The NonProfit Times - November 1, 2008 - (Page 30)

THE 2008 NPT TOP 100 GREEN Is GOOD Environmental groups buck flagging economy to post gains BY CRAIG CAUSER A slowing national economy, the subprime mortgage crisis, and an increase in home foreclosures started to raise their ugly heads during fiscal year ending 2007. As the public’s belt-tightening began, homebuyers rapidly became more endangered than the Butternut tree and the Bridled Nail-tailed Wallaby. But it was the non- profit organizations dedicated to saving those proverbial trees and wallabies that turned many green with envy. Each of the environmental groups in this year’s NPT 100 saw an increase in total revenue for FYE 2007, none greater than the $65.4 million spike recorded by the Washington, D.C.-based World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The WWF heightened its total revenue by 40 percent, from $162.5 million to $227.9 million, and jumped from $114.6 million to $181.4 million – a 58 percent gain – in public support. The gains can be attributed to a number of factors, including a bequest of $33 million and a $10-million major gift, according to Charles Sheerin, acting vice president of development for WWF. The nonprofit also debuted its now-annual holiday catalog, ripe with giving opportunities for all in- come levels. Animal adoptions allowed donors to symbolically adopt an animal in honor of a friend, colleague, or loved one, and ranged in price from $25 to $250. “Extraordinary gifts,” which listed from $1,000 to $2.5 million each, were allocated directly to projects such as relocating bison or rhinos to a wildlife protected area or providing an educational scholarship to a young girl in the developing world. The most expensive gift opportunity was directed at a long-term solution to protecting endangered tigers in key tiger protection areas around the world. While WWF had been conducting online adoptions, this was its first concen- trated effort on a catalog of this nature, Sheerin said.The inaugural catalog rang up more than $1 million in net income, a figure which was “much more successful than we had expected,” he added. Hot on the heels of the WWF’s growth spurt was the Trust for Public Land, which posted a $64.8-million increase to $220.2 million during fiscal 2007. Public support was also up for the organization, rising 35 percent, from $120.1 million to $161.9 million. Ducks Unlimited (DU) was next in the row with $48.7 million in total revenue gains, a 30-percent increase compared to the prior year. DU tallied $143.3 million in public support, a robust $54.6million boost from fiscal 2006. “We’re in year three of a $1.7-billion campaign and we’ve enjoyed strong support from our board and the public,” explained Dan Thiel, group manager of development at DU, headquartered in Memphis,Tenn.“That was manifested in fiscal 2007 by a number of significant gifts. It also reflects a very robust year in our conservation easement program. There was some favorable legislation out of the (U.S.) House and Senate that made it more advantageous for folks to complete a conservation easement. People have taken advantage of that and have accelerated their plans to create a conservation easement and we’ve benefited from that.” The Bronx, N.Y.-based Wildlife Conservation Society earned $232.6 million in total revenue, an $18-million increase, and a Green, page 32 30 NOVEMBER 1, 2008 THE NONPROFIT TIMES www.nptimes.com http://www.achieveguidance.com http://www.achieveguidance.com http://www.achieveguidance.com http://www.nptimes.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The NonProfit Times - November 1, 2008

The NonProfit Times - November 1, 2008 Reach Out Community Investment Loans Agencies Aim For Back Office Savings Contents Page 4 Special Report: An In-Depth Study of America's Largest Profits Charity Accounts Foretold Ecomonic Meltdown Liquid Assets Groups Shaving Expenses With An Eye Toward ROI Green Is Good Governance Becoming Institutionalized National September 11 Memorial & Museum Finds Its Footing NPT 100 Groups Turning Real Estate Into Cash NPT 100 Investments Beat Broader Market The NPT Power & Influence Top 50 Gala Calendar NPT Jobs Resource Directory

The NonProfit Times - November 1, 2008

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