Nonprofit · EIN 36-3913497
JO DAVIESS CONSERVATION FOUNDATION INC
Tax-exempt · ELIZABETH, IL 61028
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $5,350,543 | $2,199,771 | $3,150,772 | $25,706,751 | $177,433 | $25,529,318 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $2,926,055 | $2,638,367 | $287,688 | $21,394,058 | $196,961 | $21,197,097 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $6,339,207 | $2,619,172 | $3,720,035 | $20,550,614 | $270,328 | $20,280,286 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $4,977,333
- Membership dues
- $8,168
- Program service revenue
- $286,873
- Investment income
- $86,337
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $25,656
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $21,060
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $115,361
- Other salaries and wages
- $921,552
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,178,306
- Professional fundraising fees
- $395,426
- Accounting fees
- $30,188
- Occupancy
- $43,171
- Travel
- $14,096
- Depreciation
- $127,507
- Program services (functional)
- $1,320,165
- Management and general (functional)
- $240,674
- Fundraising (functional)
- $638,932
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $21,394,058
- Total assets, end of year
- $25,706,751
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $177,433
- Net assets, end of year
- $25,529,318
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $1,311,955
- Publicly traded securities
- $13,529,090
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $10,125,400
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $15,403,918
- Gross receipts
- $8,039,037
- Employees
- 21
- Volunteers
- 133
- Year formed
- 1993
- State of legal domicile
- IL
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEVE BARG | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $107,581 | $6,215 |
| EMILY PAINTER | PRESIDENT THRU 04/2025 Trustee or director, Officer | 6 | $0 | $0 |
| ALAN WENZEL | VICE PRESIDENT/PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 6 | $0 | $0 |
| SUSAN MCDONALD | SECRETARY THRU 04/2025 Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| CARTER NEWTON | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| MARILYN SPIROFF | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 6 | $0 | $0 |
| FRAN PETERSON | VICE PRESIDENT AS OF 04/2025 Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LAURIE MATTAS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RANDY DOWNING | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DAN DICK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRIS LARSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DOUG DUFFORD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERTA ASHER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KEN BEACH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| NAN HOFF | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
2 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JENNA DIEDRICH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| LOIS GORDON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 16 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEVE BARG | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $104,658 | $5,147 |
| EMILY PAINTER | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 6 | $0 | $0 |
| ALAN WENZEL | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| SUSAN MCDONALD | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| MARILYN SPIROFF | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 6 | $0 | $0 |
| LAURIE MATTAS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERTA ASHER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KEN BEACH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DAN DICK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RANDY DOWNING | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DOUG DUFFORD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LOIS GORDON | DIRECTOR THRU 4/2024 Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRIS LARSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MIKE MCCOY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CARTER NEWTON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| FRAN PETERSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 19 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEVE BARG | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $99,548 | $8,984 |
| EMILY PAINTER | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 6 | $0 | $0 |
| LAURIE MATTAS | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SUSAN MCDONALD | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| MARILYN SPIROFF | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 6 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERTA ASHER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MAUREEN BARDUSK | DIRECTOR (THRU APR 2023) Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KEN BEACH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DAN DICK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RANDY DOWNING | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DOUG DUFFORD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LOIS GORDON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRIS LARSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MIKE MCCOY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CARTER NEWTON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ROSE NOBLE | DIRECTOR (THRU APR 2023) Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| FRAN PETERSON | DIRECTOR (THRU APR 2023) Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| CARL SCHWERDTFEGER | DIRECTOR (THRU APR 2023) Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ALAN WENZEL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 6 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 126 N MAIN ST, ELIZABETH, IL 61028-8801
- In care of
- % JULIE BRUSER
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- NATHAN AABERG, 126 N MAIN ST, ELIZABETH, IL 61028
- Signed the 990
- NATHAN AABERG, PRESIDENT/CEO
- Phone
- (815) 858-9100
- Website
- WWW.JDCF.ORG
- Return prepared by
- EIDE BAILLY LLP
Mission
JDCF WORKS TO PRESERVE AND STEWARD LAND AND WATER FOR THE LASTING WELL-BEING OF ALL PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE.
Program accomplishments
- STEWARDSHIP AND PUBLIC ACCESS: IN ANY GIVEN YEAR THESE SERVICES MAKE UP THE LARGEST ANNUAL PROGRAM EXPENSE FOR JDCF. LABOR AND EQUIPMENT COMPRISE THE BULK OF THESE PROGRAM SERVICES FOR THE CARE, MAINTENANCE AND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF PROPERTY HELD IN PUBLIC TRUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE IN NW ILLINOIS. IN 2025, JDCF'S DRIFTLESS STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE (DSI) PROGRAM WAS WOUND DOWN. OF THE MORE THAN 2,000 ACRES THAT JDCF OWNS, APPROXIMATELY 1,500 ACRES WITH OVER 60 MILES OF TRAILS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR PASSIVE RECREATION AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING TWO PARTNER PRESERVES. IN 2025, WE ESTIMATE OVER 25,000 PEOPLE VISITED OUR PRESERVES. OUR DEDICATED TEAM OF RESTORATION SPECIALISTS ACQUIRED A NEW SURE TRAC TRAILER AND ATV THROUGH AN ILDNR GRANT. REVENUE FOR STEWARDSHIP TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $432,000; DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS TOTALED $68,756.Expenses $802,498 · revenue $87,169
- EDUCATIONAL SERVICES: IN 2025, JDCF CONTINUED MAKING DEEP CONNECTIONS WITH INDIGENOUS TRIBES (WHO FORMERLY CALLED JO DAVIESS COUNTY HOME), SPECIFICALLY THE HO-CHUNK (AND WINNEBAGO) NATIONS AND THE SAC AND FOX NATION OF OKLAHOMA. IN COLLABORATION WITH THESE GROUPS, JDCF IS AT THE BEGINNING OF A LONG-TERM LEARNING JOURNEY WITH AN END GOAL OF PROVIDING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES FOR LISTENING, LEARNING, AND CELEBRATING THE HERITAGE OF THE LAND IT PRESERVES AND STEWARDS. OUR EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ADDED ONE NEW STAFF MEMBER IN 2025 AND LAUNCHED THE MIGHTY ACORNS PROGRAM BRINGING CONSERVATION EDUCATION THAT MEETS STATE EDUCATION STANDARDS INTO LOCAL SCHOOL CLASSROOMS. DELIVERING JDCF'S EDUCATION AND OUTREACH SERVICES DEPENDS ON PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SUPPORT FROM A ROBUST VOLUNTEER CORPS OF OVER 50 VOLUNTEERS, AND SUPPORT FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES AND GRANTS FROM PRIVATE GIVING FOUNDATIONS. GRANTS, INDIVIDUAL AND LOCAL BUSINESS PARTNER CONTRIBUTIONS TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $90,000.Expenses $283,868 · revenue $5,945
- LAND PRESERVATION: JDCF PRESERVES LAND IN TWO DISTINCT WAYS, CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND ACQUISITIONS. DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $5,000.Expenses $233,799 · grants $21,060 · revenue $193,759
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 36-3913497
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1994
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Environment (C340)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $25,706,751
- Income (IRS master file)
- $8,039,037
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $5,350,543 | $2,199,771 | $25,706,751 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $2,926,055 | $2,638,367 | $21,394,058 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $6,339,207 | $2,619,172 | $20,550,614 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2022 | $5,991,742 | $1,939,129 | $15,883,864 | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 36-3913497).
Questions about JO DAVIESS CONSERVATION FOUNDATION INC
- What is the EIN of JO DAVIESS CONSERVATION FOUNDATION INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of JO DAVIESS CONSERVATION FOUNDATION INC is 36-3913497.
- Is JO DAVIESS CONSERVATION FOUNDATION INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1994.
- Are donations to JO DAVIESS CONSERVATION FOUNDATION INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does JO DAVIESS CONSERVATION FOUNDATION INC file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of JO DAVIESS CONSERVATION FOUNDATION INC due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did JO DAVIESS CONSERVATION FOUNDATION INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of JO DAVIESS CONSERVATION FOUNDATION INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names NATHAN AABERG.
- Who are the officers and directors of JO DAVIESS CONSERVATION FOUNDATION INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 17 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $107,581 (STEVE BARG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does JO DAVIESS CONSERVATION FOUNDATION INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $5,350,543, expenses of $2,199,771 and total assets of $25,706,751 at year end.
Other nonprofits in ELIZABETH
- JO-CARROL ENERGY INC NFP EIN 36-1284865 · last filed 990 for 2024
- ELIZABETH COMMUNITY AMBULANCE SERVICE EIN 36-2999043 · last filed 990 for 2024
- JDLF COLLECTIVE INC EIN 33-1330456 · last filed 990 for 2025
- COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY EIN 81-4961714 · last filed 990 for 2025
- FOX RIVER VALLEY HUNT ASSOCIATION EIN 36-2244918 · last filed 990 for 2024
- SAFE HAVEN EIN 36-4242148 · last filed 990 for 2025
- MASSBACH HOUNDS EIN 36-3055597 · last filed 990 for 2025
- JO DAVIESS COUNTY FARM BUREAU EIN 36-1284540 · last filed 990 for 2025