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Friends of the Organ Mountains- Desert Peaks

EIN 27-5027211 · Las Cruces, NM

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FRIENDS OF ORGAN MOUNTAINS-DESERT PEAKS SEEKS TO ENRICH THE COMMUNITY AND DIVERSE CULTURES THROUGH ADVOCACY, CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION OF THE ORGAN MOUNTAINS-DESERT PEAKS NATIONAL MONUMENT AS A PREMIER EXAMPLE OF AMERICA'S NATIONAL CONSERVATION LANDS.

Income
$466,830
Spending
$410,720
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
13.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
4
Volunteers
30

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.1 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 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% 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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (1)
  1. $350,127 spent. THROUGH 2024 YOUTH PROGRAMMING CONTINUED TO BE FOCUS FOR FRIENDS OF ORGAN MOUNTAINS-DESERT PEAKS. SEVENTEEN (1,700) YOUNG PARTICIPANTS TOOK PART IN OUR PROGRAMMING THROUGH OUR 4TH GRADE HIKES, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, AND BIKE PROGRAMS. ONE SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT WAS THE GROWTH AND EXPANSION OF OUR SCHOOL TIME CAMPS. THESE TOOK PLACE DURING THE FALL, SPRING, AND SUMMER CAMPS. EACH WEEK LONG CAMP HAD A SPECIFIC THEME THAT TIED INTO ENCOURAGING A STRONGER CONNECTION TO OUR OUTDOOR SPACES. WE CONTINUED OUR WORK IN INTRODUCING OUR LARGE COMMUNITY TO OUR NATIONAL MONUMENT (ORGAN MOUNTAINS-DESERT PEAKS) THROUGH GUIDED HIKES AND ACTIVITIES. MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED INDIVIDUALS JOINED THOSE HIKES. WE HOSTED TWO ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, WHICH PROVIDES AN ART INSPIRED WAY TO APPRECIATE OUR NATURAL SPACES. WE MARKED THE TEN-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL MONUMENT WITH A COMMUNITY CELEBRATION IN MAY. WE HOSTED ONE HUNDRED FIFTY (150) MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDERS IN OCTOBER TO RIDE THE MONUMENTAL LOOP. THIS EVENT BRINGS VISTORS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO EXPERIENCE OUR UNIQUE SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO LANDSCAPE. FINALLY, WE INVESTED IN MUCH NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AT A MOST HIGHLY VISTED LOCATION, DRIPPING SPRINGS, TO IMPROVE ACCESS ISSUES AND IMPROVE PARKING.

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

  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 2024.

    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 November 2012.

    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.

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