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Chesapeake Bay Foundation

CharityWatch rating issued
July 2025

Top-Rated Charity
B+
CharityWatch Rating
Our independent rating based
on a number of factors.
 
73%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$24
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

Chesapeake Bay Foundation
6 Herndon Avenue
Annapolis, MD 21403-4503

Other Names

CBF

Tax Status

501(c)3

Website

www.cbf.org

Stated Mission

To save the Chesapeake Bay.

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Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 06/30/2023

Program Percentage: 73%

The percentage of Chesapeake Bay Foundation's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$33,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $24

How many dollars Chesapeake Bay Foundation spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$25,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Joint Costs

Chesapeake Bay Foundation's rating was adjusted for Joint Costs. If you are a donor who considers direct mail, telemarketing, and other Joint Cost solicitations to be true charitable programs, the below efficiency ratios, which were not adjusted for joint costs, may better reflect your goals.

Program % Cost to Raise $100
79% $16
Accounting rules allow charities to report some telemarketing, direct mail, and other solicitation costs as Program expenses. CharityWatch believes that most donors do not consider a charity's solicitation activities to be the Programs they are intending to support with their donations. We therefore adjust such expenses out of a charity's reported Program expense and add it to Fundraising expense prior to calculating its rating.

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Chesapeake Bay Foundation Audited Financial Statements 52-6065757
Chesapeake Bay Foundation IRS Form 990 52-6065757
Entity: Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Document Type: Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: 52-6065757
Entity: Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 52-6065757

Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
This charity is Top-Rated
What does it mean to be Top-Rated?
 
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Opt-Out Policy  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Hillary H. Falk President $329,230
2 David A. Fogle Treasurer / Chief Financial Officer $271,219
3 Jon A. Mueller Vice President - Litigation $226,273
1
Name: Hillary H. Falk
Title: President
Compensation: $329,230
2
Name: David A. Fogle
Title: Treasurer / Chief Financial Officer
Compensation: $271,219
3
Name: Jon A. Mueller
Title: Vice President - Litigation
Compensation: $226,273

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

According to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) audit of June 30, 2023 (Note 15, Donated Goods, Services and Property), CBF received donated goods and services in fiscal 2023 on which it placed a total value of $239,952. Of this amount, $127,662 consisted of "Advertising."

[Note: CharityWatch generally excludes the value of in-kind (non-cash) donations of goods and services from its calculations of Program % and Cost to Raise $100. More information on how grades are calculated and the treatment of in-kind donations can be found on the Our Process page.]


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