Nonprofit · EIN 53-0233715
NATURE FORWARD INC
Tax-exempt · CHEVY CHASE, MD 20815
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 31, 2025 | 990 | $5,949,818 | $5,662,263 | $287,555 | $15,927,791 | $1,036,641 | $14,891,150 |
| August 31, 2024 | 990 | $4,492,927 | $4,682,589 | -$189,662 | $15,099,049 | $903,862 | $14,195,187 |
| August 31, 2023 | 990 | $5,600,052 | $4,573,694 | $1,026,358 | $14,578,675 | $1,047,957 | $13,530,718 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $3,801,141
- Membership dues
- $119,149
- Program service revenue
- $1,484,010
- Investment income
- $434,671
- Net rental income
- $94,574
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $100,707
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $134,194
- Other revenue
- $229,996
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $88,878
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $337,731
- Other salaries and wages
- $2,407,666
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $3,381,292
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $847
- Accounting fees
- $22,677
- Occupancy
- $320,507
- Travel
- $30,168
- Depreciation
- $61,081
- Program services (functional)
- $4,881,052
- Management and general (functional)
- $264,284
- Fundraising (functional)
- $516,927
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $15,099,049
- Total assets, end of year
- $15,927,791
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $1,036,641
- Net assets, end of year
- $14,891,150
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $3,402,297
- Publicly traded securities
- $8,970,101
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $6,875,883
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $8,015,267
- Gross receipts
- $8,981,782
- Employees
- 151
- Volunteers
- 333
- Year formed
- 1947
- State of legal domicile
- DC
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 August 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lisa Alexander | Executive Director - Former Officer | 40 | $200,000 | $63,173 |
| Sherrice Ajebon | Deputy Director of Finance Highest-paid employee | 40 | $109,431 | $21,519 |
| Amy Ritsko-Warren | Deputy Director of Administration Highest-paid employee | 40 | $109,931 | $5,464 |
| Alison Pearce | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $107,231 | $5,389 |
| Abel Olivo | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Noel Carson | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Sarah Davidson | Secretary Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Josefina Doumbia | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| William Kirwan | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Stella Koch | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Bill McGrath | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Al Carr | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Hatsy Cutshall | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Maria Felski | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| David Asai | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
6 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbara Wahl | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Inga Skippings | Director Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| Hughey Newsome | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| John Green | Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Diane Wood | Immediate Past President Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Nancy Voit | President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended August 31, 2024: 20 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lisa Alexander | Executive Director - Until 12 Officer | 40 | $232,500 | $50,737 |
| Amy Ritsko-Warren | Deputy Director of Administra Highest-paid employee | 40 | $102,497 | $15,707 |
| Sherrice Ajebon | Deputy Director of Finance Highest-paid employee | 40 | $103,031 | $14,661 |
| Alison Pearce | Executive Director - As of 1 Officer | 40 | $102,499 | $5,135 |
| Al Carr | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Bill McGrath | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Charles Costen-Sumpter | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Barbara Wahl | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Deborah Cowan | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Maria Felski | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Rebecca Long | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Sarah Davidson | Secretary Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Noel Carson | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Abel Olivo | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Josefina Doumbia | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| James Burris | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| John Green | Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Hughey Newsome | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Nancy Voit | President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Diane Wood | Immediate Past President Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended August 31, 2023: 21 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lisa Alexander | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $166,500 | $28,298 |
| Amy Ritsko-Warren | Deputy Director of Administra Highest-paid employee | 40 | $102,292 | $16,844 |
| Lois Taylor | Comptroller Highest-paid employee | 40 | $112,195 | $5,610 |
| Allison Pearce | Deputy Director of Programs Highest-paid employee | 40 | $102,292 | $5,309 |
| James Burris | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Josefina Doumbia | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Nancy Voit | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Rebecca Long | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Wilfred Quasie-Woode | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Alan Spears | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Bill McGrath | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Abel Olivo | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Noel Carson | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| John Green | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Rebecca Lemos-Otero | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Chance Lundy | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Sarah Davidson | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Rob Timmons | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Hughey Newsome | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Beth Ziebarth | Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Diane Wood | President Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 8940 JONES MILL RD, CHEVY CHASE, MD 20815-4725
- In care of
- % ALISON PEARCE
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- Alison Pearce, 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
- Signed the 990
- ALISON PEARCE, Executive Director
- Phone
- (301) 652-9188
- Website
- www.natureforward.org
- Return prepared by
- Mullins PC
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.
Program accomplishments
- 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 $1,883,582 · grants $58,519
- 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 $1,572,020
- 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 $723,945 · grants $2,201
- 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 $701,505 · grants $26,811
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 August, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | August 31, 2026 | January 15, 2027 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | August 31, 2025 | January 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | August 31, 2024 | January 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 53-0233715
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1947
- Accounting year ends
- August
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Environment (C300)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $15,927,791
- Income (IRS master file)
- $8,981,782
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | August 2025 | $5,949,818 | $5,662,263 | $15,927,791 | XML |
| 990 | August 2024 | $4,492,927 | $4,682,589 | $15,099,049 | XML |
| 990 | August 2023 | $5,600,052 | $4,573,694 | $14,578,675 | XML |
| 990 | August 2022 | $5,136,432 | $4,361,179 | $13,470,867 | IRS |
| 990 | August 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | August 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | August 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | August 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 53-0233715).
Questions about NATURE FORWARD INC
- What is the EIN of NATURE FORWARD INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of NATURE FORWARD INC is 53-0233715.
- Is NATURE FORWARD INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1947.
- Are donations to NATURE FORWARD INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does NATURE FORWARD 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 NATURE FORWARD INC due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending August 31, 2026) is due January 15, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did NATURE FORWARD INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended August 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of NATURE FORWARD INC?
- The 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 names Alison Pearce.
- Who are the officers and directors of NATURE FORWARD INC?
- The 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 lists 21 people; 4 received compensation from the organization, the highest $200,000 (Lisa Alexander, Executive Director - Former).
- How much revenue does NATURE FORWARD INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $5,949,818, expenses of $5,662,263 and total assets of $15,927,791 at year end.
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