Wildlands Conservancy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
The Wildlands Conservancy's dual mission is to preserve the beauty and biodiversity of the earth and to provide programs so that children may know the wonder and joy of nature.
- Income
- $13.8 million
- Spending
- $12.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- -7.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 28%
- Employees
- 106
- Volunteers
- 900
- Highest pay
- $207,373, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 79% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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)
- $7.8 million spent. See Schedule OPreserve Stewardship: Managing the largest nonprofit nature preserve system on the West Coast, comprising 25 preserves encompassing nearly 210,000 acres of diverse landscapes that are held in fee. The Conservancy believes that access to nature is a birthright and preserves, which host more than 1.5 million visitors annually, are open to the public free of charge for passive recreation, including camping, hiking, picnicking, birding, field studies, and more.The Conservancy employs a staff of friendly and knowledgeable rangers and stewards who engage with visitors while stewarding the land and maintaining outdoor education sites. Each year, they work side-by-side with hundreds of volunteers who log thousands of hours restoring and maintaining these unique and important properties.
- $1.3 million spent. Providing outdoor environmental education: Since 1998, the Conservancy has been Southern California's nonprofit leader in providing free outdoor education programs to more than 1.3 million youth from underserved and economically disadvantaged communities. An educational journey begins the moment a child connects with nature, exploring the outdoors and beginning to wonder and think far beyond the textbook. After a quality outdoor learning experience, children return home with a new understanding and indelible memory of their place in the world.Annually, more than 80,000 youth participate in educational opportunities at a Conservancy preserve, from self-guided exploration through interactive interpretive signage to naturalist-guided field trips and family programs
- $1.7 million spent. See Schedule OLand Conservation and Rewilding: Since its founding in 1995, The Wildlands Conservancy has protected more than 2.3 million acres of public and private lands through advocacy and acquisition, safeguarding ecological connectivity and preserving vast natural landscapes across the American West. Owning land in fee allows the Conservancy to pursue its deepest conservation vision: free outdoor education and public access, active restoration of native habitats, re-wilding species, and stewarding these lands in ways that allow forests, grasslands, and other ecosystems to regenerate naturally. This approach not only supports biodiversity but also strengthens the ability of these landscapes to store carbon, improve watershed health, and be resilient in the face of a rapidly changing climate.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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.