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Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition Inc

EIN 45-5491083 · Hayden, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COLORADO CRANE CONSERVATION COALITION ("CCCC") CONSERVES AND PROTECTS THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN POPULATION OF GREATER SANDHILL CRANES AND THEIR HABITAT USING SCIENCE AND EDUCATION TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH THIS ICONIC SPECIES. CCCC IS THE COLLABORATIVE LEADER IN FOSTERING LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN POPULATION OF GREATER SANDHILL CRANES

Income
$232,618
Spending
$230,162
Spent on programs
54%
Reserves
22.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
3
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$2,096, 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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    54% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $56,603 spent. YAMPA VALLEY CRANE FESTIVAL: ANNUAL FOUR-DAY FESTIVAL TO CELEBRATE THE PRESENCE OF GREATER SANDHILL CRANES IN NORTHWEST COLORADO AND TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THIS ICONIC SPECIES. THE FESTIVAL SHOWCASES THE WILDLIFE AND SPECTACULAR SCENERY OF THE YAMPA VALLEY AND OFFERS MORE THAN 40 INDIVIDUAL EVENTS INCLUDING GUIDED CRANE VIEWINGS LED BY CRANE EXPERTS, PRESENTATIONS BY WORLD-RENOWNED CRANE AND WILDLIFE EXPERTS, BIRD AND NATURE WALKS, CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, CRANE ART, CRANE STORY-TELLING AND SPECIAL CRANE AND NATURE FILMS. IN 2025 EVENT ATTENDANCE AT THE FESTIVAL WAS 2,557.
  2. $47,980 spent. CRANE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS: CCCC OFFERS MANY ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS OF SANDHILL CRANES: 1. EACH SPRING CCCC GIVES A FREE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ABOUT SANDHILL CRANES TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN ROUTT AND MOFFAT COUNTIES. THE PROGRAM IS GEARED TO THIRD GRADERS BUT CAN BE MODIFIED FOR OTHER GRADES. STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT ABOUT CRANE PHYSIOLOGY, HABITAT, BEHAVIOR, MIGRATION AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CRANES AND OTHER LARGE BIRDS OF THE AREA. 2. CCCC OFFERS FREE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO SENIORS AND OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS THROUGHOUT ROUTT AND MOFFAT COUNTIES. 3. CCCC PRESENTS A LIVE STREAMING CRANE NEST CAMERA EACH SPRING THAT ALLOWS THE PUBLIC TO LEARN ABOUT CRANE NESTING AND OTHER WILDLIFE OF THE AREA. 4. CCCC HOLDS VARIOUS CONTESTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT RAISE "CRANE AWARENESS:" FIRST CRANE SIGHTING CONTEST; CRANE PHOTO CONTEST; CRANE-INSPIRED CREATIVE ARTS SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST.
  3. $20,603 spent. CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH: TO SUPPORT SANDHILL CRANES DURING STAGING, CCCC FACILITATES CROPS FOR CRANES, A HABITAT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM THAT COLLABORATES WITH LOCAL RANCHERS, LANDOWNERS, AND CONSERVATION PARTNERS BY FUNDING GRAIN CROP PRODUCTION. CCCC MONITORS CRANE POPULATIONS IN THE YAMPA VALLEY AND PARTNERS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS TO RESTORE CRITICAL WETLAND HABITAT.

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 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 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 May 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.