $82,500

  2022 · ENVIRONMENT, ANIMALS

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $63,350

  2023 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files