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Coldharbour Institute

EIN 42-1608661 · Gunnison, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COLDHARBOUR INSTITUTE ADVANCES REGENERATIVE PRACTICES TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF WORKING AGRICULTURAL LANDS AND WATERSHEDS THROUGH EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND APPLIED PRACTICES.

Income
$399,222
Spending
$404,344
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
-31.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 46%
Employees
2
Volunteers
0

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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 56% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $377,363 spent. THE LARGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1) PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING IN SOLAR ENERGY INSTALLATION, REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE AND WATERSHED RESTORATION FOR 618 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS IN CLASSES AS WELL AS AN ESTIMATED 2185 ADDITIONAL PEOPLE BENEFITED FROM THE EXTENDED PROGRAMMING AT CONFERENCES AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. ALSO, THE ORGANIZATION HELD THE FIRST EVER COLDHARBOUR YOUTH SUMMIT.2) ADVANCED A WIDE ARRAY OF LAND BASED PROJECTS THAT RESTORED 74 ACRES OF WETLANDS, DEVELOPED A BUSINESS PLAN FOR A NATIVE PLANT NURSERY WHICH WILL BE APPLIED TO LOCAL RESTORATION PROJECTS AND CONTINUED RESEARCH ON METHODS TO USE BIOCHAR TO IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH.3) CONTINUED SOLAR PROJECTS REGARDING REPURPOSEING SOLAR PANELS TO PROVIDE SOLAR EQUIPMENT FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH THE GREATEST NEEDS FOR EXAMPLE: BUILT THREE REUSE-BASED SOLAR ARRAYS FOR NEEDS-BASED HOMEOWNERS IN GUNNISON IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOCAL SOLAR BUSINESS. DELIVERED NATIONAL TRAINING WITH VARIOUS UNIVERSITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS AND ALSO DELIVERED RELIABILITY RESEARCH VIA VARIOUS WORKSHOPS BOTH IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY.
  2. N/A
  3. N/A

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 December 2004.

    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.

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.