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Integral Ecology Research Center

EIN 20-1687238 · Blue Lake, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceWeak37 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
15

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 86% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 37 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    3 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (18)
  1. $1.8 million spent. Barred Owl - Researching the interaction of invasive barred owls with illegal cannabis cultivation and northern spotted owls to assist wildlife managers to conserve spotted owls. Benefits the general public.
  2. $179,401 spent. NMI - Developing new technologies for the detection of illegal cannabis cultivation sites on public lands. Benefits the general public.
  3. $98,285 spent. BLM - Assess the environmental impacts of illegal cannabis cultivation on Bureau of Land Management lands in California. Development of restoration plans and implementation to reduce the environmental impacts at these sites. Benefits the general public.
  4. $79,959 spent. CDFW Recovery Monitoring - Develop and test monitoring methods to assess the response of public land cannabis cultivation sites including sediment, vegetation, wildlife, bird, and bat monitoring methods.
  5. $79,778 spent. CDFW Wilderness Reclamation - Conducting restoration of illegal cannabis grows within National Forest wildernesses and training new teams to assist with reclamation. Benefits the general public.
  6. $67,458 spent. Coalition - Assessing private, unpermitted cannabis cultivation sites to identify the presence and type of hazardous waste and environmental impacts. Benefits the general public.
  7. $57,698 spent. FS Fire Hazmat - Removal of hazardous waste from illegal cannabis cultivation sites on National Forest lands affected by wildfires. Benefits the general public.
  8. $52,838 spent. Hazmat - Mitigating, preparing, packaging, and arranging for the removal of hazardous materials left at illegal cannabis grow sites on Nat
  9. $43,640 spent. FWS Fisher - Researching the interaction of fishers with illegal cannabis cultivation by trapping and affixing GPS collars to animals. Bets the general public.
  10. $32,906 spent. Plumas Grow Sites - Conducted research in the environmental damage of marijuana cultivation on public and tribal lands. Long term goal to help in environmental conservation and remediation of damage. Benefits the general public.
  11. $30,799 spent. Conduct research involving general ecological issues. Long term goal to help in the conservation of endnagered species. Benefits the general public.
  12. $23,632 spent. FWS Fisher Disease Owl - Study the disease threats to endangered populations of Pacific fisher as well as northern spotted owl. This project also includes investigations into rodenticide exposure in these two sensitive species.
  13. $15,610 spent. USFS LEI - Conducted research on the environmental impacts of illegal cannabis cultivation on public lands. Long term goal to help in conservation of an ecosystems. Benefits the general public.
  14. $10,935 spent. Rose Foundation HZ Removal - Remove hazardous materials and assess public land cultivation sites in Central California. Create an online interactive Story Map about the project and the topic of cannabis cultivation.
  15. $8,180 spent. Lassen Grow:- Conducting research and cleanups of illegal cannabis cultivation sites on the Lassen National Forest. Benefits the general public
  16. $1,026 spent. Baer Fire - assessing illegal cannabis cultivation sites within specific fire scars to identify the presence and type of hazardous waste and environmental impacts. Benefits the general public.
  17. Fisher and Fox Cannabis - Investigation of gray fox and fisher use of illegal cannabis sites on National Forest lands.
  18. Carnivore Rodent Section 6 - Conducted research on rodent and carnivore populations in relation to contamination from illegal forest cannabis gardens. Long term goal to help in conserving endangered species and their prey and habitats. Benefits the general public

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 April 2005.

    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.