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Pathfinders Resource Conservation and Development Area Inc

EIN 42-1127993 · Fairfield, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IMPROVE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY BY WORKING WITH LOCAL CITIZENS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT PROJECTS RELATED TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
7.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 72%
Employees
11
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$133,503, executive di

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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 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 (5)
  1. $1.2 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION WORKS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD IN OVERSEEING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN APPANOOSE, DAVIS, HARDIN, JEFFERSON, KEOKUK, LUCAS, MAHASKA, MARSHALL, MONROE, POWESHIEK, TAMA, VAN BUREN, WAPELLO, AND WAYNE COUNTIES. THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN ASSIGNED ALL GRANTS AWARDED TO SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA.
  2. $443,146 spent. THE ORGANIZATION OVERSEES MINE RECLAMATION PROJECTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION & ENFORCEMENT AND WITH THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND LAND STEWARDSHIP.
  3. $311,151 spent. THE ORGANIZATION PERFORMS A VARIETY OF SMALLER COMMUNITY SERVICES. THIS INCLUDES GRANT WRITING, GRANT ADMINISTRATION, A REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM, A SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM AND A REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM WITH NRCS AND IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND LAND STEWARDSHIP.
  4. $347,850 spent. BYWAY SERVICES INCLUDE THE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORIC HILLS SCENIC BYWAY IN SOUTHEASTERN IOWA. THE HISTORIC HILLS SCENIC BYWAY IS A PART OF IOWA'S DOT COALITION OF DESIGNATED BYWAYS. THE ORGANIZATION MANAGES THE FINANCES OF OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING ALL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. PRESENT ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE JEFFERSON/KEOKUK/VAN BUREN/WASHINGTON CHILD WELFARE DECATEGORIZATION BOARD, AND SOUTHERN IOWA DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION AUTHORITY.
  5. BYWAY SERVICES INCLUDE THE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORIC HILLS SCENIC BYWAY IN SOUTHEASTERN IOWA. THE HISTORIC HILLS SCENIC BYWAY IS A PART OF IOWA'S DOT COALITION OF DESIGNATED BYWAYS. THE ORGANIZATION MANAGES THE FINANCES OF OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING ALL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. PRESENT ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE JEFFERSON/KEOKUK/VAN BUREN/WASHINGTON CHILD WELFARE DECATEGORIZATION BOARD, AND SOUTHERN IOWA DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION AUTHORITY.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1979.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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