American Friends of Canadian Conservation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROTECT AND TO PROMOTE THE PROTECTION OF THE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY AND OTHER CONSERVATION VALUES OF THE NATURAL AREAS OF CANADA THROUGH SECUREMENT OF FEE TITLE AND LESS THAN FEE INTERESTS IN LAND AND SUPPORT OF CANADIAN CONSERVATION NONPROFITS AND AGENCIES.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $1.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 0.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 16
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 (2)
- $1.4 million spent. GENERAL SUPPORT PROGRAM: THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES FUNDING FOR THE CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES OF APPROVED CANADIAN CHARITIES THAT HAVE BEEN PRE-QUALIFIED AS GRANTEES. THE REVENUES USED BY THE ORGANIZATION TO MAKE GRANTS COME FROM INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, AND PHILANTHROPIES THAT WISH TO UNDERWRITE THE PRESERVATION OF CANADA'S NATURAL HERITAGE AND BUILD THE CAPACITY OF CANADIAN ENTITIES ENGAGED IN NATURAL RESOURCE PRESERVATION. DONORS TO AMERICAN FREINDS MAY RECOMMEND THAT ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSIDER MAKING A GRANT TO A SPECIFIC GRANTEE OR REQUEST THAT THEIR FUNDS BENEFIT A SPECIFIC PART OF CANADA.
- $76,905 spent. CROSS BORDER CONSERVATION LAND PROGRAM: THE ORGANIZATION ACCEPTS GIFTS OF ECOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT LAND (OR PARTIAL INTEREST IN SUCH LAND) IN CANADA'S MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE, SCENIC AND UNIQUE LANDSCAPES. CANADIAN NONPROFITS THAT MEET AMERICAN FRIENDS' STRICT CRITERIA, WHICH ARE BASED ON IRS DEFINITIONS OF QUALIFIED ORGANIZATIONS, PARTNER WITH THE ORGANIZATION ON ALL GIFT TRANSACTIONS. THESE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS ARE CAREFULLY SCREENED THROUGH A RIGOROUS APPLICATION PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF BEING PERMANENT STEWARDS OF THE DONATED LANDS. IF APPROVED, THESE ENTITIES BECOME GRANTEES OF AMERICAN FRIENDS. WRITTEN CONTRACTS BETWEEN AMERICAN FRIENDS AND ITS GRANTEE ORGANIZATIONS - WITH ANNUAL REPORTING REQURIEMENTS - ENSURE THAT DONATED LAND AND EASEMENTS WILL BE PROPERLY MONITORED AND MANAGED. THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS PARTNERS SECURE STEWARDSHIP FUNDS SUFFICIENT TO COVER THE COSTS OF CARING FOR THE DONATED PROPERTIES. THE LEVEL OF STERWARDSHIP FUNDING REQUIRED IS BASED ON A THOROUGH ASSESSMENT OF EACH PROPERTY'S NATURAL, CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL CHARACTERISITICS AND THE POTENTIAL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ITS PERPETUAL CARE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2007.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.