Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation Inc

TO PRESERVE AND STEWARD LAND FOR THE LASTING WELL-BEING OF ALL PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE.

LAND PRESERVATION: JDCF PRESERVES LAND IN TWO DISTINCT WAYS, CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND ACQUISITIONS. IN 2023, JDCF ACCEPTED A DONATED CONSERVATION EASEMENT OF 263 ACRES PROTECTING AGRICULTURAL AND CONSERVATION VALUES IN PERPETUITY ON A CENTENNIAL FARM LOCATED NEAR GALENA, IL. WITH THIS EASEMENT, JDCF NOW HOLDS 34 CONSERVATION, CULTURAL AND AGRICULTURAL EASEMENTS TOTALING 4,957 ACRES. AT THE END OF 2023, JDCF SOLD ITS CANYON CAMP PROPERTY TO THE IL DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE APPLE RIVER CANYON STATE PARK. THE SALE OF THIS PROPERTY BROUGHT IN $312,379 IN RESTRICTED FUNDS HELD IN RESERVE FOR FUTURE LAND ACQUISITIONS. THE REMAINING SALE PROCEEDS IN THE AMOUNT OF APPROXIMATELY $350,621 WERE ALLOCATED TO SUPPORT OUR NEW STEWARDSHIP SHOP FACILITY AND CREATED A BOARD DESIGNATED FUND FOR FUTURE CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEEDS. OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE LAND PRESERVATION PROGRAM TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $220,000 AND DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $43,500.

STEWARDSHIP AND PUBLIC ACCESS: IN ANY GIVEN YEAR THESE SERVICES MAKE UP THE LARGEST ANNUAL PROGRAM EXPENSE FOR JDCF. LABOR AND EQUIPMENT COMPRISE THE BULK OF THESE PROGRAM SERVICES FOR THE CARE, MAINTENANCE AND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF PROPERTY HELD IN PUBLIC TRUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE. IN 2023 JDCF'S NORTHWEST ILLINOIS STEWARDSHIP COOPERATIVE (NISC) PROGRAM IS IN ITS THIRD YEAR. NISC OFFERS FEE FOR SERVICE STEWARDSHIP SERVICES ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATELY PROTECTED LANDS IN FOUR ADDITIONAL COUNTIES IN NW ILLINOIS. OF THE MORE THAN 2,000 ACRES THAT JDCF OWNS, APPROXIMATELY 1,500 ACRES WITH OVER 60 MILES OF TRAILS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR PASSIVE RECREATION AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING TWO PARTNER PRESERVES. IN 2023, WE ESTIMATE OVER 25,000 PEOPLE VISITED OUR PRESERVES. IN 2023, WORK WAS COMPLETED ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW STEWARDSHIP SHOP FACILITY IN ELIZABETH, IL. TOTAL STEWARDSHIP SERVICES FOR 2023, INCLUDING SALARIES, EQUIPMENT, TRAINING, INSURANCE AND VEHICLES, WAS APPROXIMATELY: $930,000. REVENUE FOR STEWARDSHIP INCLUDED LEASE INCOME OF APPROXIMATELY $92,000; GRANTS TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $24,000; OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $69,000; AND FEE FOR SERVICE INCOME TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $226,000.

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES: IN 2023, JDCF CONTINUED MAKING DEEP CONNECTIONS WITH INDIGENOUS TRIBES (WHO FORMERLY CALLED JO DAVIESS COUNTY HOME), SPECIFICALLY THE HO-CHUNK NATIONS AND THE SAC AND FOX NATION OF OKLAHOMA. IN COLLABORATION WITH THESE GROUPS, JDCF WILL BEGIN PROVIDING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES FOR LISTENING, LEARNING, AND CELEBRATING THE HERITAGE OF THE LAND IT PRESERVES AND STEWARDS. DELIVERING JDCF'S EDUCATION AND OUTREACH SERVICES DEPENDS ON SUPPORT FROM A ROBUST VOLUNTEER CORPS OF OVER 50 VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORT FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES INCLUDING A $10,000 SPONSORSHIP FROM A LOCAL BANK AND A PORTION OF TWO CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS FROM PRIVATE GIVING FOUNDATIONS. EXPENSES, INCLUDING SALARIES, AND EDUCATION PROGRAM COSTS WERE APPROXIMATELY $170,000. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND GRANTS TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $16,800. INDIVIDUAL AND LOCAL BUSINESS PARTNER CONTRIBUTIONS WERE APPROXIMATELY $48,450.