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Center for Plant Conservation Inc

EIN 22-2527116 · Wildomar, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SAFEGUARD AND CONSERVE IMPERILED NATIVE PLANTS BY ADVANCING SCIENCE-BASED PRACTICES, CONNECTING AND EMPOWERING PLANT CONSERVATIONISTS, AND INSPIRING PEOPLE TO PROTECT BIODIVERSITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
54%
Reserves
18.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 37%
Employees
5
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$148,088, ceo (as of 3/31/25)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    54% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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. $938,953 spent. PARTNER RESOURCES: ACCESS TO CUTTING EDGE TOOLS, DATA, AND INFORMATION THROUGH OUR EXCLUSIVE CONSERVATION PARTNERS-ONLY WEB PORTAL. THROUGH THE CONSERVATION PARTNERS PORTAL, MEMBERS CAN DISSEMINATE CONSERVATION KNOWLEDGE ON OUR NATIONAL COLLECTION PLANT PROFILES, WHICH RECEIVE THOUSANDS OF VISITORS EACH YEAR. THE CONSERVATION PARTNERS PORTAL ALSO PROVIDES A REPOSITORY OF CRITICAL CONSERVATION DOCUMENTS INCLUDING THE MOST UP TO DATE CPC CONSERVATION PROTOCOLS. ADDITIONAL CPC DATA ASSETS INCLUDE THE POLLINATORS OF RARE PLANTS DATABASE AND THE RARE PLANT REINTRODUCTION DATABASE, WHICH MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONTRIBUTE TO AND UTILIZE TO EXTEND THE SCIENCE OF CONSERVATION.
  2. $71,019 spent. NATIONAL MEETING: EVERY YEAR, THE CENTER FOR PLANT CONSERVATION CONVENES A MEETING OF ITS CONSERVATION PARTNERS. THE CONSERVATION PROFESSIONALS WORKING AT THE BOTANIC GARDENS AND PLANT CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO SAVING PLANTS FROM EXTINCTION COME TOGETHER FOR A THREE-DAY CONFERENCE TO SHARE AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHER THE CUTTING-EDGE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY USED TO SAVE RARE AND ENDANGERED FLORA. THE CONFERENCE CONSISTS OF WORKSHOPS, PRESENTATIONS AND FIELD TRIPS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.

    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 November 1984.

    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.