The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CONSERVATION FUND IS IN THE BUSINESS OF CONSERVATION, CREATING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT DRIVE NATURE-BASED ACTION FOR CLIMATE PROTECTION, SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIES AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $329.4 million
- Spending
- $319.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 8.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 63%
- Employees
- 243
- Volunteers
- 21
- Highest pay
- $1.0 million, ceo & president
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: 73 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (environment, over $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.1 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 49% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (environment, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 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
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $287.6 million spent. CONSERVATION REAL ESTATE ACTIVITIESTHE CONSERVATION FUND WAS FOUNDED ON A STRAIGHTFORWARD CONVICTION: CONSERVATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH DEPEND ON AND REINFORCE EACH OTHER. FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, THE CONSERVATION FUND HAS SECURED AT-RISK LAND WITH HIGH CONSERVATION VALUE TO PROTECT IT FROM DEGRADATION, FRAGMENTATION, OR DEVELOPMENT, WORKING WITH PARTNERS TO PROTECT THE LAND'S LONG-TERM ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC VITALITY. TOP RANKED FOR EFFICIENCY AND MISSION EFFECTIVENESS, THE CONSERVATION FUND HAS CONSERVED OVER 9 MILLION ACRES ACROSS ALL 50 STATES INCLUDING WORKING FORESTS, FARMS, WILDLIFE HABITAT, RECREATION AREAS, HISTORIC LANDSCAPES, AND URBAN GREEN SPACES.THE CONSERVATION FUND MOVES QUICKLY AND WITH PURPOSE, DELIVERING LASTING CONSERVATION OUTCOMES FOR NATURE AND PEOPLE. ITS CORE CONSERVATION FUNCTION IS REAL ESTATE ACTIVITY: PURCHASING AT-RISK PROPERTIES AND HOLDING THEM FOR INTERIM PERIODS, PROVIDING THE TIME NEEDED FOR ITS PARTNERS TO SECURE FUNDING TO ACQUIRE, STEWARD, AND PERMANENTLY MANAGE THE PROPERTIES. THIS MODEL ENSURES THAT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN TIME TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE SELLER WHEN A HIGH-CONSERVATION-VALUE PROPERTY GOES UP FOR SALE.FUNDING FOR THE CONSERVATION FUND'S REAL ESTATE ACQUISITIONS LARGELY COMES FROM ITS "REVOLVING FUND" OF CAPITAL, WHICH IS MADE UP OF CHARITABLE GIFTS, PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF DONATED SURPLUS LANDS THAT THE ORGANIZATION HAS SOLD FOR CASH, AS WELL AS ACCUMULATED GAINS ON AND CAPITAL RETURNED FROM PAST REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS. TARGETED PROGRAM-RELATED INVESTMENTS AND A GREEN BOND ALSO PROVIDE VALUABLE ACQUISITION CAPITAL. SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR DISPOSITIONS TO PARTNERS INCLUDE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING PROGRAMS AND PHILANTHROPIC FUNDS FROM FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS, AND PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS. ONCE A PROPERTY HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE LONG-TERM HOLDER AND THE CONSERVATION FUND RECOUPS ITS INVESTMENT, CAPITAL IS RETURNED TO THE REVOLVING FUND FOR USE IN OTHER CONSERVATION PROJECTS.THE CONSERVATION FUND ALSO PROVIDES EXPERTISE AND SUPPORT TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AS THEY SEEK TO ACQUIRE CONSERVATION LAND, AS WELL AS BRIDGE FINANCING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LAND TRUSTS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO PROTECT CRITICAL NATURAL RESOURCES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THESE "CONSERVATION LOANS" HELP THE CONSERVATION FUND'S PARTNERS EXPAND CONSERVATION IMPACT NATIONWIDE. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2025, THE LOAN PROGRAM HAS HELPED CONSERVE 167,130 ACRES THROUGH 422 LOANS IN 40 STATES. THE PORTFOLIO OF LOANS HAD A PRINCIPAL VALUE OF $7.0 MILLION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2025.WORKING LANDS. KEEPING WORKING FORESTS AND FARMLAND INTACT AND IN PRODUCTION IS CRITICAL TO ECOSYSTEMS AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT DEPEND ON THEM. THE CONSERVATION FUND PURCHASES AT-RISK FORESTS AND FARMS AND PUTS PROTECTIONS IN PLACE TO ENSURE THESE LANDS ARE SUSTAINABLY MANAGED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS. THE CONSERVATION FUND'S WORKING FOREST PROGRAM CONSERVES LARGE INTACT FORESTS IN THE U.S. SO THEY REMAIN SUSTAINABLY MANAGED, PROVIDING JOBS, CLEAN WATER, CLEAN AIR, HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE AND OUTDOOR RECREATION, AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE BENEFITS. THE WORKING FOREST FUND'S FOCUS IS ON LARGE FORESTS WITH HIGH CONSERVATION VALUE AND OFTEN SIGNIFICANT RISK OF FRAGMENTATION WHEN SOLD ON THE OPEN MARKET. CONSISTENT WITH THE CONSERVATION FUND'S OTHER REAL ESTATE ACTIVITIES, THE WORKING FOREST PROGRAM ACTS AS AN INTERIM OWNER OF THESE FORESTS TO FACILITATE PERMANENT PROTECTION THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION AND SALE OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS OR DIRECT SALES OF THE PROPERTIES TO PUBLIC AGENCIES OR OTHER CONSERVATION BUYERS. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2025, TCF HAS DEPLOYED OVER $1 BILLION INTO 63 PROJECTS COVERING APPROXIMATELY 1,120,777 ACRES OF CRITICAL FORESTS IN THE U.S. APPROXIMATELY 780,212 ACRES HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED INTO PERMANENT CONSERVATION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2025. THE REMAINING ACRES ARE BEING SUSTAINABLY MANAGED BY THE CONSERVATION FUND OR ITS PARTNERS AND ARE AWAITING PERMANENT PROTECTION THROUGH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS OR TRANSFERS TO PUBLIC AGENCIES OR OTHER CONSERVATION PARTNERS.THE CONSERVATION FUND'S FARMS FUND WORKS TO SECURE FARMLAND AT RISK OF DEVELOPMENT ON THE EDGE OF GROWING METROPOLITAN AREAS, MATCHING THAT LAND TO FARMERS WHO LEASE AND STEWARD IT UNTIL AN AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT CAN BE APPLIED, MAKING THE LAND MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THE FARMERS TO BUY. THIS PATHWAY TO AFFORDABLE LAND OWNERSHIP FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF AMERICAN FARMERS HELPS MAKE COMMUNITIES HEALTHIER WITH ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD, CLEANER AIR AND WATER, AND IMPROVED CLIMATE RESILIENCE. THE FARMS FUND IS CURRENTLY ACTIVE IN GEORGIA, ILLINOIS, NORTH CAROLINA, AND ARKANSAS. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2025, THE PROGRAM DEPLOYED $21,947,316 MILLION TO SECURE LAND FOR 26 FARM BUSINESSES THAT WILL HELP PERMANENTLY PROTECT 1,829 ACRES OF AT-RISK FARMLAND.MITIGATION SOLUTIONS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DEVELOPERS AND REGULATORY AGENCIES, THE CONSERVATION FUND COMPLETES CONSERVATION ACQUISITIONS AND OTHER PROJECTS TO OFFSET THE IMPACTS ON NATURAL, CULTURAL, AND HISTORIC RESOURCES FROM CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND PROVIDES ADVICE ON MITIGATION STRATEGIES BEFORE AND DURING INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT. THE ORGANIZATION DOES NOT ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS BUT SERVES AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN PROJECT DEVELOPERS AND REGULATORY AGENCIES TO HELP DEVELOP AND THEN IMPLEMENT MITIGATION PLANS. THE CONSERVATION FUND'S MITIGATION ACTIVITIES PROVIDE PRIVATE CAPITAL TO ACHIEVE CONSERVATION PRIORITIES, WITH MORE THAN $330 MILLION RECEIVED TO ACQUIRE LAND AND INTERESTS IN LAND, TO COMPLETE RESTORATION, AND/OR TO TAKE OTHER ACTIONS TO MITIGATE IMPACTS TO RESOURCES. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2025, THE CONSERVATION FUND HAS SUPPORTED MORE THAN 380 CONSERVATION PROJECTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CONSERVING OR RESTORING OVER 417,000 ACRES.
- $17.4 million spent. OTHER CONSERVATION SERVICESTHE CONSERVATION FUND'S COMMUNITIES-FOCUSED PROGRAMS ARE DEDICATED TO ADVANCING THE ORGANIZATION'S DUAL MISSION BY INTEGRATING CONSERVATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO BUILD VIBRANT COMMUNITIES. THESE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON IMPACT AREAS SUCH AS URBAN CONSERVATION, RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS, WATER QUALITY/SUPPLY PROTECTION, AND AQUACULTURE. THIS PROGRAM AREA PROVIDES EXPERTISE TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO ACHIEVE THE MULTIPLE BENEFITS GAINED BY INVESTING IN CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER, AND COMMUNITY LIVABILITY. THE CONSERVATION FUND BRINGS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND FLEXIBLE FUNDING TO PARTNERSHIPS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES WHERE WE WORK TO CONSERVE NATURAL ASSETS, HELPING TO STRENGTHEN AND SUSTAIN JOB-CREATING AREAS THAT RELY ON FORESTRY, AGRICULTURE, NATURE AND RECREATION. THE ORGANIZATION'S URBAN CONSERVATION WORK ENHANCES URBAN SUSTAINABILITY AND LIVABILITY BY ADVANCING CREATION OF PARKS AND OTHER INITIATIVES.
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
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 2025.
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 July 1985.
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.