THE CONSERVATION FUND A NONPROFIT CORPORATION Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

THE CONSERVATION FUND A NONPROFIT CORPORATION

EIN 52-1388917 · Environment (C300)

What they do

THE CONSERVATION FUND is IN THE BUSINESS of CONSERVATION, CREATING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT DRIVE NATURE-BASED ACTION for CLIMATE PROTECTION, SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIES and VIBRANT COMMUNITIES.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $96.30 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders35 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

91.87%of revenue went to mission work96.3% of expenses · Program services

1.71%of revenue went to fundraising1.8% of expenses

$108.15spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

1.86%of revenue went to management and office costs1.9% of expenses

$2.65in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

37.5%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $26,842,797 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $836,713 for LAWRENCE A SELZER (CEO & PRESIDENT). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$373,233,308

Mission workProgram services$342,906,58191.87% of revenue96.3% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$6,928,4961.86% of revenue1.9% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$6,381,6761.71% of revenue1.8% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$17,016,5554.56% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$356,216,75395.44% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 96.3% mission · 1.9% management · 1.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 95.44% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 96.4% mission · 2.1% management · 1.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 94.47% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 96.7% mission · 2.0% management · 1.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 100.78% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 96.7% mission · 2.0% management · 1.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 96.01% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 96.3% mission · 2.4% management · 1.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 100.48% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 95.9% mission · 2.4% management · 1.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 98.67% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 96.4% mission · 2.2% management · 1.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 92.91% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 98.6% mission · 0.7% management · 0.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 116.66% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$329,373,956

Expenses$356,216,753

Annual shortfall $26,842,797 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$342,906,581 · 96.3% of expenses

Management and office costs$6,928,496 · 1.9% of expenses

Fundraising$6,381,676 · 1.8% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$329,373,956

Expenses$356,216,753

Assets$942,756,399

Income$344,595,309

Contributions$123,503,860

Mission work (program services)$342,906,581

Fundraising$6,381,676

Grants given$222,781,883

Average grant$175,281

Management and general$6,928,496

Stocks and bonds$18,828,359

Accounting fees$296,926

Investing fees$29,648

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

LAWRENCE A SELZERCEO & PRESIDENT · 36 hrs/week $836,713Base $740,139 · Other $96,574

JOHN S GILBERTEVP & CFO · 36 hrs/week $522,331Base $466,450 · Other $55,881

DEAN H CANNONEVP & GENERAL COUNSEL · 36 hrs/week $509,985Base $476,430 · Other $33,555

MARK W ELSBREESVP CONSERVATION ACQUISITION · 38 hrs/week $394,829Base $329,313 · Other $65,516

MATTHEW S SEXTONSVP CONSERVATION ACQUISITION · 38 hrs/week $381,853Base $329,653 · Other $52,200

MONICA A GARRISONSVP & TREASURER · 32 hrs/week $371,588Base $308,170 · Other $63,418

BRIAN J DANGLERSVP & DIRECTOR OF WORKING FOREST FUND · 38 hrs/week $371,324Base $308,194 · Other $63,130

KELLY M REEDSVP GOVERNMENT RELATIONS · 38 hrs/week $366,230Base $327,445 · Other $38,785

EVAN H SMITHSVP CONSERVATION VENTURES · 38 hrs/week $359,377Base $320,060 · Other $39,317

ELIZABETH PALMERVP OF HUMAN RESOURCES · 38 hrs/week $354,263Base $309,633 · Other $44,630

ERIK J MEYERSVP CLIMATE AND WATER SUSTAINABILITY · 38 hrs/week $308,781Base $273,050 · Other $35,731

CHRISTOPHER D BELLDEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL · 38 hrs/week $299,028Base $274,399 · Other $24,629

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (35)

LAWRENCE A SELZERCEO & PRESIDENT

JOHN S GILBERTEVP & CFO

DEAN H CANNONEVP & GENERAL COUNSEL

MARK W ELSBREESVP CONSERVATION ACQUISITION

MATTHEW S SEXTONSVP CONSERVATION ACQUISITION

MONICA A GARRISONSVP & TREASURER

BRIAN J DANGLERSVP & DIRECTOR OF WORKING FOREST FUND

KELLY M REEDSVP GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

EVAN H SMITHSVP CONSERVATION VENTURES

ELIZABETH PALMERVP OF HUMAN RESOURCES

ERIK J MEYERSVP CLIMATE AND WATER SUSTAINABILITY

CHRISTOPHER D BELLDEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL

BLAINE T PHILLIPS JRSVP CON ACQ (UNTIL 6/30/24)

MARGARET A MCCANTSBOARD SEC & CON ACQ DIRECTOR

PAUL E HAGENVICE CHAIR

RICHARD W WAGNERDIRECTOR

SHAMEEK KONARDIRECTOR

LUIS A DE LA GARZADIRECTOR

THRUSTON B MORTON IIIDIRECTOR

KIMBERLEE R CORNETTDIRECTOR

KEVYN D ORRDIRECTOR

TODD C CARTERDIRECTOR

JULIE G BARKERDIRECTOR

JILL L LONG THOMPSONDIRECTOR

JENNIFER L HERNANDEZDIRECTOR

JAY F WAGLEYDIRECTOR

JAMES WHITEHURSTDIRECTOR

J STOREY CHARBONNETDIRECTOR

INGRID C BURKEDIRECTOR

GREGORY A BEARDDIRECTOR

G WILSON HUGHESDIRECTOR (UNTIL 9/19/24)

DAVID P BOZEMANDIRECTOR

DANIEL TISHMANCHAIR

CHARLES A CHERINGTONDIRECTOR

C PORTER SCHUTT IIIDIRECTOR (UNTIL 9/19/24)

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1985
Location: 1655 FORT MYER DR STE 1300, ARLINGTON, VA 22209-3199
County: Arlington
In care of: JOHN GILBERT
Primary officer: JOHN GILBERT, EVP & CFO

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emailhi@conservationfund.org Phone(703) 525-6300

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: January 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: RSM US LLP
NTEE classification: Environment (C300)
Grant-giving organization: Yes