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Gunpowder Valley Conservancy Inc

EIN 52-1657508 · Towson, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To engage, connect, and inspire people to preserve and restore the Gunpowder Watershed.

Income
$704,391
Spending
$749,893
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 72%
Employees
10
Volunteers
1,260
Highest pay
$82,080, 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

Fair: 64 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Strong: 91 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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, 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 (3)
  1. $496,046 spent. ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION: REFORESTATION: VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF PLANTED 2,008 TREES ON 24.42 ACRES. TOTAL FOR THE PAST 35 YEARS 40,156 TREES PLANTED IN GUNPOWDER WATERSHED ON 306 ACRES. FOREST STEWARDSHIP VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF MAINTAINED 6,486 TREES ON APPROXIMATELY 55 ACRES, REMOVING 25,440 LBS. OF INVASIVE PLANTS. STREAMS: MOTIVATED THE ADOPTION OF 12 NEW SITES COVERING 3 NEW STREAM MILES. ORGANIZED VOLUNTEERS FOR 29 STREAM CLEAN-UPS THAT RESULTED IN THE REMOVAL OF 13 TONS OF TRASH IN 2024. RAIN BARRELS: DISTRIBUTED 62 RAIN BARRELS DURING 3 WORKSHOPS. TOTAL STORM WATER RUNOFF COLLECTED: EST. 15,500 SQ. FT FROM ROOF TOPS. 1 BAY-WISE YARD CERTIFICATION. 12 CONSERVATION GARDENS INSTALLED INCLUDING 10 RAIN GARDENS, 1 MICRO-BIORETENTION PRACTICES, AND 1 BAYSCAPE. TOTAL 2024 GVC VOLUNTEERS - 1,260. TOTAL VOLUNTEER HOURS - 3,403 X $34.79 VOLUNTEER LABOR VALUE IN MD $118,390.
  2. $18,304 spent. CONSERVATION EDUCATION: CONSERVATION EDUCATION: OUTREACH - 48 OUTREACH EVENTS HELD IN 2024 FOR 1,114 PEOPLE, 8 EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS/TRAININGS, 37 PRESENTATIONS/TABLING OUTREACH, 3 SPECIAL COMMUNITY EVENTS. 556 EVENTS SINCE 2008 WITH 12,042 PARTICIPANTS EDUCATED. COMMUNITY PARTNERS: OVER 100 PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.
  3. $3,595 spent. LAND PRESERVATION/LOCAL LAND TRUST 2024 - 38 EASEMENT PROPERTIES WERE MONITORED IN 2024. GVC HOLDS CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON 40 PROPERTIES TOTALING 2,137 ACRES. THERE WAS ONE EASEMENT ADDED IN 2024. GVC CONTINUES TO COLLABORATE WITH THE OTHER FOUR LAND TRUSTS IN BALTIMORE COUNTY THROUGH THE BALTIMORE COUNTY LAND TRUST ALLIANCE.

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

  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 2024.

    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 September 1990.

    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.