The Nature Conservancy

What it reported doing in 2024

The nature conservancy (tnc) is focused on conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. We work across six continents, including in more than 80 countries and territories, and all 50 states in the u.s., to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Our vision is a future where people and nature thrive. Grounded by decades of local on-the-ground experience, we maximize our ability to affect change by bringing together real-world solutions, policy expertise, sustainable financing, and collaborative partnerships. Working with partners around the world, tnc continues to make progress towards our goals for a healthier planet.see schedule o for continuationtnc's accounting methodology through the 2024 tax year does not attribute revenues or all program expenses to individual programs, because many projects advance multiple conservation goals. Accordingly, a strict separation of programs in part iii would not accurately reflect programmatic expenditures and corresponding revenue. Tnc organizes its work around three global priorities, aimed at solving some of the greatest challenges facing our planet. Protect oceans, land, and waterduring the 2024 tax year, tnc worked towards conserving critical forests, grasslands, oceans, freshwater systems, wildlife, and coastal areas worldwide. Notable accomplishments include: - supporting the ratification of the high seas treaty, a landmark legal agreement by 60 countries to protect the high seas - an area of ocean covering nearly half the planet.- expanding the nature bonds program, which works with nations to refinance their debt, and has unlocked $1 billion to help conserve over 242 million hectares of ocean, land, and freshwater globally.- supporting large-scale wildlife habitat protection, which has aided the return of endangered species in africa, such as the black rhino in kenya and previously decimated elephant populations in zambia.provide water and food sustainablyin the 2024 tax year, tnc progressed towards its goal of mainstreaming nature positive freshwater management and sustainable food systems, by working with local stakeholders to develop practices that further conservation while also supporting local communities. For example, during the 2024 tax year, tnc launched a sustainable cattle program in the brazilian amazon that implements deforestation free agricultural supply chains through traceability and policy reform. Tnc also continued expanding its watershed investment programs during tax year 2024. Some examples of these programs include: - tnc's nature for water program, which has been scaled to 28 countries to equip partners with tools and training needed to tackle water issues unique to their communities.- the norfolk water strategy programme (nwsp), which was launched this year but when fully implemented, will improve more than 25,000 hectares of wildlife habitat in europe.- tnc-created water funds that have safeguarded ecosystems and improved water quality, such as in ecuador where more than 55,000 hectares of ecosystems have been conserved.- tnc-created water funds that have become self-sustaining and locally managed. For example, the upper-tana nairobi water fund in kenya, launched by tnc a decade ago, has funded the planting of more than 5.5 million trees and engaged more than 270,000 farmers in improving soil quality and water use on their lands.tackle climate changeduring the 2024 tax year, tnc also leveraged nature based solutions, policy, and markets to help reduce global emissions and build climate resilience. Tnc supported renewable energy development and responsible siting across europe, india, and the united states. To support this energy transition, tnc helped publish a first-of-its-kind set of biodiversity sensitivity siting maps to guide renewables planning. Tnc also advanced large scale restoration projects to support the health of forests, peatlands, rivers and coastal ecosystems and strengthened innovative climate risk financing

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 66.2%; rating input score 66
• Program expense ratio: 71.3%; rating input score 71
• Fundraising efficiency: $6.63 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 95.2%; rating input score 95; 35th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: 4 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Pass
  • Conducts field audits: Fail
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Pass
  • Conducts site visits: Pass
  • Requires grant agreements: Fail
  • May require repayment: Fail
• Grant itemization coverage: 99.2%; rating input score 99; 38th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 90%; rating input score 90; 36th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 17.7%; rating input score 85; 85th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 7.03; rating input score 88; 88th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.17; rating input score 72; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0.6%; rating input score 82; 82nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.7% per year; rating input score 100; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 3.8% per year; rating input score 100; 30th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 3.9% per year; rating input score 100; 27th percentile among comparable filings