The Creature Conservancy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
CONSERVATION THROUGH EDUCATION: TO WORK WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY TO CREATE PERSONAL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE, ANIMALS AND THEIR SHARED ENVIRONMENT. BY BRINGING HUMANS AND ANIMALS TOGETHER IN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS, WE HOPE TO CULTIVATE A GREATER APPRECIATION FOR THE ANIMALS WITH WHICH WE SHARE THIS PLANET. WE ALSO HELP SPECIFIC ANIMALS IN NEED THROUGH RESCUE ACTIVITIES. OUR WORK IS GUIDED BY THE BELIEF THAT WE ARE A BETTER SPECIES WHEN WE CONNECT WITH OTHER SPECIES ON A PERSONAL LEVEL.
- Income
- $906,769
- Spending
- $844,589
- Spent on programs
- 99%
- Reserves
- 0.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 81%
- Employees
- 26
- Volunteers
- 70
- Highest pay
- $10,650, secretary
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
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 49% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1599% 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
Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 253 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (2)
- $491,727 spent. ANIMAL CARE & EXHIBITS - AS OF 12/31/2024 THE CREATURE CONSERVANCY HAD OVER 25 PERMANENT ANIMAL EXHIBITS. IN 2024 WORK CONTINUED ON THE WOLF ENCLOSURE AND AN ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM SPACE. AS WELL AS CONTINUOUS MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES TO EXISTING EXHIBITS. THE CREATURE CONSERVANCY HAS OVER 220 VERTEBRATES OF OVER 85 SPECIES AND MANY MORE INVERTEBRATES FOR DISPLAY IN THEIR PUBLIC EXHIBITS AND USE IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS HELP TO CARE FOR AND FEED THESE ANIMALS EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR. SOME VISITOR FAVORITES ARE THE CLOUDED LEOPARDS, COUGAR, SLOTHS, AND ALLIGATORS.
- $340,679 spent. EDUCATION & COMMUNITY RELATIONS - IN 2024 WE CONTINUED OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH OVER SOCIAL MEDIA. WE CONDUCTED HUNDREDS OF ANIMAL PROGRAMS AND/OR TOURS FOR SCHOOL GROUPS,CORPORATE GROUPS, AND PRIVATE GROUPS. OVER 600 MEMBERSHIPS WERE SOLD. OVER 450 CHILDREN ENROLLED IN OUR SUMMER CAMPS. OVER 1,800 PEOPLE ATTENDED SPECIAL ANIMAL EVENTS SUCH AS HALLOWEEN SPOOKY SPECIES, VALENTINE'S CREATURE COURTSHIP, ANIMAL TRIVIA, AND ART AND ANIMAL EVENTS. OUR OUTDOOR ANIMAL EXHIBITS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DAILY. OVER 21,000 VISITORS CAME TO OUR PUBLIC OPEN HOURS ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS ENJOYING OUR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR EXHIBITS WITH SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS ON THE FEATURED ANIMAL AMBASSADORS FOR THE MONTH.
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 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 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 March 2010.
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.
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.