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Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development

EIN 52-1859219 · Hagerstown, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Councils WMRC&D mission is to build and sustain resource conservation programs which raise the quality of social economic and environmental development in our region.

Income
$5.9 million
Spending
$6.1 million
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 100%
Employees
31
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$99,517, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 June 30, 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 (1)
  1. $6.0 million spent. In spring 2024 Western Maryland RC&D Councils Western Maryland Afforestation Program completed our largest planting year to date. We partnered with the Maryland Forest Service and 18 landowners to establish native forests on 178.9 acres of private and public land in Garrett Allegany Washington and Frederick Counties Maryland including 76.8 acres of new riparian buffer and plantings on 17.46 acres of formerly mined lands. In addition to providing wildlife habitat and water quality benefits in the local watersheds of western Maryland these plantings will improve the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay by reducing the flow of nutrients into the Bay. Estimated annual nutrient reductions achieved by these projects include 149.89 pounds of Phosphorus 5,210.52 pounds of Nitrogen and 320.46 tons of suspended solids. In partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife and Heritage Services Game Bird Program WMRC&D Council employs one full-time Natural Resources Technician Maddy Ondo and two seasonal technicians in support of the Maryland Wild Turkey Research Project. Beginning in late 2022 the project has sought to examine variation in female turkey survival and reproductive success in two study sites in Maryland one in western Maryland and one in the mid-lower eastern shore. The projects goal is to understand the causes of declining populations and broaden current understanding of turkey reproductive ecology in the Mid-Atlantic region. The project also investigates wild turkey disease in varying landscapes. This year turkey trapping occurred between January and April 2024 with a total of 314 total turkeys captured. 85 GPS radio-transmitters were deployed and the rest of the turkeys were leg-banded. Combined with turkeys surviving from 2023 turkeys captured in 2024 provided an excellent sample size at the start of nesting season which runs from April to July in Maryland. Technicians tracked each bird multiple times per week and collected an enormous amount of data. Over the course of 2023 WMRC&D Council partnered with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service in order to complete the Snaggy Mountain Shared Use Trail Bridge Replacement Project which consisted of the replacement of four existing wooden bridges in Potomac-Garrett State Forest with new fiberglass bridges rated for 10,000 lbs. GVW. The project area is situated between Swallow Falls and Herrington Manor State Parks two very popular parks that attract thousands of visitors each year. To complete the project WMRC&D coordinated with Maryland Forest Service to procure bridge removal engineering design build and construction management services. Each year the goal of the Western Maryland Reforestation Program is to implement native tree plantings on a large scale in order to provide the region with the associated benefits; including the improvement of the water quality of local watersheds and the Chesapeake.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 March 1994.

    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.