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American Freinds of Canadian Nature Inc

EIN 20-1685767 · Buffalo, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak20 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 26% of its spending went to programs.

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

What it says it does

IDENTIFY, PRESERVE, AND MANAGE LANDS HAVING SIGNIFICANT NATURAL VALUES AND THE FLORA, FAUNA, AND NATURAL FEATURES THEREOF; TO EDUCATE AND INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY THROUGH SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, LAND PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS; TO ENCOURAGE AND IMPLEMENT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, LAND PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND THE COLLATION OF INFORMATION IN THE FURTHERANCE OF SUCH AIMS AND ACTIVITIES.

Income
$708,001
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
26%
Reserves
-1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
0
Volunteers
6

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

Weak: 20 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 167% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 78% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    26% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or 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 (1)
  1. $499,252 spent. THE GOAL OF AMERICAN FRIENDS OF CANADIAN NATURE IS TO IDENTIFY, PRESERVE, AND MANAGE LANDS HAVING SIGNIFICANT NATURAL VALUES, TO EDUCATE AND INFORM THE PUBLIC IN REGARD TO SUCH AIMS AND ACTIVITIES AND THE CONSEQUENT PRESERVATION OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, AND TO ENCOURAGE AND IMPLEMENT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, LAND PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND THE COLLATION OF INFORMATION IN THE FURTHERANCE OF SUCH AIMS AND ACTIVITIES. AFCN PROVIDES SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE SAME MISSION WITH A FOCUS ON CONSERVATION INITIATIVES IN CANADA.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.