Overview
Friends of the Forest Preserves protects Cook County's forest preserves (about 70,000 acres) through advocacy, ecological restoration, and a Conservation Corps program. It advocates by attending Forest Preserve District board meetings, making policy and budget recommendations, and opposing land grabs, while supporting independent oversight. It funds large restoration work and coordinates volunteers to remove invasive species, restore hydrology, and use controlled burns to recover native ecosystems. Its Conservation Corps hires and pays youth from underserved neighborhoods to learn conservation skills, lead restoration projects, and gain education and career paths in related fields.
Work here?Claim your company
Simplify's take
What believers are saying
- A 2026 ComEd Green Region grant funds pollinator habitat work at Whistler Woods.
- Ruth Oliver Secord Trust granted $15,000 in 2026 for general support.
- The October 2026 website push and November board update signal active governance.
What critics are saying
- 2024 Form 990 shows a $350,024 deficit, weakening operating flexibility.
- Revenue depends on donations and grants, so a funding lapse hits programs fast.
- If board and volunteer turnout stalls, Friends loses its core grassroots advantage.
What makes Friends of the Forest Preserves unique
- Cook County focus gives Friends a narrow, durable local conservation niche.
- It combines advocacy, volunteer mobilization, and ecological restoration in one platform.
- June 2026 grants support community scientists, native bees, and rare plant habitat.
Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?