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Rio Grande Watershed Conservation & Education Initiative

EIN 27-1157593 · Alamosa, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE DYNAMIC CONSERVATION EDUCATION TO THE SAN LUIS VALLEY COMMUNITY AND TO PROMOTE STEWARDSHIP OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.

Income
$148,770
Spending
$136,287
Reserves
7.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Highest pay
$45,833, executive dir.

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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% 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 (3)
  1. $56,102 spent. YOUTH CONSERVATION CAMP 2,3 DAY LONG CAMP TO TEACH CHILDREN AGES 8-13 ABOUT NATURAL RESOURCES AND HOW TO CONSERVE THEM FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE HAD 98 YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN 2025. THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVED DONATED SERVICES AND USE OF FACILITIES WITH A FAIR VALUE OF $5,986 FOR THIS PROGRAM.
  2. $50,258 spent. CLASS 2 FIELD EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN WHICH THE CURRICULUM PROVIDES STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN GRADES K-12 AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE CONSERVATION THAT IS TIED TO COLORADO CONTENT STANDARDS THROUGH IN CLASS HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES AND FIELD TRIPS. CURRICULUM INCLUDES POSTER CONTEST, COMMUNITY EVENTS, RIVER TRAILER AND GROUND WATER MODELS, WETLAND TRIPS, FARM, FIELD AND WILDLIFE AREA TOURS, A PUMPKIN PATCH, AND WATER FESTIVAL. APPROXIMATELY 3,000 K-12 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN 2025 PROGRAMMING. THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVES DONATED SERVICES AND USE OF FACILITIES WITH A FAIR VALUE OF $10,962 FOR THIS PROGRAM.
  3. $10,519 spent. SLV NATURAL RESOURCE WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 9-12 IN AGRICULTURE AND SCIENCE CLASSES RECEIVE INSTRUCTIONAL AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING FACILITATED BY NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS ON THE TOPICS OF FORESTRY, AQUATIC ECOLOGY, WILDLIFE, SOIL, AND LAND MANAGEMENT. IN 2025, 250 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED. THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVES DONATED SERVICES AND USE OF FACILITIES WITH A FAIR VALUE OF $504 FOR THIS PROGRAM.

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

  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 October 13, 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 December 2009.

    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 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.