New Jersey Highlands Coalition

What it reported doing in 2024

The New Jersey highlands coalition is the only nonprofit dedicated solely to protecting the aquifers, waters, forests, habitats, farmlands, wildlife, cultural resources, and recreational opportunities of the New Jersey highlands. Our programs are multifaceted and statewide in scope. Through our trenton initiative, we influence state policies and regulations affecting highlands resources, while collaborating with partners such as the pinelands preservation alliance, anjec, nj league of conservation voters, raritan headwaters association, musconetcong watershed association, great swamp watershed association, nj conservation foundation, passaic river coalition, sourlands conservancy, and hackensack riverkeeper. Together, we expand education and outreach through forestry and vernal pool projects, our policy and natural heritage committees, and grassroots support for more than 100 member and partner organizations.we continue to advocate for strong regional master plan conformance, oppose harmful projects, and provide comments on rules and proposals impacting the region. Internally, our board and staff are strengthening diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (deij) through dedicated committees, training, and cultural change, while externally fostering more inclusive partnerships. In collaboration with the ramapough lenape turtle clan, nyu langone health, and other partners, we advance environmental justice through initiatives such as the turtle clan health study, federal recognition, and permanent relocation from a superfund site.the coalition also funds cultural and environmental projects through our small grants program, supports highlands advocates, fosters a robust coalition of individual and organizational members, and increases awareness of highlands resources and clean water through educational webinars, our annual conference, car treks, a golf outing, art shows, and our over the edge event-all of which also raise funds to support our programs.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 64.8%; rating input score 65
• Program expense ratio: 71.1%; rating input score 71
• Fundraising efficiency: $7.76 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.1%; rating input score 94; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 0%; rating input score 0; 13th 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: 7 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • 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: 10.3%; rating input score 62; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.9; rating input score 39; 39th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.21; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 4.4% per year; rating input score 100; 39th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 5.4% per year; rating input score 100; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 5.6% per year; rating input score 100; 41st percentile among comparable filings