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Western Conservation Foundation

Organization summary

Type of Nonprofit

Designated as a Organizations for any of the following purposes: religious, educational, charitable, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition (as long as it doesn't provide athletic facilities or equipment), or the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.

Category: Environmental Quality, Protection and Beautification / Natural Resources Conservation and Protection (NTEE)

Donations to this organization are tax deductible.

Summary charts: organization finances over time

Revenue
$15M (2023)

Expenses
$13.9M (2023)

Total Assets
$7.93M (2023)

Total Liabilities
$1.54M (2023)

Source: Form 990 tax filings from 2011 to 2023

Tax Filings by Year

Form 990 is an information return that most organizations claiming federal tax-exempt status must file yearly with the IRS. Nonprofit Explorer has IRS digitized Form 990 data for filings processed in 2012 and later. If this organization filed an amended return, it may not be reflected below. Duplicate download links may indicate a resubmission or amendment to this organization's original return. Form 990 data is from the IRS.

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2023

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$14,955,171
Expenses
$13,894,191
Net Income
$1,060,980
Net Assets
$6,383,215
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $14,789,000
98.9%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $166,171
1.1%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $660,064
4.8%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $1,670,927
12.0%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $7,928,047
Total Liabilities $1,544,832
Net Assets $6,383,215
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Brendon Cechovic (Ceo) $213,125 $36,875 $48,573
Aaron Browning (Dir Fed Publ) $189,280 $9,247 $32,271
Shara Kaplin (Chief Of Sta) $182,006 $27,994 $41,905
Leah Wieneke (Chief Ops Of) $149,151 $39,156 $51,591
Monica Piergrossi (Program Dire) $60,838 $102,412 $26,744
Brennan Bilberry (Board Member) $0 $0 $0
Lisa Pawlek Jaguzny (Board Member) $0 $0 $0
Chris Killingsworth (Board Member) $0 $0 $0
Molly Mcusic (Board Member) $0 $0 $0
William Roberts (Board Member) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2022

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$12,702,937
Expenses
$12,592,869
Net Income
$110,068
Net Assets
$5,322,235
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $12,642,000
99.5%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $60,937
0.5%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $669,443
5.3%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $1,659,697
13.2%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $6,746,323
Total Liabilities $1,424,088
Net Assets $5,322,235
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Brendon Cechovic (Ceo) $216,045 $7,555 $44,469
Aaron Browning (Dir Fed Publ) $193,713 $0 $30,970
Shara Kaplin (Chief Of Sta) $188,509 $11,939 $39,310
Sarah Cobler (State Lands) $156,000 $0 $43,028
Sara Moffat (Government R) $153,762 $38,441 $40,092
Leah Wieneke (Coo) $142,590 $19,391 $46,625
Monica Piergrossi (Program Dire) $64,660 $78,590 $23,924
Niki Hawthorne (Dir Special) $37,856 $97,344 $42,843
Brennan Bilberry (Board Member) $0 $0 $0
Lisa Pawlek Jaguzny (Board Member) $0 $0 $0
Chris Killingsworth (Board Member) $0 $0 $0
Molly Mcusic (Board Member) $0 $0 $0
William Roberts (Board Member) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2021

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$13,024,526
Expenses
$12,667,108
Net Income
$357,418
Net Assets
$5,212,167
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $13,012,000
99.9%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $12,526
0.1%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $675,846
5.3%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $1,668,544
13.2%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $6,156,193
Total Liabilities $944,026
Net Assets $5,212,167
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Brendon Cechovic (Chief Executive Officer) $210,808 $7,043 $40,364
Shara Kaplin (Chief Of Staff) $186,896 $6,064 $38,693
Aaron Browning (Director Of Federal Public) $163,193 $17,640 $28,948
Leah Wieneke (Chief Operating Officer) $160,945 $11,496 $45,580
Sara Moffat (Director Of Government Rel) $150,500 $37,625 $39,543
Sarah Cobler (Director Of State Lands Pr) $149,760 $0 $43,275
Greta Bagwell (Deputy Director Of Fed Public Lands Dc) $119,904 $8,745 $41,135
Niki Hawthorne (Director Of Special Projects) $36,224 $97,197 $41,650
Chris Killingsworth (Board Member, President) $0 $0 $0
Brennan Bilberry (Board Member, Treasurer) $0 $0 $0
William Roberts (Board Member) $0 $0 $0
Molly Mc Usic (Board Member) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2020

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$13,556,318
Expenses
$13,649,325
Net Income
-$93,007
Net Assets
$4,854,749
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $13,538,650
99.9%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $17,668
0.1%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $640,508
4.7%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $1,801,013
13.2%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $5,766,397
Total Liabilities $911,648
Net Assets $4,854,749
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Brendon Cechovic (Chief Executive Officer) $195,583 $9,037 $37,161
Shara Kaplin (Chief Of Staff) $179,175 $4,281 $36,456
Aaron Browning (Director Of Federal Public Lands) $159,545 $18,355 $28,100
Leah Wieneke (Chief Operating Officer) $157,519 $8,290 $41,660
Sarah Cobler (Director Of State Lands Pr) $144,000 $0 $38,644
Sara Moffat (Director Of Government Rel) $136,560 $34,140 $36,673
Greta Bagwell (Deputy Director Of Fed Ld.) $126,219 $0 $39,132
Monica Pergrossi (Program Director) $96,612 $34,559 $31,118
Chris Killingsworth (Board Member, President) $0 $0 $0
Brennan Bilberry (Board Member, Treasurer) $0 $0 $0
William Roberts (Board Member) $0 $0 $0
Molly Mc Usic (Board Member) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2019

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$12,388,424
Expenses
$13,312,025
Net Income
-$923,601
Net Assets
$4,947,756
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $12,347,950
99.7%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $40,474
0.3%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $611,976
4.6%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $1,524,889
11.5%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $6,395,195
Total Liabilities $1,447,439
Net Assets $4,947,756

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2018

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$9,874,981
Expenses
$13,870,226
Net Income
-$3,995,245
Net Assets
$5,871,357
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $9,820,193
99.4%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $54,788
0.6%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $377,579
2.7%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $1,528,497
11.0%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $6,759,265
Total Liabilities $887,908
Net Assets $5,871,357

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2017

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$19,847,575
Expenses
$13,659,422
Net Income
$6,188,153
Net Assets
$9,866,602
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $19,827,236
99.9%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $20,339
0.1%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $374,362
2.7%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $1,332,102
9.8%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $10,604,376
Total Liabilities $737,774
Net Assets $9,866,602
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Brendon Cechovic (Ceo) $177,177 $3,003 $32,017
Shara Kaplin (Chief Of Staff) $155,067 $4,933 $34,660
Leah Wieneke (Coo) $137,240 $8,760 $29,764
Sarah Cobler (Dir. State Lands Programs) $125,309 $1,479 $24,816
Howard Gross (Senior Program Manager) $113,106 $1,169 $36,376
Monica Piergrossi (Program Director) $107,900 $7,600 $29,534
Chris Killingsworth (President) $0 $0 $0
Lisa Jaguzny (Treasurer) $0 $0 $0
David Donnelly (Board Member) $0 $0 $0
William Roberts (Board Member) $0 $0 $0
Molly Mc Usic (Board Member) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2016

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$10,310,253
Expenses
$10,884,535
Net Income
-$574,282
Net Assets
$3,678,449
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $10,302,680
99.9%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $7,573
0.1%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $347,183
3.2%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $1,256,907
11.5%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $4,517,280
Total Liabilities $838,831
Net Assets $3,678,449
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Brendon Cechovic (Ceo) $159,874 $11,726 $31,585
Andrea Keller Helsel (Director Of Strategy) $147,204 $0 $21,416
Shara Kaplin (Chief Of Staff) $142,342 $2,658 $32,599
Leah Wieneke (Coo) $136,150 $3,850 $22,059
Sarah Cobler (State Program Direcor) $115,479 $5,271 $24,617
Monica Piergrossi (Program Director) $110,000 $0 $27,858
Howard Gross (Senior Program Manager) $108,834 $0 $35,124
Chris Killingsworth (President) $0 $0 $0
Lisa Jaguzny (Treasurer) $0 $0 $0
David Donnelly (Board Member) $0 $0 $0
William Roberts (Board Member) $0 $0 $0
Tom Steinbach (Board Member) $0 $0 $0
Molly Mc Usic (Board Member) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2015

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$10,445,183
Expenses
$9,694,933
Net Income
$750,250
Net Assets
$4,252,731
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $10,431,852
99.9%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $7,237
0.1%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $6,094
0.1%
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $336,316
3.5%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $1,376,065
14.2%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $4,761,637
Total Liabilities $508,906
Net Assets $4,252,731
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Brendon Cechovic (Ceo) $158,938 $8,278 $31,601
Andrea Keller Helsel (Director Of Strategy) $140,376 $579 $20,419
Shara Kaplin (Chief Of Staff) $134,429 $1,196 $20,394
Leah Wieneke (Coo) $127,553 $2,760 $20,217
Sarah Cobler (State Program Direcor) $113,850 $1,150 $16,731
Dede De Percin (Colorado River Campaign Director) $104,592 $0 $17,772
Howard Gross (Senior Program Manager) $103,403 $0 $25,757
Chris Killingsworth (President) $0 $0 $0
Lisa Jaguzny (Treasurer) $0 $0 $0
David Donnelly (Board Member) $0 $0 $0
William Roberts (Board Member) $0 $0 $0
Tom Steinbach (Board Member) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2014

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$8,175,481
Expenses
$7,765,651
Net Income
$409,830
Net Assets
$3,502,481
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $8,169,957
99.9%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $7,184
0.1%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets -$2,447
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $787
0.0%
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $279,881
3.6%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $906,648
11.7%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $4,225,528
Total Liabilities $723,047
Net Assets $3,502,481
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Brendon Cechovic (Ceo) $137,750 $7,250 $22,679
Andrea Keller Helsel (Strategic Comm Director) $132,649 $0 $19,655
Shara Kaplin (Chief Program Officer) $111,400 $2,350 $17,156
Leah Wieneke (Coo) $83,334 $5,209 $7,145
Robin Hubbard (Coo (Through 3/31/14)) $25,219 $314 $5,373
Chris Killingsworth (President) $0 $0 $0
Lisa Jaguzny (Treasurer) $0 $0 $0
David Donnelly (Board Member) $0 $0 $0
Molly Mc Usic (Board Member) $0 $0 $0
William Roberts (Board Member) $0 $0 $0
Tom Steinbach (Board Member) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2013

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$5,876,963
Expenses
$7,029,523
Net Income
-$1,152,560
Net Assets
$3,092,651
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $5,869,990
99.9%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $6,973
0.1%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $334,145
4.8%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $689,965
9.8%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $3,778,270
Total Liabilities $685,619
Net Assets $3,092,651
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Courtney Cuff (Ceo (Through 9/2013)) $151,927 $3,232 $20,863
Robin Hubbard (Coo (And Interim Ceo)) $125,196 $3,014 $24,533
Andrea Keller Helsel (Strategic Comm Director) $124,420 $1,030 $18,021
Shara Kaplin (Chief Program Officer) $101,174 $701 $14,350
Brendon Cechovic (Ceo (Beginning 12/2013)) $12,639 $0 $0
Chris Killingsworth (President) $0 $0 $0
Sam Tucker (Treasurer) $0 $0 $0
David Donnelly (Board Member) $0 $0 $0
Molly Mc Usic (Board Member) $0 $0 $0
Tom Steinbach (Board Member) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2012

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$7,900,844
Expenses
$6,990,645
Net Income
$910,199
Net Assets
$4,245,211
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $7,890,568
99.9%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $10,276
0.1%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $323,327
4.6%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $838,100
12.0%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $4,468,499
Total Liabilities $223,288
Net Assets $4,245,211

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2011

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$6,618,773
Expenses
$7,882,104
Net Income
-$1,263,331
Net Assets
$3,335,012
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $6,590,800
99.6%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $19,293
0.3%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $8,680
0.1%
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $330,188
4.2%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $864,544
11.0%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $3,930,521
Total Liabilities $595,509
Net Assets $3,335,012

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2010

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2009

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2008

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2007

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2006

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2005

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

About This Data

Nonprofit Explorer includes summary data for nonprofit tax returns and full Form 990 documents, in both PDF and digital formats.

The summary data contains information processed by the IRS during the 2012-2019 calendar years; this generally consists of filings for the 2011-2018 fiscal years, but may include older records. This data release includes only a subset of what can be found in the full Form 990s.

In addition to the raw summary data, we link to PDFs and digital copies of full Form 990 documents wherever possible. This consists of separate releases by the IRS of Form 990 documents processed by the agency, which we update regularly.

We also link to copies of audits nonprofit organizations that spent $750,000 or more in Federal grant money in a single fiscal year since 2016. These audits are copied from the Federal Audit Clearinghouse.

Which Organizations Are Here?

Every organization that has been recognized as tax exempt by the IRS has to file Form 990 every year, unless they make less than $200,000 in revenue and have less than $500,000 in assets, in which case they have to file form 990-EZ. Organizations making less than $50,000 don’t have to file either form but do have to let the IRS they’re still in business via a Form 990N "e-Postcard."

Nonprofit Explorer has organizations claiming tax exemption in each of the 27 subsections of the 501(c) section of the tax code, and which have filed a Form 990, Form 990EZ or Form 990PF. Taxable trusts and private foundations that are required to file a form 990PF are also included. Small organizations filing a Form 990N "e-Postcard" are not included in this data.

Types of Nonprofits

There are 27 nonprofit designations based on the numbered subsections of section 501(c) of the tax code. See the list »

Get the Data

For those interested in acquiring the original data from the source, here’s where our data comes from:

  • Raw filing data. Includes EINs and summary financials as structured data.
  • Exempt Organization profiles. Includes organization names, addresses, etc. You can merge this with the raw filing data using EIN numbers.
  • Form 990 documents. Prior to 2017, these documents were obtained and processed by Public.Resource.org and ProPublica. Bulk PDF downloads since 2017 are available from the IRS.
  • Form 990 documents as XML files. Includes complete filing data (financial details, names of officers, tax schedules, etc.) in machine-readable format. Only available for electronically filed documents. Electronic data released prior to October 2021 is also available through Amazon Web Services.
  • Audits. PDFs of single or program-specific audits for nonprofit organizations that spent $750,000 or more in Federal grant money in a single fiscal year. Available for fiscal year 2015 and later.

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