Hawaii Conservation Alliancefoundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FOUNDED IN 2006, THE HAWAI'I CONSERVATION ALLIANCE FOUNDATION ("HCAF") IS A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT WITH THE PURPOSE AND MISSION TO SUPPORT AND ADVANCE THE CAPACITY BUILDING, NATIVE ECOSYSTEM AND BIOCULTURAL CONSERVATION WORK OF THE HAWAI'I CONSERVATION ALLIANCE ("HCA") THROUGH FUNDRAISING, ADVOCACY, AND STRATEGIC OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $973,646
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 51
- Highest pay
- $105,117, executive di
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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 69% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% 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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
- $767,761 spent. HCAF HOSTED THE 2024 HAWAI'I CONSERVATION CONFERENCE WITH OVER 1400 PROFESSIONAL AND STUDENT ATTENDEES. THE HCAF CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONSERVATION CAREER COMPASS PROGRAM TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND EMERGING PROFESSIONALS IN NAVIGATING THEIR CAREER PATHWAYS AND THE AHUPUAA ACCELERATOR INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT PLACE-BASED STEWARDSHIP. ADDITIONALLY, HCAF SUPPORTED CORE OPERATIONS AND PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION FOR THE HAWAI'I CONSERVATION ALLIANCE INCLUDING FACILITATING WORKING GROUPS TO ASSESS AND EXPAND EFFECTIVE CONSERVATION IN HAWAI'I, IDENTIFY AND SHARE BEST PRACTICES FOR CONSERVATION FIELD WORK, AND TO ENSURE THAT BIOCULTURAL RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP IS GROUNDED IN PLACE AND INFORMED BY THE BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE AND CULTURAL PRACTICE. THE HCAF ALSO SUPPORTED THE LAUKAHI NETWORK TO COORDINATE NATIVE PLANT CONSERVATION. HCAF HOSTED THE 2024 HAWAI'I CONSERVATION CONFERENCE WITH OVER 1400 PROFESSIONAL AND STUDENT ATTENDEES. THE HCAF CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONSERVATION CAREER COMPASS PROGRAM TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND EMERGING PROFESSIONALS IN NAVIGATING THEIR CAREER PATHWAYS AND THE AHUPUAA ACCELERATOR INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT PLACE-BASED STEWARDSHIP. ADDITIONALLY, HCAF SUPPORTED CORE OPERATIONS AND PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION FOR THE HAWAI'I CONSERVATION ALLIANCE INCLUDING FACILITATING WORKING GROUPS TO ASSESS AND EXPAND EFFECTIVE CONSERVATION IN HAWAI'I, IDENTIFY AND SHARE BEST PRACTICES FOR CONSERVATION FIELD WORK, AND TO ENSURE THAT BIOCULTURAL RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP IS GROUNDED IN PLACE AND INFORMED BY THE BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE AND CULTURAL PRACTICE. THE HCAF ALSO SUPPORTED THE LAUKAHI NETWORK TO COORDINATE NATIVE PLANT CONSERVATION.
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 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 December 2024.
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 April 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.