The Wetlands Initiative
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.
Key facts about The Wetlands Initiative
- EIN
- 36-3942451
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $30,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 2
- Average grant
- $15,250
- Median grant
- $15,250
- Total assets
- $12,709,496
- Primary geography
- Illinois (61% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Next steps with The Wetlands Initiative
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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.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 2 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
3 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Calumet Collaborative ($18,500), Brown Faces Green Spaces Inc ($12,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CALUMET COLLABORATIVE Chicago, IL | SUPPORT FOR A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONSULTANT. | $18,500 |
| BROWN FACES GREEN SPACES INC Gary, IN | SUPPORT FOR LITTLE CALUMET RIVER-CHASE STREET RESTORATION PROJECT. | $12,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles T Pick | Chair | 1 | — |
| Rebeccah a Sanders | Vice-Chair | 1 | — |
| Paul Botts | President | 37.5 | $156,535 |
| Linda M Kurtz | Secretary & Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Christopher B Burke PHD | Director | 1 | — |
| Edward K Chandler | Director | 1 | — |
| George M Covington | Director | 1 | — |
| William F Dooley | Director | 1 | — |
| Wendy Freyer | Director | 1 | — |
| Anne Gardner | Director | 1 | — |
| Byron Goulding | Director | 1 | — |
| Allen D Grosboll | Director | 1 | — |
| Mark D Maffei PHD | Director | 1 | — |
| Caroline Repenning | Director | 1 | — |
| John W Robinson | Director | 1 | — |
| Steven M Ryan | Director | 1 | — |
| Chinmay Soman PHD | Director | 1 | — |
| Douglas F Stotz PHD | Director | 1 | — |
| Carl R Yudell | Director | 1 | — |
| Michael B Zeddies Jr | Director | 1 | — |
| Gary Sullivan | Senior Restoration Ecologist | 40 | $110,113 |
| Jill Kostel | Senior Environmental Engineer | 40 | $108,342 |
| Abigail Mattson | Director of Dev. & Comm. | 40 | $108,089 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Wetlands Initiative?
The Wetlands Initiative is a nonprofit organization focused on Environment & Animals, based in Chicago, IL. It holds $12.7M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is The Wetlands Initiative?
As of 2024, The Wetlands Initiative holds $12.7M in total assets with $3.5M in annual revenue. It awarded 2 grants totaling $31K in 2024.
Where does The Wetlands Initiative operate?
The Wetlands Initiative has awarded grants in Illinois, Indiana.
What size grants does The Wetlands Initiative award?
In 2024, The Wetlands Initiative awarded 2 grants totaling $31K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Wetlands Initiative's EIN?
The Wetlands Initiative's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3942451. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.