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Society for Ecological Restoration Inc

EIN 39-1647554 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SER advances the science, practice and policy of ecological restoration to sustain biodiversity, improve resilience in a changing climate, and re-establish an ecologically healthy relationship between nature and culture.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
9
Volunteers
90
Highest pay
$117,383, 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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

    16 of 16 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 (15)
  1. $1.5 million spent. Practice - (Community-based Restoration, NPS, MS-CES, BLM, UNCCD, Certification) SER collaborates with the Microsoft Corporation to support their efforts to implement standards-based ecological restoration. Through this collaboration, Microsoft identifies priority locales, and then SER works with existing or new member organizations in those locales to develop and deliver standards-based restoration projects with funding from Microsoft. SER provides training, technical support, and project oversight for the local partners. SER also collects all required reporting and data from the local partners to deliver to Microsoft. As of 2024, SER has managed more than 20 projects in 10 countries in collaboration with Microsoft and local partners.
  2. $457,745 spent. Organizational Development-(Membership, Chapters, Sections, Open Doors) With more than 5,000 members in more than 120 countries, SERs global network represents the worlds foremost source of scientific and practical expertise on the repair of degraded ecosystems. SER members include scientists, engineers, planners, program managers, policy makers, landscape architects, artists, economists, volunteers, community advocates, and others. SER members work in all terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and represent governmental and nongovernmental organizations, private industry, consultancies, indigenous communities, students and more. Through this collective expertise, SER works to advance the field of ecological restoration by facilitating knowledge development and sharing among practitioners, researchers, and decision-makers. SER helps members and non- members alike share knowledge through trainings and workshops, conferences, publications, on-the-ground demonstration projects, virtual and in-person networking events, an online restoration resource center, and the worlds only Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) program.
  3. $414,991 spent. Networking-Outreach (World Conferences, NAC, RRC, MadWeek) SER hosts a biennial world conference on ecological restoration, bringing together the worlds leading researchers, practitioners, land managers, and other restoration experts to discuss new and emerging science, practice, and policy issues in restoration. SER2025 will be held in Denver, Colorado.
  4. Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) program: SERs Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) program credentials restoration practitioners and practitioners-in- training who meet core knowledge and practice requirements and maintain those through continuing education. While actual projects are not audited on the ground, applicants are required to submit three sample projects which are reviewed for consistency with SERs International Principles and Standards, and which help certification reviewers
  5. $462,484 spent. assess if the applicants are likely to uphold and implement best restoration practices in their projects. To date SER has certified more than 700 practitioners.
  6. Publications: Since 1993 SER has published Restoration Ecology, the premier global journal for publishing research in this growing and important field. Restoration Ecology includes a bi-annual thematic series on restoration in arid lands. SER also publishes key guidance documents, such as its International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration which are considered the global guide for designing, implementing, and monitoring ecological restoration projects.
  7. POLICY: SER contributes significantly to national and international policy actions through collaborations with such bodies as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, Global Partnership on Forest and Landscape Restoration, and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The SER/IUCN biennial global fora on restoration, for example, are helping define and guide high quality restoration across the world. SER members and board
  8. members serve on a variety of international advisory committees that also support the implementation and monitoring of ecological restoration. Through SERs Science and Policy Committee, SER chapters and global conferences, SER continues to bring increased attention to the importance of ecological restoration as a tool for addressing some of the worlds most pressing challenges and continues to guide these bodies in incorporating restoration
  9. as a specific component within their activities and strategic plans. ALL Remaining: The Society for Ecological Restoration co-sponsors conferences, workshops, and other knowledge-sharing and knowledge-development events with its chapters and other like-minded NPOs that provide restorationists with cutting-edge
  10. research, information, and tools to improve ecological restoration practices
  11. Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) program: 0. 0. 0.
  12. assess if the applicants are likely to uphold and implement best restoration 462484. 0. 1136895.
  13. members serve on a variety of international advisory committees that also support 0. 0. 0.
  14. as a specific component within their activities and strategic plans. 0. 0. 0.
  15. research, information, and tools to improve ecological restoration practices 0. 0. 0.

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 November 1993.

    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.