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Advanced Conservation Strategies

EIN 20-4002778 · Williamsburg, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

We combine science and human-centered design to create new ways of approaching environmental problem solving. We conduct synthetic science to inform environmental conservation and sustainability decision-making. We collaborate with foundations and others to monitor, evaluate, and learn from existing environmental efforts and programs.

Income
$823,503
Spending
$846,596
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$170,039, director and president

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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% 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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    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

    6 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 (4)
  1. $246,111 spent. IMPROVING FISHERIES SUSTAINABILITY IN CHILE AND PERU: SYSTEMS-LEVEL RESEARCH TO ASSESS, SYNTHESIZE, AND DESIGN INTERVENTION PLANS FOR PRIORITY FISHERIES TO IMPROVE THEIR SUSTAINABILITY.
  2. $216,703 spent. Reducing Illegal Fishing - Research to understand the extent and drivers of illegal fishing in Chile. Support a collaboration to develop and implement methodologies to provide low-cost monitoring data on vessels to reduce illegal activities.
  3. $139,831 spent. Marine Protected Area Management Effectiveness in Western Indian Ocean - Leading the design and implementation of a new funding program in the Western Indian Ocean to support improving management effectiveness of marine protected areas.
  4. $161,876 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES - (1) Coastal Solutions Fellows Program Evaluation - Led a mid-term evaluation for Cornell University's Coastal Solutions Fellows Program. (2) Testing New Rodenticide in Urban Environments - Testing new methods for rodent control in urban environments on Google campuses in California. (3) Maya Forest Trust Conservation Plan - Design and implement applied social science to characterize the stakeholders living near the Maya Forest National Park in Belize. (4) Discretionary Spending - Explored and developed new potential collaborations and funding proposals, as well as supported interns. (5) Plataforma Costera - Design and support an online platform whose goal is to provide a central location for knowledge dissemination and collaboration for the Chileans working on coastal sustainability issues. (6) Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) for Packard Foundation - Led various MEL activities for the David & Lucile Packard Foundation's Shorebird and Chile Oceans programs. (7) Conservation Value and Risk Assessment - Leading assessments for the bioscience company Colossal to provide species-specific guidance around de-extinction to maximize conservation impact while minimizing and mitigating potential harm.

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 November 6, 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 September 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 November 4, 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.