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Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

EIN 25-1053485 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY PROTECTS AND RESTORES EXCEPTIONAL PLACES TO PROVIDE OUR REGION WITH CLEAN WATERS AND HEALTHY FORESTS, WILDLIFE AND NATURAL AREAS FOR THE BENEFIT OF PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE CONSERVANCY CREATES GREEN SPACES AND GARDENS, CONTRIBUTING TO THE VITALITY OF OUR CITIES AND TOWNS, AND PRESERVES FALLINGWATER, A SYMBOL OF PEOPLE LIVING IN HARMONY WITH NATURE.

Income
$41.6 million
Spending
$33.4 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
30.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 36%
Employees
278
Volunteers
3,404
Highest pay
$499,208, president & ceo

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 30.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 36% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    32 of 33 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 (6)
  1. $7.9 million spent. FALLINGWATER ADMINISTRATION AND EDUCATION PROGRAM: FALLINGWATER IS FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S WORLD-FAMOUS MASTERWORK. A HOUSE THAT IS OPERATED AS AN ARCHITECTURAL MUSEUM, FALLINGWATER SYMBOLIZES PEOPLE LIVING IN HARMONY WITH NATURE. FALLINGWATER HOSTS CLOSE TO 145,000 VISITORS, INCLUDING MORE THAN 10,000 STUDENTS, EACH YEAR. FALLINGWATER CONDUCTS SCHOOL PROGRAMS, LECTURES, EXHIBITIONS AND TOURS OF VARIOUS KINDS TO HELP LEARNERS OF ALL AGES ADVANCE THEIR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ART, ARCHITECTURE AND NATURE. FALLINGWATER OFFERS ON-SITE AND VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS AND RESIDENCIES AS WELL AS INTERNSHIPS TO FURTHER ENHANCE THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES AVAILABLE AT THE LOCATION.
  2. $4.1 million spent. NATURAL HERITAGE AND CONSERVATION SCIENCE PROGRAM: THIS PROGRAM FURNISHES IMPORTANT CONSERVATION INFORMATION AND ASSESSMENTS TO WPC AS WELL AS OTHER PARTNERS. THE NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM IS PART OF A PENNSYLVANIA STATE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM THAT COLLECTS AND MANAGES A VARIETY OF INFORMATION CONCERNING THE STATUS AND LOCATIONS OF RARE PLANTS AND ANIMALS THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH AND SHARES THAT INFORMATION TO ASSIST WITH PLANNING, ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND LAND PROTECTION.
  3. $7.9 million spent. WATERSHED CONSERVATION PROGRAM: THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY'S WATERSHED CONSERVATION PROGRAM WORKS TO IMPROVE OUR REGION'S WATER QUALITY. THROUGH A NUMBER OF STRATEGIC PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES - SUCH AS STREAMBANK RESTORATIONS, IN-STREAM HABITAT WORK, AQUATIC ORGANISM PASSAGE IMPROVEMENTS AND RIPARIAN PLANTINGS - OUR WATERSHED CONSERVATION PROGRAM WORKS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE LOCAL RIVERS AND STREAMS. WE IMPROVE WILDLIFE HABITATS AND INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION, WHILE WORKING TO ENSURE THAT OUR WATERWAYS REMAIN HEALTHY AND VIABLE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY HAS PROTECTED OR RESTORED MORE THAN 3,000 MILES OF RIVERS AND STREAMS.
  4. $1.1 million spent. IA/COMMUNICATIONS: THESE SERVICES CONSIST OF THE PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS REGARDING CONSERVATION, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH, ARCHITECTURE, AND COMMUNITY GREENING.
  5. $2.9 million spent. LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAM: THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES LAND PROTECTION AND LAND STEWARDSHIP. THESE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON THE PERMANENT PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE REGION'S NATURAL AREAS, AS WELL AS IMPORTANT FARMLAND, HISTORIC PROPERTIES AND OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL RESOURCES. WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY HAS HELPED ESTABLISH ELEVEN STATE PARKS AND CONSERVED MORE THAN 295,000 ACRES OF NATURAL LANDS.
  6. $3.9 million spent. COMMUNITY GREENING: THIS PROGRAM IMPLEMENTS HIGH IMPACT GREENING PROJECTS TO PROMOTE ATTRACTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES. SUPPORTED BY STRATEGIC PARTNERS AND ALMOST 3,000 VOLUNTEERS, THE PROGRAM ANNUALLY FACILITATES APPROXIMTELY 125 COMMUNITY FLOWER GARDENS, 50 COMMUNITY VEGETABLE GARDENS, AND 1,300 URBAN FLORAL BASKETS AND PLANTERS ALONG CITY STREETS, IMPLEMENTS GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS TO HELP MANAGE STORM WATER, EXECUTES GREENING AND OUTDOOR LEARNING PROJECTS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS, AND SINCE 2008, HAS PLANTED MORE THAN 42,000 TREES IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, INCLUDING IN ALLEGHENY, BLAIR, CAMBRIA, ERIE, ARMSTRONG, AND WESTMORELAND COUNTIES.

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 May 1951.

    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.

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