Nonprofit · EIN 85-1581238
FOREST FORWARD
Tax-exempt · DALLAS, TX 75315
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $14,793,991 | $3,414,034 | $11,379,957 | $35,326,558 | $4,952,831 | $30,373,727 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $7,856,409 | $2,288,987 | $5,567,422 | $24,355,200 | $5,361,430 | $18,993,770 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $14,725,607
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $141,504
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$74,605
- Other revenue
- -$73,120
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $62,886
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $248,847
- Other salaries and wages
- $745,955
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,144,139
- Professional fundraising fees
- $153,000
- Legal fees
- $8,161
- Accounting fees
- $280,909
- Occupancy
- $271,542
- Travel
- $50,775
- Depreciation
- $109,702
- Program services (functional)
- $1,557,583
- Management and general (functional)
- $659,032
- Fundraising (functional)
- $1,197,419
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $24,355,200
- Total assets, end of year
- $35,326,558
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $4,952,831
- Net assets, end of year
- $30,373,727
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $6,295,741
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $9,319,074
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $21,054,653
- Gross receipts
- $14,897,766
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 127
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, 2024, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELIZABETH WATTLEY | President & CEO Officer | 40 | $248,846 |
| SHARON CARSON | CHIEF ADV. OFFICER | 40 | $173,077 |
| CHRIS DOWDY | VP OF STRATEGY | 40 | $163,269 |
| ASHLEY WILSON | EXECUTIVE VP | 40 | $125,115 |
| CECILYN BRYAN | DIR OF OPERATIONS | 40 | $101,731 |
| LARRY JAMES | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
| MATRICE ELLIS-KIRK | Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 |
| JON HALBERT | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
| LINDA HALBERT | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
| GILBERT GERST | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 0.25 | $0 |
| REV MATTHEW RUFFNER | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
| FROSWA BOOKER-DREW | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
| DIANE RAGSDALE | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 0.25 | $0 |
| RABBI DAVID STERN | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
| THOMAS FOLEY | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
10 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEDRIC CORDELL ADAMS MD | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
| JAMILA THOMAS | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
| PETER BRODSKY | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
| MICHAEL HINOJOSA | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
| TERRY LOFTIS | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
| DAVID HUNTLEY | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
| CELIA WALKER | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
| JESSICA WASHINGTON | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
| NOELLE LEVEAUX | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
| RICK HIGHTOWER | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 12 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELIZABETH WATTLEY | President & CEO Officer | 40 | $190,000 |
| ALICIA PEOPLES | CHIEF DEV. OFFICER | 40 | $120,000 |
| CHRIS DOWDY | VP OF STRATEGY | 40 | $120,000 |
| LARRY JAMES | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
| MATRICE ELLIS-KIRK | Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 |
| JON HALBERT | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
| LINDA HALBERT | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
| GILBERT GERST | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 0.25 | $0 |
| REV MATTHEW RUFFNER | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
| FROSWA BOOKER-DREW | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
| DIANE RAGSDALE | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 0.25 | $0 |
| RABBI DAVID STERN | Director Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- PO BOX 152929, DALLAS, TX 75315-2929
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- ELIZABETH WATTLEY, PO BOX 152929, DALLAS, TX 75315
- Signed the 990
- ELIZABETH WATTLEY, President & CEO
- Phone
- (469) 676-9567
- Website
- FORESTFORWARD.ORG
- Return prepared by
- Sutton Frost Cary LLP
Mission
Forest Forward works with the community to combat the causes and effects of systemic inequities through neighborhood revitalization that centers efforts to accelerate the advancement of marginalized people. The centerpoint of the project is the restoration and renovation of the historic Forest Theater in South Dallas.
Program accomplishments
- FOREST THEATER PROJECT PRESERVING OUR CULTURAL IDENTITY AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY, THE FOREST THEATER, ONCE KNOWN FOR ITS MARQUEE AND BECKONING LIGHTS, WILL BE RESTORED, YIELDING 45,000 SQUARE FEET DEDICATED TO FOUR CRITICAL SPACES: CONCERT HALL CREATIVE LABORATORY-13,000 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE TO HOUSE MOVEMENT AND RECORDING STUDIO, FLEX SPACE, RESOURCE CENTER, SENSORY IMMERSION ROOM, ARTIST CLASSROOMS, AND LABS ROOF DECK STUDIO THEATER Forest Theater groundbreaking was in April 2024. This officially launched the beginning of an $80m renovation and restoration project, with opening slated for mid-2026. The theater will be a centerpiece of this revitalized South Dallas neighborhood (located three blocks from the MLK Jr. Arts Academy).CRADLE TO COLLEGE EDUCATION PATHWAY & COMMUNITY OUTREACH - A MULTI-YEAR PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO ADVANCE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES BY PROVIDING STUDENT ACCESS TO THE RESTORED FOREST THEATER AND ITS COMPONENT FEATURES SUCH AS THE SENSORY IMMERSION ROOM, STUDIO THEATER WITH ABILITY TO CONVERT FOR ANIMATION AND CGI TECHNOLOGY, AND PODCAST, BROADCAST, AND RECORDING STUDIO. THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP, THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING CENTER HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ARTS ACADEMY, EXTENDING ITS CURRICULAR OFFERINGS FROM PRE-K THROUGH THE EIGHTH GRADE.MLK Jr. Arts Academy moved from struggling school to high-performing, with several graduates accepted into the prestigious Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.Housing - Understanding that neighborhoods are impacted by their housing stock, Forest Forward works to establish collaborative relationships to support the development and construction of mixed-income housing. The approach to housing creation will focus on no displacement of residents and preserving affordability.Expenses $1,557,583 · grants $62,886
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 | Not 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
- 85-1581238
- 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
- 2021
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Community improvement and capacity building (S20)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $35,326,558
- Income (IRS master file)
- $14,897,766
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2024 | $14,793,991 | $3,414,034 | $35,326,558 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $7,856,409 | $2,288,987 | $24,355,200 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $2,958,247 | $1,541,870 | $10,740,283 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | 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 85-1581238).
Questions about FOREST FORWARD
- What is the EIN of FOREST FORWARD?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of FOREST FORWARD is 85-1581238.
- Is FOREST FORWARD tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2021.
- Are donations to FOREST FORWARD tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does FOREST FORWARD 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 FOREST FORWARD due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did FOREST FORWARD last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
- Who is the principal officer of FOREST FORWARD?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names ELIZABETH WATTLEY.
- Who are the officers and directors of FOREST FORWARD?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 25 people; 5 received compensation from the organization, the highest $248,846 (ELIZABETH WATTLEY, President & CEO).
- How much revenue does FOREST FORWARD have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $14,793,991, expenses of $3,414,034 and total assets of $35,326,558 at year end.
Other nonprofits in DALLAS
- TRINITY PARK CONSERVANCY EIN 20-2948236 · last filed 990 for 2025
- DALLAS TOURISM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT CORPORATION EIN 61-1689405 · last filed 990 for 2025
- SOUTHERN GATEWAY PUBLIC GREEN FOUNDATION EIN 82-3991844 · last filed 990 for 2025
- SALESMANSHIP CLUB OF DALLAS EIN 75-0717135 · last filed 990 for 2025
- SALESMANSHIP CLUB FOUNDATION EIN 75-2439715 · last filed 990 for 2025
- GLOBAL SEMICONDUCOTR ALLIANCE EIN 77-0376600 · last filed 990 for 2024
- CINCO RANCH RESIDENTIAL ASSOCIATION EIN 20-5892700 · last filed 990 for 2024
- 501 REALTY HOLDING CORPORATION EIN 26-1569836 · last filed 990 for 2024
All nonprofits in DALLAS · Texas · Community improvement and capacity building