Groundswell Conservancy Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Conservation, outreach and education: founded in 1983, groundswell conservancy continues to help local communities and landowners protect special places forever in south-central Wisconsin. Groundswell secured a conservation easement on 189 acres of prime farmland near the footville state wildlife area in rock county. This easement ensures the land will remain undeveloped, preserving it for farming while also allowing public access for hunting, hiking, and other nature-based outdoor activities. Funding for this project came from the usda's regional conservation partnership program (rcpp) by way of american farmland trust, the state's knowles-nelson stewardship program, and the rock river valley chapter of pheasants forever.groundswell also purchased 42 acres of wetlands at lake mills wildlife area in jefferson county. That means more wildlife habitat, better water quality, and increased public access. Jefferson county plans on putting in better parking facilities and easier access for canoeing and kayaking. When that's done, the property will be donated to Wisconsin dnr and opened for outdoor activities like paddling, hiking, hunting, and fishing. Groundswell would like to thank the jefferson county parks department, lake mills area community foundation, Wisconsin dnr, ducks unlimited, and the u.s. Fish and wildlife service for their important financial and practical help on this project.groundswell conservancy also protected its first land in the town of dunkirk, closing on the brehm quayle conservation easement permanently preserves 175 acres of wetlands and rewilded farm fields near the yahara river. Funding for this easement acquisition came from the town of dunkirk, a u.s. Fish and wildlife service north american wetlands conservation act (nawca) grant, and supporters of groundswell conservancy. Special thanks to ducks unlimited for their partnership in obtaining the nawca grant.groundswell conservancy, along with the town of dunn, protected more than 48 acres of land near the yahara river with a conservation easement. The money to protect the land came from several sources: the dane county conservation fund, the usda's regional conservation partnership program, the town of dunn's purchase of development rights program, and groundswell's supporters.groundswell holds and monitors more than 80 conservation easements every year to ensure their conservation values are upheld.groundswell supporters and the public enjoyed nature experiences, including electrofishing at black earth creek, cave of the mounds tour, westport prairie pollinator hike, a bonfire and candlelit hike at patrick marsh, and our annual black hawk ridge trail run. Groundswell also hosted their biennial town of dunn food cart night and legacy circle party, to honor those who have included groundswell in their will or estate plans. At westport prairie, our dedicated volunteers and waunakee high school students added another 7.5 acres of prairie habitat. The seed had been collected throughout the year at westport prairie by volunteers and our contracted seed collector, kaylee nelsen. At patrick marsh and westport prairie groundswell offers monthly outdoor volunteering opportunities to help restore and care for our local natural landscapes. Volunteers cut brushes, collected prairie seeds, pulled invasive weeds, burned brushes, and more. Groundswell owns two community farms that promote equitable access to land for next-generation farmers: westport farm in waunakee and pasley's swan creek farm in fitchburg. At westport farm is our lifting hearts therapy garden, a program in partnership with the southeast asian healing center. Hmoob (hmong) elders find solace gardening here. Ongoing improvements to the garden and the farm are thanks to many groundswell supporters. At pasley's swan creek farm we lease the farmland to neighborhood food solutions, a local nonprofit company led by robert pierce. Groundswell continued to provide outreach and technical assistance to hmoo

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 89.6%; rating input score 90
• Fundraising efficiency: $15.14 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 51; 51st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.4%; rating input score 94; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 97.5%; rating input score 98; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 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: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -30.2%; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.71; rating input score 78; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 77; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 6%; rating input score 47; 47th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3.8% per year; rating input score 100; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -1.7% per year; rating input score 0; 7th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 4.4% per year; rating input score 100; 31st percentile among comparable filings