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Conservation Resource Alliance

EIN 38-2181915 · Traverse City, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood77 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CONSERVATION RESOURCE ALLIANCE'S MISSION IS TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S WATERWAYS, WILDLIFE, AND FORESTS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
8.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 54%
Employees
16
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$99,117, executive director

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: 77 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    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, 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)
  1. $3.1 million spent. THE STREAM RESTORATION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS STREAM BANK EROSION, FAILING ROAD STREAM CROSSINGS, DAMS, AND RECREATIONAL ACCESS SITES, WHICH CAUSE ADVERSE BIOLOGICAL IMPACTS TO ANIMAL AND PLANT LIFE AND THREATEN THE ECOLOGY OF ENTIRE WATERSHEDS. RESTORATION PROGRAMS PROVIDE FOR ROAD CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS, STRUCTURAL STABILIZATION MEASURES, DAM REMOVAL, AND STREAM CHANNEL RESTORATION TO IMPROVE HABITAT AND WATER QUALITY. FOUR MILLION ACRES IN FIFTEEN COUNTIES AND FIFTEEN STREAMS HAVE BEEN AIDED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.
  2. $332,073 spent. THE LANDOWNER & SITE SERVICES PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST LANDOWNERS BY DEVELOPING MANAGEMENT PLANS TO KEEP WILDLIFE CORRIDORS OPEN BETWEEN EXISTING NATURAL AREAS AND ALONG RIVER CORRIDORS, IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR THE UNRESTRICTED MOVEMENT OF WILDLIFE AND THE PROTECTION OF WATER QUALITY. CORRIDORS ALONG WETLANDS AND STREAMS CONTAIN A HIGH DIVERSITY OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS WHOSE HABITAT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY FRAGMENTED BY DEVELOPMENT.
  3. $155,814 spent. THE PLANNING AND CONSULTING PROGRAMS INVOLVE FACILITATING LOCAL LEADERSHIP AND PLANNING IN CRA'S SERVICE AREA, PLUS AGILE AND CAREFULLY MATCHED INVOLVEMENT IN REGIONAL EFFORTS AT THE STATE, GREAT LAKES AND NATIONAL SCALE. THROUGH OUR PLANNING AND CONSULTING WORK, CRA IS COMMITTED TO STAYING PROACTIVE AND HIGHLY CURRENT ON EACH LOCAL WATERSHED AND CORRIDOR. WE HAVE ALSO ADDED VALUE BY SHARING OUR SUCCESSFUL MODELS WITH OTHERS THROUGHOUT THE GREAT LAKES.

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 July 1986.

    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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