Endangered Habitats Conservancy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
IS TO ACQUIRE, MANAGE, MONITOR AND MAINTAIN LAND IN CALIFORNIA FOR HABITAT PROTECTION AND RESTORATION, AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION, AND OTHER CONSERVATION PURPOSES. EHC CURRENTLY MANAGES APPROXIMATELY 8,000 ACRES OF CONSERVED OPEN SPACE LANDS.
- Income
- $3.4 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- -10 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 61%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 35
- Highest pay
- $205,440, 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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 49% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 215% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 251 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $1.2 million spent. DEVELOPED AND ADVANCED THE ACQUISITION OF SENSITIVE RIPARIAN AND COASTAL SAGE SCRUB HABITAT IN THE SAN DIEGO REGION. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED INTERFACING WITH STATE AND FEDERAL WILDLIFE AGENCIES, PLANNING AND ANALYSIS, DIALOGUE WITH PROPERTY OWNERS, THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEGAL AGREEMENTS, CREATING HABITAT MANAGEMENT PLANS AND STRATEGIES, COMMISSIONING WILDLIFE MOVEMENT STUDIES AND OTHER BIOLOGICAL MONITORING CONTRACTS, CONDUCTING SITE VISITS, GIS MAPPING OF RESOURCE VALUES, AND FINALIZING AND IMPLEMENTING PUBLIC GRANT AGREEMENTS. IMPLEMENTED HABITAT STEWARDSHIP AND HABITAT RESTORATION PLANS AT SITES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED REVEGETATION, CONTROL OF INVASIVE PLANTS, VOLUNTEER COORDINATION AND BIOLOGICAL MONITORING.
- $189,054 spent. PLANNING, PERMITTING AND FEASIBILITY ACTIVITIES RELATED TO A PLANNED WETLANDS AND RIPARIAN HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECT IN SONOMA COUNTY. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED COMMISSIONING BIOLOGICAL AND HYDROLOGICAL STUDIES, COMMUNITY RELATIONS, MEETING WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND DESIGN EXERCISES FOR THE SITE.
- $222,552 spent. MANAGED THE 2,800 ACRE CRESTRIDGE ECOLOGICAL RESERVE UNDER A LONG-TERM CONTRACT WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED CONTROL OF INVASIVE PLANTS, BIOLOGICAL MONITORING, COMMUNITY RELATIONS, FENCE AND SIGNAGE INSTALLATION AND REPAIR, TRAIL MAINTENANCE AND ONGOING RESTORATION OF AN OAK GROVE ON THE RESERVE.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2007.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.