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Ecosystem Sciences Foundation

EIN 31-1781848 · Boise, ID

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RIVER AND WATERSHED RESTORATION

Income
$388,503
Spending
$367,771
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 77%
Employees
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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 120% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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.

  • 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, 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 (4)
  1. $248,107 spent. IDAHO FORESTS ECONOMIC EVALUATION AND HEALTH ASSESSMENT / LSR- ECOSYSTEM SCIENCES FOUNDATION IS DEVELOPING A GEODATABASE (GIS) OF IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF LANDS (IDL) IMPLEMENTED PROJECTS DESCRIBING OVER 100 STATE & PRIVATE FORESTRY PROGRAM FUNDED PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF IDAHO SINCE 2008. THIS DATA WILL HELP IDL EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF THEIR PROGRAMS ON IMPROVING FOREST HEALTH ACROSS IDAHO. ENGAGE KEY PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND NON-PROFIT STAKEHOLDERS IN BUILDING THE STATEWIDE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS. THIS ECONOMIC ANALYSIS WILL EVALUATE IDAHOS PRIORITY LANDSCAPE AREAS AS IDENTIFIED IN THE IDAHO STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN AND COMMUNICATE THE VALUE OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES PRODUCED BY THESE LANDSCAPES.
  2. $73,050 spent. SILVER CREEK PROGRAM - SINCE 2011, ECOSYSTEM SCIENCES FOUNDATION HAS LED THE FORMATION OF THE SILVER CREEK ANNUAL MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM AS PART OF THE ALLIANCE; AN ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION-MINDED LANDOWNERS WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO PRACTICE AND PROMOTE ECOLOGICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY SOUND LAND AND WATER MANAGEMENT IN THE SILVER CREEK WATERSHED OF IDAHO. THE PROGRAM ENGAGES IN A WIDE VARIETY OF EFFORTS, INCLUDING RESOURCE MONITORING, RESEARCH, AND SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, TO BENEFIT THE AREAS WORKING LANDSCAPES, STREAMS, WILDLIFE AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES.
  3. $19,995 spent. WOOD RIVER VALLEY FOREST ENHANCEMENT WRV- THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY FOREST ENHANCEMENT COLLABORATIVE PROJECT WITH ECOSYSTEM SCIENCES FOUNDATION AND IS LED BY THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF LANDS IN COOPERATION WITH THE US FOREST SERVICE. THE PROJECT OCCURS IN THREE PHASES; A TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT OF THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY; FOUR COMMUNITY AND URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR THE CITIES OF THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY; AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ON-THE-GROUND ACTIONS (TREE PLANTING, HAZARDOUS FUELS TREATMENTS AND OTHER ACTIONS).
  4. $3,050 spent. SILVER CREEK STREAMFLOW FORECAST MODELING / BSU / NIFA - COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT OF WATER RESOURCES IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE WATER ALLOCATION NEEDS AND CONSERVATION EFFORTS FOR STAKEHOLDERS IN THE SILVER CREEK AND BIG WOOD RIVER WATERSHED. SURFACE WATER AND GROUNDWATER RESOURCES ARE CHALLENGED BY HYDROLOGIC EXTREMES, WATER AVAILABILITY, IRRIGATION NEEDS, AND WATER QUALITY ISSUES. THIS PROJECT WILL CONSIDER THE RELATIONSHIPS OF SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER INTERACTIONS, WATER AVAILABILITY, AND AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM HEALTH TO GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF MANAGEMENT APPROACHES THAT CAN BALANCE AGRICULTURAL AND ECOLOGICAL NEEDS. THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE USDA, AGRICULTURAL FOOD RESEARCH INITIATIVE FOUNDATION AND APPLIED SCIENCE PROGRAM.

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 October 2001.

    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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