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Commonweal Conservancy Inc

EIN 20-0153356 · Santa Fe, NM

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

COMMONWEAL CONSERVANCY IS A NONPROFIT CONSERVATION-BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO FORGING DEEP AND SUSTAINING RELATIONSHIPS AMONG PEOPLE, LAND, AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT. IN OUR COMMITMENT TO INTEGRATING THE GOALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND COMMUNITY BUILDING, WE ACQUIRE SIGNATURE LANDSCAPES THAT DEFINE A COMMUNITY'S SENSE OF PLACE AND SPEARHEAD THE PLANNING, ENTITLEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES ASSOCIATED WITH INCLUSIVE AND ENGAGING PLACE-MAKING. OUR PRACTICE OF INTEGRATIVE CONSERVATION DEVELOPMENT AIMS TO PROVIDE FOR PUBLIC NEEDS SUCH AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTAS WELL AS THE NEED FOR SUBSTANTIAL OPEN SPACE THAT'S PROTECTED, ACCESSIBLE, AND DEEPLY CARED FOR.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$192,509
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
2
Volunteers
215
Highest pay
$71,685, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 81% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 131% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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)
  1. $119,213 spent. CONSERVATION AND RECREATION PLANNING:WITH SUPPORT FROM THE SANTA FE FAT TIRE SOCIETY, CORE CREW AND OTHER ENTHUSIASTS OF THE GALISTEO BASIN PRESERVE, COMMONWEAL DEVELOPED 1.50 MILES OF NEW HIKING, CYCLING AND EQUESTRIAN TRAILS FOR PUBLIC USE. CONCURRENTLY, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS COMPLETED A NUMBER OF TRAIL MAINTENANCE PROJECTS THAT IMPROVED THE SAFETY AND NAVIGIBILITY OF TRAIL SEGMENTS EFFECTED BY EROSION AND OVER-USE. MORE THAN 750 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER TIME WERE DEVOTED TO TRAIL BUILDING, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS IN 2024/25.EACH YEAR, THE PRESERVE TRAIL SYSTEM IS ACTIVELY USED BY MORE THAN 30,000 OF VISITORS FROM NORTHERN NEW MEXICO AND ACROSS THE NATION. THE PRESERVE MAINTAINS THE LARGEST NETWORK OF NONPROFIT-OWNED PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE TRAILS IN THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST.CONCURRENTLY WITH ITS RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS, THE ORGANIZATION ENGAGED APPROXIMATELY 30 VOLUNTEERS TO REMOVE 20+ MILES OF BARBED WIRE FROM THE PRESERVE OPEN SPACES. THE FENCE REMOVAL INITIATIVE SERVES TO PROTECT WILDLIFE FROM INJURY AND FACILITATE THE FLOW OF MAMMALS THROUGH THE GRASSLAND AND UPLAND AREAS OF THE PRESERVE. MORE THAN 130 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER TIME WERE DEVOTED TO HABITAT IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES AT THE PRESERVE.
  2. $14,025 spent. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT:SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 2003, COMMONWEAL HAS PURSUED AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO LAND CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. TOWARD THAT END, COMMONWEAL SUPERVISED DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY WITHIN THE PRESERVE NEIGHBORHOODS TO ENSURE THAT NEW CONSTRUCTION WOULD NOT ADVERSELY IMPACT THE SCENIC, HABITAT OR CULTURAL RESOURCE VALUES OF THE PRESERVE.
  3. $7,012 spent. REGIONAL PLANNING:PARTNERED WITH MORE THAN A HALF-DOZEN NONPROFIT LAND CONSERVATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND PUBLIC AGENCIES TO ADVANCE A PLAN FOR A NETWORK OF REGIONAL TRAILS THROUGHOUT SANTA FE COUNTY, NEW MEXICO. COLLABORATED WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS TO ENSURE THAT THE TRAILS OF THE PRESERVE COULD SERVE AS THE "SOUTHERN TERMINUS" OF THIS REGIONAL RECREATIONAL AND COMMUTER-SERVING TRAIL SYSTEM FOR COUNTY RESIDENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2004.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.