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Turtle Conservancy

EIN 20-2899240 · Ojai, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceGood74 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

THE TURTLE CONSERVANCY IS DEDICATED TO PROTECTING THREATENED TURTLES AND TORTOISES AND THEIR HABITATS WORLDWIDE, AND TO PROMOTING THEIR APPRECIATION BY PEOPLE.

Income
$3.3 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
-1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
23
Volunteers
32

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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 84% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    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 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 (4)
  1. $1.1 million spent. CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAM - BASED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, THE TC BREEDS A GREAT NUMBER OF CRITICALLY ENDANGERED TURTLES AND TORTOISES IN TERMS OF COMBINED SPECIES AND NUMBERS. WE MANAGE 26 OF THE WORLD'S MOST ENDANGERED SPECIES, AND HAVE OVER 500 ANIMALS BELONGING TO 44 DIFFERENT SPECIES. DURING 2024, WE HATCHED 9 ENDANGERED TURTLES AND RESCUED 6 FROM THE ILLEGAL PET TRADE. THE CENTER CREATES A LONG-TERM PLAN FOR EACH SPECIES THAT WE HOLD AND BREED AND DEFINES THE DESIRED OUTCOME IN TERMS OF POTENTIAL NEED FOR REPATRIATION, REINTRODUCTION, OR OTHER CONSERVATION NEEDS.
  2. $678,799 spent. THE 2,162 ACRE CUATRO CIENEGAS ECOSYSTEM PRESERVE IN COAHUILA, MX SERVES TO PROTECT WETLANDS FOR THE ENDANGERED COAHUILAN BOX TURTLE AS WELL AS THE CUATRO CIENEGAS SLIDER AND SOFTSHELL TURTLE IN THE VALLEY. THIS PRESERVE FUNCTIONS TO PROTECT THE WETLANDS AND DOZENS OF OTHER ENDEMIC SPECIES FROM DEVELOPMENT, AGRICULTURAL IMPACTS, AND WATER EXPORTATION.
  3. $299,441 spent. INTERNATIONAL ANIMAL AND LAND CONSERVATION - THE TC, ALONG WITH ITS PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING AND FUNDING SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS, WITH THE 2 LARGEST BASED IN (A) MEXICO - THE 43,540 ACRE SAN IGNACIO PRESERVE IN THE BOLSON DE MAPIMI AND 18,600 ACRES OF THE NEARBY GUIMBALETE PRESERVE IN THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT OF NORTHERN MEXICO TO PROTECT THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED BOLSON TORTOISE AND (B) SOUTH AFRICA - THE GEOMETRIC PROGRAM HAS A PRESERVE IN THE BREEDE RIVER VALLEY, EAST OF CAPE TOWN, WHICH IS UNDERSTOOD TO BE ONE OF THE LAST HABITATS WITH A VIABLE POPULATION OF THE GEOMETRIC TORTOISE. IN 2024, THE TC IS PROTECTING A TOTAL OF 1,087 ACRES AT THE SITE FOR THE GEOMETRIC TORTOISE AND 3 OTHER SPECIES OF NATIVE TURTLES AND TORTOISES AND THOUSANDS OF ENDEMIC PLANTS AND ANIMALS. (C) IN ADDITION, THE TC PROVIDES PRACTICAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR TURTLE CONSERVATION PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED BY PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS IN ARGENTINA, MADAGASCAR, THE PHILIPPINES, AND ELSEWHERE.
  4. $588,019 spent. THE TURTLE CONSERVANCY MAINTAINED ITS KEY PROGRAM FOR THE BOLSON TORTOISE IN MEXICO.IT CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT IN MADAGASCAR TORTOISE CONSERVATION, AND PARTICIPATED IN A NUMBER OF SMALL PROJECTS (PACIFIC POND TURTLE HABITAT RESTORATION, REWILDING BOLSON TORTOISES IN NORTH AMERICA) AS WELL AS CONTINUING TO MONITOR GLOBAL ILLEGAL TRADE IN TURTLES AND TORTOISES.

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 May 2006.

    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.