Florida Conservation Group Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
MISSION IS TO SEEK PROTECTION OF LAND AND WATER RESOURCES THROUGH RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION; AND CONDUCTING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ON THE ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF NATURAL LANDS. WE PROTECT LAND FROM DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECT AND RESTORE WATER RESOURCES.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- -0.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 49%
- Employees
- 4
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
Weak: 17 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 233% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% 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
Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (5)
- $368,563 spent. LAND PROTECTION WE WORK TO PROTECT THE MOST IMPORTANT AREAS FOR WATER AND WILDLIFE, WITH A FOCUS ON THE SOUTHERN PENINSULA OF FLORIDA. OVER THE PAST YEAR WE SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS REPRESENTING OVER 20,000 ACRES OF LAND WITH THE STATE'S FLORIDA FOREVER PROGRAM. THIS ENTAILED: SUBMITTING DETAILED APPLICATIONS, CONDUCTING ECOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS AND ADVOCATING FOR THE PROPERTIES IN FRONT OF DECISION MAKING BODIES, FLORIDA FOREVER IS OUR STATE LAND PROTECTION PROGRAM AND IS A NATIONAL MODEL FOR SCIENCE-BASED LAND PROTECTION; THE FOCUS IS ON PROTECTING OUR MOST IMPORTANT NATURAL RESOURCES. THE PROPERTIES WE SUBMITTED ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR STATE FUNDING TO ENSURE THEIR PERMANENT PROTECTION AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR PROTECTION. WE WORK WITH MANY STATE, FEDERAL AND REGIONAL AGENCIES AS WELL AS LANDOWNERS TO PROTECT THESE LANDS. WE ALSO SUCCESSFULLY ENSURED THE PERMANENT PROTECTION OF 8 PROPERTIES TOTALING OVER 15,000 ACRES. LAND PROTECTION WE WORK TO PROTECT THE MOST IMPORTANT AREAS FOR WATER AND WILDLIFE, WITH A FOCUS ON THE SOUTHERN PENINSULA OF FLORIDA. OVER THE PAST YEAR WE SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS REPRESENTING OVER 20,000 ACRES OF LAND WITH THE STATE'S FLORIDA FOREVER PROGRAM. THIS ENTAILED: SUBMITTING DETAILED APPLICATIONS, CONDUCTING ECOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS AND ADVOCATING FOR THE PROPERTIES IN FRONT OF DECISION MAKING BODIES, FLORIDA FOREVER IS OUR STATE LAND PROTECTION PROGRAM AND IS A NATIONAL MODEL FOR SCIENCE-BASED LAND PROTECTION; THE FOCUS IS ON PROTECTING OUR MOST IMPORTANT NATURAL RESOURCES. THE PROPERTIES WE SUBMITTED ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR STATE FUNDING TO ENSURE THEIR PERMANENT PROTECTION AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR PROTECTION. WE WORK WITH MANY STATE, FEDERAL AND REGIONAL AGENCIES AS WELL AS LANDOWNERS TO PROTECT THESE LANDS. WE ALSO SUCCESSFULLY ENSURED THE PERMANENT PROTECTION OF 8 PROPERTIES TOTALING OVER 15,000 ACRES.
- $36,082 spent. ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH: WE CONTINUED WORKING WITH LANDOWNERS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT CONSERVATION PLANS FOR THEIR PROPERTIES. WE ARE ACTIVE THROUGHOUT SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHCENTRAL FLORIDA. THERE ARE MYRIAD OF DIFFERENT STATE AND FEDERAL CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AVAILABLE; THE CHALLENGE IS TO BRING TOGETHER THE BEST FIT FOR EACH LANDOWNER AND PROPERTY, AS WELL AS TO SECURE THE APPROPRIATE FUNDING FOR EACH PROPERTY. OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE MET WITH 60 DIFFERENT LANDOWNERS, TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND THE VARIOUS CONSERVATION PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO PROTECT AND MANAGE PRIVATE LAND FOR CONSERVATION. WE CONDUCTED ONE-ON ONE OUTREACH WITH LANDOWNERS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH VARIOUS LANDOWNERS TO APPLY FOR FUNDING AND ADVOCATE THE PROTECTION OF THEIR LANDS. WE ALSO HOSTED SEVERAL SMALLER GROUP MEETINGS WITH LANDOWNERS TO DISCUSS CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO THEM. THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR LANDOWNER MEETINGS WERE CENTERED AROUND TALKING ABOUT THE STATE'S RURAL AND FAMILY LANDS PROTECTION PROGRAM - THE STATE'S AGRICULTURAL EASEMENT PROGRAM. THE NEW APPLICATION CYCLE OPENED IN DECEMBER OF 2024. WE ALSO WORKED WITH THE UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM TO REACH OUT TO LANDOWNERS ON THE NEW EVERGLADES TO GULF CONSERVATION AREA. THE NEW CONSERVATION AREA WAS ESTABLISHED IN MARCH OF 2024; IT ENCOMPASSES 4 MILLION ACRES AND IS AN OPPORTUNITY AREA, WHERE LANDOWNERS CAN SELL THEIR LANDS TO USFWS FOR CONSERVATION. WE HELPED LEAD THE EDUCATION EFFORTS FOR THIS NEW AREA. ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH: WE CONTINUED WORKING WITH LANDOWNERS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT CONSERVATION PLANS FOR THEIR PROPERTIES. WE ARE ACTIVE THROUGHOUT SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHCENTRAL FLORIDA. THERE ARE MYRIAD OF DIFFERENT STATE AND FEDERAL CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AVAILABLE; THE CHALLENGE IS TO BRING TOGETHER THE BEST FIT FOR EACH LANDOWNER AND PROPERTY, AS WELL AS TO SECURE THE APPROPRIATE FUNDING FOR EACH PROPERTY. OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE MET WITH 60 DIFFERENT LANDOWNERS, TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND THE VARIOUS CONSERVATION PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO PROTECT AND MANAGE PRIVATE LAND FOR CONSERVATION. WE CONDUCTED ONE-ON ONE OUTREACH WITH LANDOWNERS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH VARIOUS LANDOWNERS TO APPLY FOR FUNDING AND ADVOCATE THE PROTECTION OF THEIR LANDS. WE ALSO HOSTED SEVERAL SMALLER GROUP MEETINGS WITH LANDOWNERS TO DISCUSS CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO THEM. THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR LANDOWNER MEETINGS WERE CENTERED AROUND TALKING ABOUT THE STATE'S RURAL AND FAMILY LANDS PROTECTION PROGRAM - THE STATE'S AGRICULTURAL EASEMENT PROGRAM. THE NEW APPLICATION CYCLE OPENED IN DECEMBER OF 2024. WE ALSO WORKED WITH THE UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM TO REACH OUT TO LANDOWNERS ON THE NEW EVERGLADES TO GULF CONSERVATION AREA. THE NEW CONSERVATION AREA WAS ESTABLISHED IN MARCH OF 2024; IT ENCOMPASSES 4 MILLION ACRES AND IS AN OPPORTUNITY AREA, WHERE LANDOWNERS CAN SELL THEIR LANDS TO USFWS FOR CONSERVATION. WE HELPED LEAD THE EDUCATION EFFORTS FOR THIS NEW AREA.
- $91,500 spent. SCIENCE: THE EVERGLADES TO GULF CONSERVATION AREA WE PARTNERED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA'S CENTER FOR LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION PLANNING AND THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) TO PROVIDE THE SCIENCE FOUNDATION FOR THE USFWS' EFFORT TO ESTABLISH AN EVERGLADES TO GULF CONSERVATION AREA. WITH OUR HELP, CONSERVATION AREA WAS FORMALLY ESTABLISHED IN MARCH OF 2024. WITHIN THIS PROPOSED 4-MILLION-ACRE CONSERVATION AREA IN SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-CENTRAL FLORIDA, THE USFWS WOULD WORK WITH WILLING LANDOWNERS TO PURSUE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS OR FEE TITLE ACQUISITIONS. LAND PROTECTION IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS CRITICAL BECAUSE THIS AREA IS HOME TO OVER 70 FEDERALLY OR STATE-LISTED THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES INCLUDING THE FLORIDA PANTHER, FLORIDA SCRUB JAY, AND CRESTED CARACARA. HOWEVER, THIS ECOLOGICALLY DIVERSE AREA FACES THREATS FROM CLIMATE CHANGE, RAPID POPULATION GROWTH, AND LAND USE INTENSIFICATION. PROTECTED LANDS, INCLUDING THOSE WITHIN THE FLORIDA WILDLIFE CORRIDOR, WOULD IMPROVE SPECIES' RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF THESE THREATS. LAND PROTECTION ALSO SUPPORTS FAMILY FARMS AND RANCHES AND IMPROVES WATER QUALITY." SCIENCE: THE EVERGLADES TO GULF CONSERVATION AREA WE PARTNERED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA'S CENTER FOR LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION PLANNING AND THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) TO PROVIDE THE SCIENCE FOUNDATION FOR THE USFWS' EFFORT TO ESTABLISH AN EVERGLADES TO GULF CONSERVATION AREA. WITH OUR HELP, CONSERVATION AREA WAS FORMALLY ESTABLISHED IN MARCH OF 2024. WITHIN THIS PROPOSED 4-MILLION-ACRE CONSERVATION AREA IN SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-CENTRAL FLORIDA, THE USFWS WOULD WORK WITH WILLING LANDOWNERS TO PURSUE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS OR FEE TITLE ACQUISITIONS. LAND PROTECTION IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS CRITICAL BECAUSE THIS AREA IS HOME TO OVER 70 FEDERALLY OR STATE-LISTED THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES INCLUDING THE FLORIDA PANTHER, FLORIDA SCRUB JAY, AND CRESTED CARACARA. HOWEVER, THIS ECOLOGICALLY DIVERSE AREA FACES THREATS FROM CLIMATE CHANGE, RAPID POPULATION GROWTH, AND LAND USE INTENSIFICATION. PROTECTED LANDS, INCLUDING THOSE WITHIN THE FLORIDA WILDLIFE CORRIDOR, WOULD IMPROVE SPECIES' RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF THESE THREATS. LAND PROTECTION ALSO SUPPORTS FAMILY FARMS AND RANCHES AND IMPROVES WATER QUALITY."
- $216,060 spent. LANDOWNER ASSISTANCE FLORIDA CONSERVATION GROUP (FCG) AND OUR PARTNER COMMON GROUND ECOLOGY (CGE) ASSISTED FLORIDA NRCS AT THE STATE, AREA, AND FIELD OFFICE LEVELS BY PROVIDING PROGRAMMATIC CONSULTATION TO STATE CONSERVATIONISTS, GUIDANCE TO DISTRICT CONSERVATIONISTS AND FIELD OFFICE STAFF ON GRAZING PLANNING ORGANIZATION AND PROCESS, AND PRESCRIBED GRAZING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DIRECTLY TO LOCAL RANCHERS ENROLLED IN NRSC COST-SHARE PROGRAMS. THIS ASSISTANCE INCLUDED THE EVALUATION OF LAND FOR IMPROVED GRAZING MANAGEMENT AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF FINAL PRESCRIBED GRAZING PLANS. GRAZING PLANS WERE PROVIDED TO PRODUCERS TO IMPLEMENT, IMPROVING THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF SURFACE WATER BY PROMOTING NATIVE AND DESIRED SPECIES COMPOSITION AND DECREASING SOIL COMPACTION AND NUTRIENT RUN-OFF.
- LANDOWNER ASSISTANCE FLORIDA CONSERVATION GROUP (FCG) AND OUR PARTNER COMMON GROUND ECOLOGY (CGE) ASSISTED FLORIDA NRCS AT THE STATE, AREA, AND FIELD OFFICE LEVELS BY PROVIDING PROGRAMMATIC CONSULTATION TO STATE CONSERVATIONISTS, GUIDANCE TO DISTRICT CONSERVATIONISTS AND FIELD OFFICE STAFF ON GRAZING PLANNING ORGANIZATION AND PROCESS, AND PRESCRIBED GRAZING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DIRECTLY TO LOCAL RANCHERS ENROLLED IN NRSC COST-SHARE PROGRAMS. THIS ASSISTANCE INCLUDED THE EVALUATION OF LAND FOR IMPROVED GRAZING MANAGEMENT AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF FINAL PRESCRIBED GRAZING PLANS. GRAZING PLANS WERE PROVIDED TO PRODUCERS TO IMPLEMENT, IMPROVING THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF SURFACE WATER BY PROMOTING NATIVE AND DESIRED SPECIES COMPOSITION AND DECREASING SOIL COMPACTION AND NUTRIENT RUN-OFF.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.