Borderlands Restoration Network
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
WE PARTNER TO GROW A RESTORATIVE ECONOMY BY REBUILDING HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS, RESTORING HABITAT FOR PLANTS AND WILDLIFE, RECONNECTING OUR BORDER COMMUNITIES TO THE LAND THROUGH SHARED LEARNING, AND LINKING COMMUNITIES TO THE LAND IN A CULTURALLY RELEVANT CONTEXT.
- Income
- $3.2 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 12.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 66%
- Employees
- 36
- Volunteers
- 145
- Highest pay
- $112,114, executive dir.
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 49% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 10 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (4)
- $717,053 spent. WATERSHED AND HABITAT RESTORATION PROGRAM - THE WATERSHED AND HABITAT RESTORATION PROGRAM TAKES A MULTIPRONGED APPROACH TO RESTORING DEGRADED LANDSCAPES TO A TRAJECTORY OF RECOVERY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCY. WE WORK WITH NONPROFITS, GOVERNMENT AND STATE AGENCIES, AND INDIVIDUALS TO REPAIR AND PROTECT OUR LANDSCAPES. USING HAND-BUILD EROSION CONTROL STRUCTURES, OUR RESTORATION CREW CREATES MASTERFUL ROCK AND WOOD STRUCTURES TO MITIGATE THE EROSIVE FLOW OF WATER ACROSS DEGRADES LANDSCAPES.
- $524,992 spent. NATIVE PLANT PROGRAM - THE BORDERLANDS RESTORATION NETWORK NATIVE PLANT PROGRAM WORKS TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEMS IN THE SKY ISLANDS BY PROVIDING RESTORATION-QUALITY NATIVE PLANT MATERIALS. WE PROVIDE A LARGE SELECTION OF ORGANICLLLY GROWN, CHEMICAL-FREE NATIVE TREES, SHRUBS, GRASSES, SUCCULENTS, AND FORBS FOR HOME, LARGE SCALE RESTORATION AND CONTRACT SERVICES. WE PROVIDE SEED COLLECTION SERVICES OF ETHICALLY COLLECTED WILD OR FARMED NATIVE SEED INCLUDING CLEANING AND CURATING.
- $342,720 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAM - THE BORDERLANDS RESTORATION NETWORK EDUCATION PROGRAM COMPRISES PLACE-BASED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS BUILT AROUND A COMMON CURRICULUM COVERING THE RESTORATION OF WATERSHEDS, ECOSYSTEMS, AND COMMUNITIES, PROVIDING A CULTURALLY REVELANT CONTEXT
- CONSERVATION PROGRAM - EXPAND CONSERVATION INITIATIVES AND FACILITATE CONVERSATION AND RELATIONSHIPS IN THE BORDERLANDS REGION TO BUILD A COALITION OF REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO COORDINATE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ACTIONS AND ADDRESS CONSERVATION AREAS OF MUTUAL CONCERN.
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 January 2015.
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.