Harris Center for Conservation Education Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE HARRIS CENTER FOR CONSERVATION EDUCATION IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION BASED IN HANCOCK, NH. SINCE 1970, THE HARRIS CENTER HAS PROMOTED UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT FOR OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT THROUGH EDUCATION OF ALL AGES, DIRECT PROTECTION AND EXEMPLARY STEWARDSHIP OF THE REGION'S NATURAL RESOURCES, CONSERVATION RESEARCH, AND PROGRAMS THAT ENCOURAGE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS.
- Income
- $2.9 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 77.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 55%
- Employees
- 45
- Volunteers
- 300
- Highest pay
- $99,378, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 77.3 months of spending.
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
5 of 15Income fell 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 2515 of 15 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
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 June 30, 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 (3)
- $742,860 spent. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS: OUR SCHOOL-BASED EDUCATION PROGRAM SENDS NATURALISTS TO CLASSROOMS THROUGHOUT THE MONADNOCK REGION, WHERE THEY COLLABORATE WITH CLASSROOM TEACHERS TO OFFER INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES K THROUGH 12 THAT LINK TO CURRICULA AND ALIGN WITH CURRENT STANDARDS. IN ADDITION, THE HARRIS CENTER PROVIDES DIVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATON OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNERS OF ALL AGES, RANGING FROM SHORT COURSES FOR ADULTS TO SUMMER CAMPS FOR CHILDREN. WE SPONSOR OVER 120 LECTURES, FILM SHOWINGS, WORKSHOPS, AND OUTINGS EACH YEAR.
- $237,265 spent. CONSERVATION RESEARCH: THE HARRIS CENTER'S CONSERVATION RESEARCH ARM COORDINATES A VARIETY OF SUCCESSFUL CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECTS ACROSS THE REGION, INCLUDING VERNAL POOL DOCUMENTATION INITIATIVES AND THE LOCALLY CELEBRATED SALAMANDER CROSSING BRIGADES. WE WORK WITH LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO FACILITATE RESEARCH AND DATA COLLECTION ON OUR CONSERVED LANDS.
- $188,420 spent. LAND PROTECTION: THE HARRIS CENTER IS A LOCAL LAND TRUST RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSERVING OVER 22,000 ACRES IN A SUPERSANCTUARY THAT SPANS 8 TOWNS. HARRIS CENTER LAND PROTECTION IS FOCUSED ON PROTECTING LARGE BLOCKS, PROVIDING ROOM TO ROAM FOR PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE. OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE JOINED FORCES WITH LANDOWNERS, TOWNS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND DOZENS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PROTECT THESE SPECIAL PLACES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 November 6, 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 June 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 December 1970.
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 November 4, 2026.
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