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Escondido Creek Conservancy

EIN 33-0497525 · Escondido, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ESCONDIDO CREEK CONSERVANCY IS TO PRESERVE AND RESTORE THE ESCONDIDO CREEK WATERSHED. VISION: THROUGH THE CONSERVANCY'S LEADERSHIP, THE ESCONDIDO CREEK WATERSHED WILL BECOME A MODEL OF VIBRANT URBAN COMMUNITIES AND VIABLE NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS THRIVING TOGETHER.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
-454 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
20
Volunteers
270
Highest pay
$151,723, executive director

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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 58% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (3)
  1. $552,728 spent. LAND PROGRAM EXPENSES ARE USED FOR MANAGING 3,000+/- ACRES OF CONSERVATION LAND IN THE ESCONDIDO CREEK WATERSHED AREA WHILE ALSO WORKING TO SAVE ADDITIONAL LAND. LANDS MANAGED ARE OWNED IN FEE OR CONTROLLED VIA A CONSERVATION EASEMENT OR OTHER LEGAL INSTRUMENT. EXPENSES INCLUDE THE SALARIES OF OUR LAND TEAM, GENERAL EXPENSES NEEDED TO RUN THE ORGANIZATION, HABITAT ACQUISITION EXPENSES AND HABITAT RESTORATION EXPENSES. SOME EXPENSES ARE PAID BY GRANTS AND DONATED FUNDS, AND OTHER EXPENSES ARE PAID FOR BY ENDOWMENTS FOR PRESERVES THAT ARE ENDOWED[AV1] [AV2] . THE MAIN PURPOSE OF OUR LAND PROGRAMS IS FULFILLING THE MISSION OF THE CONSERVANCY TO PRESERVE AND RESTORE THE ESCONDIDO CREEK WATERSHED.
  2. $273,916 spent. OUR OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS SERVE SCHOOL CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN NORTH SAN DIEGO COUNTY. WE EDUCATE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES ABOUT WHY WILDLANDS AND WILDLIFE ARE IMPORTANT. THESE PROGRAMS ARE SPONSORED BY GRANTS FROM INDIVIDUALS, OR ARE PAID PROGRAMMING PROVIDED BY SCHOOLS. THE PURPOSE OF THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDES ENGAGING YOUTH WITH A RANGE OF OUTDOOR EDUCATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THEIR CONNECTION TO NATURE AND SHAPE FUTURE LAND STEWARDS. EXPENSES INCLUDE THE SALARIES OF OUR EDUCATION TEAM AS WELL AS GENERAL EXPENSES OF THE CONSERVANCY'S OPERATIONS. THE CONSERVANCY'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS HELP FULFILL THE CONSERVANCY'S VISION FOR THE WATERSHED TO BECOME A MODEL OF VIBRANT URBAN COMMUNITIES AND VIABLE NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS THRIVING TOGETHER.
  3. $136,550 spent. THE ESCONDIDO CREEK WATERSHED INVASIVE PLANT CONTROL, RESTORATION, AND FIRE PREVENTION PROGRAM: THE PROJECT, BY THE ESCONDIDO CREEK CONSERVANCY (CONSERVANCY), WILL ADDRESS INVASIVE, NON-NATIVE PLANT SPECIES ACROSS THE ESCONDIDO CREEK WATERSHED IN NORTH SAN DIEGO COUNTY. IT WILL PRIMARILY UTILIZE MECHANICAL AND CHEMICAL TREATMENT OF INVASIVE, NON-NATIVE PLANTS IN NATURE PRESERVES OWNED AND MANAGED BY THE GRANTEE, IN RIPARIAN AREAS, ALONG 8 MILES OF ESCONDIDO CREEK, FROM UPPER TO MID WATERSHED. IT WILL ALSO TREAT INVASIVE PLANTS ON NEIGHBORING, PRIVATELY-OWNED LANDS IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH WATERSHED-SCALE CONTROL OF CERTAIN PLANTS AND ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN CONSERVATION. RETREATMENTS AND MONITORING OF PROGRESS WILL ENSURE LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE OF GAINS. THE WORK WILL INCLUDE CUTTING WITH HAND TOOLS AND CHAINSAWS, PAINTING AND/OR TARGETED SPRAYING OF STUMPS WITH HERBICIDES, REPLANTING WITH NATIVE RIPARIAN VEGETATION IN A FEW SELECTED AREAS, AND WORKING WITH NEIGHBORS FOR TREATMENT AND MAINTENANCE.

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 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 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 August 1996.

    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.

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.