Society for the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE WILD SHEEP POPULATION OF CALIFORNIA AND THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA
- Income
- $130,222
- Spending
- $141,655
- Reserves
- 29.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 83%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 29.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (12)
- $3,124 spent. SATELLITE WATER MONITORINGCOLLECT AND PROVIDE DATA TO CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS AND MARINE BASE STAFF BIOLOGIST AT 29 PALMS ONWATER SOURCE INFORMATION RECEIVED FORM SATELLITE MONITORING SYSTEMS INSTALLED ON BIG GAME GUZZLERS.THIS DATA IS USED TO DETERMINE WHEN WATER HAULING OR GUZZLER REPAIRS ARE NEEDED. WILDLIFE WATER CONSUMPTION AND SHEEP MIGRATION PATTERNS CAN ALSO BE MONITORED BY THE WATER USAGE AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS.
- AREA CAPTAIN PROGRAM COORDINATE WITH CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE, U.S. BUREAUOF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. FOREST SERVICE, U.S. PARK SERVICE, CALIFORNIASTATE PARK SERVICE, THE US MARINE CORPS AND VOLUNTEERS ON VARIOUS PROJECTS INCLUDING INSTALLATION,REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF BIG GAME GUZZLERS AND NATURAL SPRINGS. CONDUCT SURVEYS AND PROVIDE THE RESULTS TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH ANDWILDLIFE FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF WILDLIFE HABITAT. COORDINATE WITH VOLUNTEER AREACAPTAINS TO INSPECT AND MAINTAIN OVER 60 BIG GAME GUZZLES AND VARIOUS NATURAL SPRINGS.THERE IS OFTEN LITTLE OR NO EXPENSE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS ABSORB THEIR OWN TRAVEL AND OTHER MINOR EXPENSESTHEMSELVES AND CONSIDER IT PART OF THE OBLIGATION AS SPORTSMEN TO IMPROVE WILDLIFE HABITAT.
- $2,544 spent. SATELLITE MONITOR, NEW TECHNOLOGY ALL OF THE EXISTING MONITOR SYSTEMS ARE COMPLEX AND ARE EXPENSIVE EQUIPMENT THAT GENERALLY REQUIRES AND EXPERIENCED TECHNICIAN TO INSTALL AND REPAIR.THE SOCIETY HAS BEEN EXPERIMENTING WITH MORE MODERN MONITORING SYSTEMS THAT CAN BE INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED BY VOLUNTEERS WITHOUT EXTENSIVE TRAININGONE SUCH SYSTEM PROVIDED ON LOAN BY THE MANUFACTURE "RANCHBOT" WAS INSTALLED AT NO COST AND IS BEING TESTED FOR ITS ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED DATA.A SECOND SYSTEM WAS PURCHASED AND INSTALLED ON THE LITTLE FARGO BIG GAME GUZZLER AND IS ALSO BEING TESTED FOR ACCURACY AND RELIABILITY. THIS SYSTEM THE "GALLAGHER"IS SIMPLE TO INSTALL AND MADE TO BE SIMPLY REPLACED AT THE END OF ITS 5 YEAR WARRANTED BATTERY LIFE SPAN.
- WATER HAULING TO BIG GAME GUZZLERS DURING DRY SUMMER MONTHSWATER HAULING TO THE BIG GAME GUZZLERS OFTEN BECOMES NECESSARY WHEN RAIN WATER COLLECTION DOES NOT KEEP UP WITH WATER USAGE BY THE BIGHORN SHEEP AND OTHERDESERT WILD LIFE. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN RELIABLE WATER SOURCES FOR THE ANIMALS IT OFTEN BECOMES NECESSARY TO SUPPLEMENT THE RAIN WATER COLLECTION WITH WATER DELIVERIESDURING THE DRY SUMMER MONTHS. SB 25 NEWBERRY BIG GAME GUZZLER RECEIVES EXTREMELY HEAVY USE BY BIGHORN SHEEP IN THE SUMMER MONTH AND THIS YEAR VOLUNTEERS HAULED AND DELIVERED 9550 GALLONS OF WATER TO THIS LOCATION. THE VOLUNTEERS TRAVELED OVER 7553 MILES AND EXPENDED 345 HOURS OF LABOR TO ACCOMPLISH THIS TASK.WATER WAS ALSO DELIVER TO SB 50 BIG GAME GUZZLER AND SB 52 SAWTOOTH BIG GAME GUZZLER.ALL OF THE EXPENSES INCLUDING FUEL FOR THIS ACTIVITY WERE ABSORBED BY THE VOLUNTEERS THEMSELVES AS THEY ARE DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING THE BIG HORN SHEEP AND OTHER DESERTWILDLIFE.
- AREA CAPTAIN PROGRAM COORDINATE WITH CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE, U.S. BUREAUOF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. FOREST SERVICE, U.S. PARK SERVICE, CALIFORNIASTATE PARK SERVICE, THE US MARINE CORPS AND VOLUNTEERS ON VARIOUS PROJECTS INCLUDING INSTALLATION,REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF BIG GAME GUZZLERS AND NATURAL SPRINGS. CONDUCT SURVEYS AND PROVIDE THE RESULTS TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH ANDWILDLIFE FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF WILDLIFE HABITAT. COORDINATE WITH VOLUNTEER AREACAPTAINS TO INSPECT AND MAINTAIN OVER 50 BIG GAME GUZZLES AND VARIOUS NATURAL SPRINGS.THERE IS OFTEN LITTLE EXPENSE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS ABSORB THEIR OWN TRAVEL AND OTHER MINOR EXPENSESTHEMSELVES AND CONSIDER IT PART OF THE OBLIGATION AS SPORTSMEN TO IMPROVE WILDLIFE HABITAT.
- $617 spent. SHEEP SHEET NEWS LETTER, POSTAGE $173.95 , PRINTING $ 442.80PRINT AND DISTRIBUTE THE SHEEP SHEET NEWS LETTER THAT CONTAINS INFORMATIONON WILDLIFE HABITAT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS BOTH PAST AND FUTURE. IT IS DISTRIBUTED TO MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS.
- $163 spent. STATE LANDS COMMISSION / STATE SCHOOL LANDS GUZZLER SITES LEASE.90 BIG GAME GUZZLER SITES ARE PLANED FOR STATE LANDS SCHOOL PROPERTIES IN THE MOJAVE DESERT. THE LEASE WAS APPROVED IN 2024 AND WORK HAS BEGUN CONSTRUCTION THE GUZZLERS.DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT IN THE DESERT CONSTRUCTION BY VOLUNTEERS CAN ONLY BE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE FALL AND WINTER MONTHS. THE GOAL OF CONSTRUCTING 90 GUZZLERS WILL BE A MULTI YEAR PROJECT. THE SITES ARE BEING PRIORITIZED BY THE NEED FOR WATER IN LOCATIONS THAT ALREADY HAVE A SHEEP POPULATION WITH LIMITED WATER RESOURCES.FUTURE PROJECTS WILL INCLUDE MORE REMOTE AREAS WITH THE INTENT OF MAKING MUCH OF THE DESERT HABITABLE FOR THE BIG HORN SHEEP.
- $115,100 spent. STATE LANDS, BIG GAME GUZZLER PROJECTSTHE STALE LANDS PROJECT CONSISTS OF 90 SITES LEASED FORM THE CALIFORNIA SATE LANDS COMMISSION FOR THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF BUILDING BIG GAME GUZZLERS AT EACH SITE INVERY REMOTE LOCATIONS IN THE MOJAVE DESERT.SL 03, LADY LU BIG GAME GUZZLER. THE WATER TANKS AND RAIN MATS FOR THIS PROJECT WERE PURCHASED IN 2024 AT A COST OF $ 33,570.15. THE INSTALLATION WAS CARRIED OUT IN JANUARY OF 2025 WITH VOLUNTEERS COMPLETING THE PROJECT OVER A THREE DAY PERIOD IN THE EAST THE MOJAVE DESERT 80 MILES EAST OF BARSTOW. THERE WAS ADDITIONAL COST FOR THE THE INSTALLATION OF THE PROJECT INCLUDING THE EXPENSE OF THE EXCAVATOR AND OPERATOR TO INSTALL THE BELOW GROUND RAIN CATCHER TANKS.SL 13, HAWKEYE BIG GAME GUZZLER. THE RAIN MATS FOR THIS PROJECTS WERE PURCHASED IN 2024 AT A COST OF $15,015.00. THE 2 TANKS AND INSTALLATION COSTS INCLUDING THE EXCAVATOR AND OPERATOR WERE INCLUDED WHEN THE PROJECT WAS INSTALLED IN OCTOBER OF 2025.DUE TO THE LONG LEAD TIME ON THE MANUFACTURE OF THE RAIN CATCHER WATER STORAGE TANKS AND THE LIMITED AVAILABILITY OF THE HYPALON RAIN MATE MATERIAL SUPPLIES FOR THE2026 STATE LANDS PROJECTS WERE ORDERED AHEAD SO THEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR INSTALLATIONS STARTING IN JANUARY OF 2026. THE COST PER PLANNED PROJECT IS AS FOLLOWS.THE MATERIAL FOR SL 75 HOMER BIG GAME GUZZLER INCLUDING 2 TANKS, RAIN MAT, PLUMBING PARTS AND DRINKER COVERING SHADE ROCKS.THE MATERIAL FOR SL 61 BLUE BELL BIG GAME GUZZLER INCLUDING, 2 TANKS, RAIN MAT, PLUMBING PARTS AND DRINKER COVERING SHADE ROCKS.THE MATERIAL FOR SL 82 FLAT TOP BIG GAME GUZZLER INCLUDING. 3 TANKS, RAIN MAT, PLUMBING PARTS AND DRINKER COVERING SHADE ROCKS.
- $239 spent. STATE SCHOOL LANDS GRANITE/ WEAVORNOY BIG GAME GUZZLER LEASECURRENTLY THERE IS ONE, TWO AND ONE HALF ACRE SITE WITH AN EXISTING GUZZLER THAT HAS BEEN LEASED BY SCBS AND IT IS MONITOREDAND MAINTAINED BY SCBS VOLUNTEERS WITH RESULTS BEING REPORTED TO DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS.THE SITE IS LOCATED IN THE GRANITE MOUNTAINS IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY.THE SITE IS LOCATED IN THE GRANITE MOUNTAINS IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY.
- $347 spent. BRISTOL MOUNTAINS, ORANGE BLOSSUM MINE PIT COVER.A LOCAL MINE OWNER LOCATED IN THE BRISTOL MOUNTAINS NOTIFIED SCBS THAT HE HAD DISCOVER AND OLD ABANDON MINE SHAFT THAT DID NOT BELONG TO HIM AND THAT THE PITCONTAINED THE REMAINS OF A BIGHORN SHEEP AND SEVERAL DESERT TORTOISES THAT HAD FALLEN INTO THE SHAFT AND COULD NOT GET OUT. THE MINE SHAFT WAS LOCATED ON BUREAU OF LANDMANAGEMENT PROPERTY SO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AND THE BLM WERE NOTIFIED OF THE HAZARD. DUE TO THE IMMEDIATE DANGER FOR DESERT WILD LIFE THE SOCIETY FOR THE CONSERVATION OF BIGHORN SHEEP VOLUNTEERS WORKED WITH THE TWO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO IMMEDIATELY BUILD A TEMPORARY EXCLOSURE OVER THE PIT TO KEEP THE VARIOUS SPECIES OF WILDLIFE FROM FALLING IN AND PERISHING FROM THE FALL OR BECOMING TRAPPED IN THE DEEP PIT.THE BLM WILL EVENTUALLY REPLACE THE TEMPORARY STRUCTURE WITH A PERMEANT BARRIER BUT FOR THE INTERIM THE HAZARD HAS BEEN RESOLVED.
- $72 spent. FAY DEE BIG GAME GUZZLER REPAIRTHE RAIN MAT AND PLUMBING AT THE FAY DEE GUZZLER HAD BE DAMAGED BY VERY HIGH WINDS THAT LIFTED SECTIONS OF THE MAT AND PORTIONS OF THE 4" COLLECTION PIPE THATBRINGS RAIN WATER FROM THE MAT TO THE STORAGE TANKS. VOLUNTEERS FORM SCBS AND THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE WERE ABLE TO REMOVE DAMAGED PORTIONSOF THE MAT AND RESTORE AND OLDER MAT IN ITS PLACE. THE MATERIAL IS HEAVY AND IS ON A VERY STEEP INCLINE SO A LOT OF HAD WORK WAS INVOLVED TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR .MOST OF THE DAMAGED PIPING WAS SALVAGED AND ONLY A FEW FITTING WERE REQUIRED FOR THE REPAIR.
- YORK FIRE, SB 43 BIG GAME GUZZLER TANK REPLACEMENTTHE YORK FIRE STARTED IN THE NEW YORK MOUNTAINS INSIDE MOJAVE PRESERVE AND BURNED FOR 23 DAYS CONSUMING 93,078 ACRES OF VEGETATION ALSO DAMAGED WAS ANAN OLD STYLE ABOVE GROUND TANK THAT SUPPLIED WATER FOR THE SHEEP AND OTHER INDIGENOUS WILDLIFE. THE RAIN MAT AND DRINKER HAD NOT BEEN DAMAGED SO VOLUNTEERS REMOVED THE DAMAGED TANK AND INSTALLED A NEW BELOW GROUND RAIN CATCHER TANK AND REINSTALLED THE EXISTING PLUMING TO THE WATER COLLECTION RAIN MAT.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 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 December 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 June 1971.
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.