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Kcf Kentucky Conservation Foundation Inc

EIN 31-0999716 · Frankfort, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceFair54 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Supports powerful and innovative programs to build capacity for communities in Kentucky, to build a cleaner and sustainable future.

Income
$111,485
Spending
$151,696
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
18.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
0
Volunteers
3

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

Good: 80 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 54 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 (7)
  1. $35,000 spent. Clean and Sustainable Energy Project. KY Clean Energy Advocacy Network Support: Support the team of pro-solar organizations with their education and strategy work. Includes contributing to shared support for a dedicated coordinator to manage the c3 group work within the Kentuckians for Energy Democracy coalition, and also engaging with a multi-state coalition focusing on the same Energy Democracy work in order to share strategies and tools. Nuclear Generating Plants: Monitor discussions. Renewable Siting, Energy Democracy: Continue the public education campaign on large-scale solar projects and advocate for responsible use of land/best land management practices for clean energy projects. Continue to engage in education opportunities and best practices for distributed solar, educating the public and agencies on resources and trends including storage, working with groups such as the Kentuckians for Energy Democracy coalition (K4ED) and Ky. Solar Energy Society (KySES). This includes work with K4ED on strategies to engage the public on the value of their Public Service Commission and the need for citizens to understand the process and engage. Update a new edition of the KCC Solar Siting guide, based on new laws passed in 2023 Transportation: Increase public education on transportation-related energy issues, including electric vehicles, increased charging infrastructure, public transportation. Energy Efficiency: Continue to engage with groups on EE and building electrification initiatives, including building codes, and coalitions such as the LG&E/Kentucky Utilities Demand Side Management group to find pathways to advance efficiency programs. Health: Engage in education opportunities and public health impacts relating to dirty energy vs. clean energy and efficiency alternatives. Heavy Industry Decarbonization: Working with allies in the Sustainable Aluminum Network, participate in weekly calls with the coalition, and help them address heavy manufacturing issues and clean energy procurement specific to Kentucky and its Aluminum industry by way of research and media.How do I cahne the battery on
  2. $28,000 spent. Climate Education Project: Help inform local and state government and community nonprofits about financial opportunities from the Inflation Reduction Act, Infrastructure Act, and similar Federal programs where communities can organize climate-reduction and climate-resilience projects. Distribute updated third edition of KCC's Key Steps guide. Continue educational opportunities for locally-based programs in cities and towns. Partner with local community-based project groups such as the Bluegrass Climate Action Team, Louisville Climate Action Network, Bluegrass Greensource Energy Efficiency Team, Kentucky Environmental Educators and similar local groups to amplify local climate messaging and implementation. Inform the public of funding opportunities through federal initiatives, Highlighting climate resiliency, environmental justice and equity opportunities. Voter education/engagement activities on climate issues (c3). Continue to inform the public about the environmental and substantial climate change impacts of crypto mining and other emerging climate-impacting threats, and continue networking and sharing information with multi-state allies on this issue.
  3. $18,000 spent. Infrastructure, Toxics and Waste: Inform the public on initiatives to explore the use of Class VI wells for carbon sequestration. Provide content maintenance and updates to the kybeyondfossilfuels.org website and maintain the kybeyondfossilfuels Facebook page to include more information about pipeline protests, health risks of natural gas and benefits of electrification rather than gas. Use this forum to gather new allies. Stay current to provide information to the public, and that we can provide continuing support for allied groups and communities executing local action plans. Help with education campaigns on infrastructure projects and land rights. Highlight environmental issues relating to abandoned gas wells and the need to cap wells. Support Bernheim Arboretum land/pipeline controversy by helping to distribute and amplify Bernheim's messaging and the messaging of local citizen groups. Build out public information on small-scale projects that may increase oil and gas operations, such as distributed energy use for cryptocurrency. Water Infrastructure: In collaboration with citizen water networks, amplify core messaging from citizen groups on problems and solutions, working with Concerned Citizens of Martin County and the Eastern KY Water Network.
  4. $10,000 spent. Biodiversity Education: Promote wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity as a way to build resiliency for wildlife and pollinators. This may include utility corridors such as gas, solar and transmission infrastructure and the state's rare plant research along roadways. Promote information to reduce conflicts between infrastructure and rare species. Monitor species-related issues and keep the public informed on the proposed developments in the Red River Gorge (either commercial developments or forest service initiatives). Disseminate information and progress on Kentucky's Pollinator and Monarch Plans: participate in pollinator plan-related meetings, disseminate information through public channels. Tie in native plant information on pollinators where applicable. Social media education through Facebook and similar online channels. Post regularly on biodiversity issues. Continue to support groups working on sensitive habitat issues in and around the Daniel Boone forest and Red River Gorge. Educate coalitions about opportunities for biodiversity initiatives and wildlife corridors within new federal funding dedicated to these kinds of projects. Monitor state's application of $1.2 million grant for wildlife corridors.
  5. $10,000 spent. Nonpartisan voter outreach and voter engagement, particularly focusing on regions where there is not a strong presence such as certain rural areas. Hold "town hall" style outreach events. Hold "get out the vote" set of nonpartisan activities, either virtual, in-person, or a combination, utilizing texting, social media, and/or in person tabling.
  6. $17,000 spent. Land Conservation and Stewardship: Continue to educate the public on capacity and funding for lands protection and resulting impacts using materials from the Dorris Duke foundation. Find and leverage new studies on the economic value of conservation and outdoor recreation lands. Partner with agricultural groups on addressing farmland conservation. Promote information about wildlands corridors on the KCF website, Facebook pages and other public spaces. Participate in coalition calls on wildlands corridors and build alliances for researching information on infrastructure needed to allow wildland corridors to coexist with transportation corridors. Research climate-preparedness and climate-resilience issues affecting Kentucky's wild lands. Work with allied groups on resiliency initiatives.
  7. $8,325 spent. Culture and Heritage Project: Present the Wild and Scenic Film Festival for its 10th year, with film selection on natural lands, and biodiversity and outdoor recreation. Continue the Kentucky Voices public event for 2024, highlighting authors who focus on natural lands, biodiversity, Kentucky history, justice issues.

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 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 March 1981.

    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.