The Wetlands Initiative logo

The Wetlands Initiative

CHICAGO, IL EIN: 36-3942451 Website

TO RESTORE THE WETLAND RESOURCES OF THE MIDWEST TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, INCREASE WILDLIFE HABITAT AND BIODIVERSITY, AND REDUCE FLOOD DAMAGE. THE WETLANDS INITIATIVE SEEKS TO CONDUCT AND SUPPORT HIGH-QUALITY RESTORATION PROJECTS THOUGH DIRECT, ON-THE-GROUND WORK AND BY FORMING LARGER PARTNERSHIPS TO DEMONSTRATE INNOVATIVE WAYS TO FINANCE LARGE-SCALE WETLAND RESTORATION, SUCH AS WATER QUALITY TRADING MARKETS WITH A FOCUS ON SCIENCE-BASED, ECONOMICALLY SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS AND COLLABORATIVE WORK WITH PUBLIC AGENCIES, THE ORGANIZATION'S GOAL IS TO DEVELOP RESTORATION METHODS AND MODELS THAT OTHERS MAY COPY.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$12.7M

+5.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$31K

+146.0% YoY

Grant Count

2

+100.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$15K

+23.0% YoY

About The Wetlands Initiative

Based on IRS filings

The Wetlands Initiative is a nonprofit organization focused on Environment & Animals, based in CHICAGO, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $12.7M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 2 grants totaling $31K. Net investment income was $128K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Cities

CHICAGOGARY

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$3M$4M$5M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$12,709,496$12,021,467$13,019,424
Revenue$3,465,450$1,976,921$4,955,328
Expenses$2,723,493$2,801,091$2,791,326
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income$127,855$66,168$35,483
Distributable Amount

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$8K$15K$23K$31K0 grants20200 grants20210 grants20221 grants20232 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 2 recipients in 2024

CALUMET COLLABORATIVE$19KBROWN FACES GREEN SPACES…$12K

Grant Size Distribution

3 grants across all recorded years

3<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

PAUL BOTTSPRESIDENT$157KGARY SULLIVANSENIOR RESTORATION ECOLOGIST$110KJILL KOSTELSENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER$108KABIGAIL MATTSONDIRECTOR OF DEV. & COMM.$108K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
CHARLES T PICKCHAIR1
REBECCAH A SANDERSVICE-CHAIR1
PAUL BOTTSPRESIDENT37.5$156,535
LINDA M KURTZSECRETARY & TREASURER1
CHRISTOPHER B BURKE PHDDIRECTOR1
EDWARD K CHANDLERDIRECTOR1
GEORGE M COVINGTONDIRECTOR1
WILLIAM F DOOLEYDIRECTOR1
WENDY FREYERDIRECTOR1
ANNE GARDNERDIRECTOR1
BYRON GOULDINGDIRECTOR1
ALLEN D GROSBOLLDIRECTOR1
MARK D MAFFEI PHDDIRECTOR1
CAROLINE REPENNINGDIRECTOR1
JOHN W ROBINSONDIRECTOR1
STEVEN M RYANDIRECTOR1
CHINMAY SOMAN PHDDIRECTOR1
DOUGLAS F STOTZ PHDDIRECTOR1
CARL R YUDELLDIRECTOR1
MICHAEL B ZEDDIES JRDIRECTOR1
GARY SULLIVANSENIOR RESTORATION ECOLOGIST40$110,113
JILL KOSTELSENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER40$108,342
ABIGAIL MATTSONDIRECTOR OF DEV. & COMM.40$108,089

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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