Black Rock Forest Consortium Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BLACK ROCK FOREST CONSORTIUM'S MISSION IS TO ADVANCE SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURAL WORLD THROUGH PROGRAMS IN RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND CONSERVATION.
- Income
- $2.4 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 116.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 33%
- Employees
- 18
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $216,880, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 116.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $488,273 spent. CONSERVATION: FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025, CONSERVATION WORK FOCUSED ON RESTORATION PLANTINGS AND FENCING IN FORESTS IMPACTED BY BEECH LEAF DISEASE. WE ALSO COMPLETED A STAND INVENTORY FOR ALL 3920 ACRES AND A FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN TO GUIDE ACTIONS FOR THE NEXT DECADE. STORM RECOVERY EFFORTS CONTINUED AND THE SHOP BUILDING DAMAGED BY A STRUCTURE FIRE WAS REBUILT. WE WELCOMED OVER 20,000 HIKERS ON OUR TRAILS DURING THE SUMMER AND HOSTED OVER 500 HOURS OF VOLUNTEERS.
- $361,187 spent. EDUCATION:BLACK ROCK FOREST FACILITATED 7,628 STUDENT VISITS AND 1,734 OVERNIGHT VISITS IN FISCAL YEAR 2025. THIS INCLUDES A DIVERSE ARRAY OF STUDENTS OF ALL AGES - KINDERGARTEN TO GRADUATE STUDENTS. DURING OUR SUMMER SCIENCE ADVENTURES, WE ONCE AGAIN PARTNERED WITH LOCAL NEWBURGH NONPROFITS AND THE NEWBURGH DISTRICT EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAM (BLACK ROCK STEM) TO PROVIDE PROGRAMMING FOR 909 STUDENT VISITS. FIFTY-SIX TEACHERS ATTENDED THREE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS HOSTED BY BLACK ROCK FOREST. THIS YEAR, WE ENGAGED 115 STUDENTS IN HANDS-ON CONSERVATION EFFORTS SUCH AS PLANTING TREES AND WORKING IN OUR NATIVE POLLINATOR GARDEN.
- $488,273 spent. RESEARCH:DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025 THE RESEARCH DEPARTMENT FOCUSED EFFORTS ON STANDARDIZING PROTOCOLS AND LONG-TERM RESEARCH EFFORTS IN 5 AREAS. WE HOSTED THE 14TH HUDSON HIGHLANDS RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM THAT FEATURED 28 PRESENTATIONS FROM SCIENTISTS. THE DEPARTMENT ALSO FACILITATED FIELD RESEARCH ACTIVITIES BY EXTERNAL COLLABORATORS AND PROVIDED FUNDING TO 4 NEW RESEARCH PROJECTS THROUGH THE DAVID REDDEN CONSERVATION SCIENCE FUND. EIGHT PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES WERE PUBLISHED BY BLACK ROCK FOREST STAFF OR EXTERNAL RESEARCHERS UTILIZING OUR DATA, FACILITIES, AND/OR LANDS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1989.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.