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Heartland Conservation Alliance Inc

EIN 35-2434953 · Kansas City, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE HEARTLAND CONSERVATION ALLIANCE WORKS WITH PARTNERS TO PROTECT, CONNECT, AND RESTORE THE BLUE RIVER WATERSHED AND ITS URBAN GREENSPACES FOR THE BENEFIT AND ENJOYMENT OF ALL.

Income
$931,526
Spending
$605,521
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 77%
Employees
8
Volunteers
161
Highest pay
$79,380, 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

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 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 88% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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. $213,397 spent. CONSERVATION AND POLICY: HEARTLAND CONSERVATION ALLIANCE (HCA) ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT CONSERVATION MILESTONES BY SECURING LAND AND ENSURING LONG-TERM PROTECTION OF NATURAL AREAS.SECURED THE ORGANIZATION'S FIRST CONSERVATION EASEMENT (28.4 ACRES) FROM THE CITY OF KANSAS CITY, MO, AT THE MUNICIPAL FARM CONSERVATION SITE IN SEPTEMBER 2024, ENSURING ITS PERMANENT PROTECTION. HCA NOW SERVES AS THE MONITOR FOR THIS EASEMENT.ACQUIRED 98 ACRES OF LAND IN THE FLOODPLAIN ALONG THE BLUE RIVER, ESTABLISHING THE BLUE RIVER NATURE PRESERVE, TO PROTECT AND RESTORE VITAL WILDLIFE HABITAT AND WATER QUALITY. THIS ACQUISITION QUADRUPLED HCA'S LAND HOLDINGS.ADVANCED THE UPDATE OF THE BLUE RIVER REPORT CARD BY HAVING SIX TEAMS GRADE 14 WATERSHED HEALTH INDICATORS. THE FINAL REPORT IS EXPECTED IN 2025.CONTINUED RESTORATION EFFORTS AT THE 40-ACRE HEARTLAND OVERLOOK PRESERVE, REMOVING INVASIVE SPECIES AND PLANTING/SEEDING NATIVES ON 8.2 ACRES. THIS WORK INFORMS HCA'S LEAD ROLE IN A FUTURE $5 MILLION ARPA RIPARIAN RESTORATION GRANT.WORKED TO SECURE A $2.7 MILLION CONTRACT UNDER A SEPARATE MDNR ARPA STORMWATER GRANT AWARDED TO THE CITY OF KCMO TO RESTORE 140 ACRES OF THE BLUE RIVER RIPARIAN ZONE.
  2. $153,068 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: HCA'S EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS CONNECTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO THE BLUE RIVER AND ITS GREEN SPACES THROUGH GUIDED EXPERIENCES AND VOLUNTEER STEWARDSHIP.THE BLUE RIVER NATURE GUIDE (BRING) PROGRAM HOSTED 12 GUIDED NATURE EXPERIENCES (HIKING, KAYAKING, YOGA) AT FIVE LOCATIONS, SERVING 289 PARTICIPANTS.TRAINED 11 GREEN GUARD ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS TO HELP PROTECT THE WATERSHED.THE SECOND ANNUAL BLUE RIVER DISCOVERY DAYS FESTIVAL AT MINOR PARK WELCOMED OVER 100 PARTICIPANTS.HOSTED 28 VOLUNTEER WORKDAY EVENTS (INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL, TRASH CLEANUP) THAT ENGAGED 161 VOLUNTEERS.153 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN MLK DAY NATURE WALKS.PROVIDED 31 CONSERVATION LANDSCAPING CAREER TRAINING SESSIONS TO SUPPORT CORNERSTONES OF CARE'S BUILD TRYBE CONSERVATION LANDSCAPING JOB TRAINING PROGRAM.
  3. $67,599 spent. ALLIANCE SERVICES: HCA COORDINATED PARTNER EFFORTS, MANAGED COMMUNICATION, AND FACILITATED COLLABORATION TO ACHIEVE REGIONAL CONSERVATION GOALS. AS THE EPA BLUE RIVER AMBASSADOR, HCA CONVENED SIX URBAN WATERS FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP US EPA STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGS WITH 102 PARTICIPANTS, FACILITATING COORDINATION AMONG FIFTEEN GOVERNMENTAL AND NONPROFIT PARTNERS.MANAGED THE "RENEW THE BLUE" JOINT PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN, WHICH INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS THROUGH 27 SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, WEB NEWSLETTERS ATTRACTING 30,332 READERS, AND SPECIAL EVENT NOTICES WITH 23,591 VIEWS.COLLABORATED WITH PARTNERS ON DEVELOPING AND SUBMITTING PROPOSALS FOR SIGNIFICANT RESTORATION FUNDING, INCLUDING SUPPORTING MARC'S APPLICATION FOR A $200 MILLION EPA CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION FUND GRANT.

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 February 2013.

    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.