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Potomac Valley Audubon Society Inc

EIN 55-0626891 · Shepherdstown, WV

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PRESERVING, RESTORING AND ENJOYING THE NATURAL WORLD THROUGH EDUCATION AND ACTION.

Income
$582,956
Spending
$621,165
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
-1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 46%
Employees
9
Volunteers
850

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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.

  • 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 August 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 (4)
  1. $28,469 spent. CONSERVATION - PVAS PERFORMS VARIOUS CONSERVATION SERVICES AND PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY.
  2. $136,618 spent. NATURE PRESERVE OPERATIONS - PVAS CO-MANAGES TWO NATURE PRESERVES WITH THE NATURE CONSERVANCY: THE 104-ACRE YANKAUER PRESERVE, USED FOR SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND SUMMER DAY CAMP, AND 354-ACRE EIDOLON PRESERVE, IN MORGAN CO., WV. OPENED IN THE SPRING OF 2007, IT HOSTS 5 MILES OF TRAILS AND AN OPEN- AIR CABIN/SHELTER. DURING 2011, PVAS OBTAINED 46-ACRE STAUFFER'S MARSH, BY THE WAY OF GIFT. IT IS MANAGED FOR WILDLIFE HABITAT, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND HIKING. PVAS ALSO OWNS COOL SPRING PRESERVE, 13 ACRES, RECEIVED IN SEPTEMBER 2016, BY WAY OF GIFT. THEN AN ADDITIONAL 50 ACRES IN FEBRUARY, 2020 BY WAY OF GIFT. ALSO IN FEBRUARY 2020, THE ENTIRE 63 ACRES OF COOL SPRING PRESERVE WERE PLACED IN CONSERVATION EASEMENT WITH THE WEST VIRGINIA LAND TRUST. AN ADDITIONAL 11 ACRES WERE ADDED TO COOL SPRING PRESERVE IN APRIL 2024. NATURE PRESERVE OPERATIONS - PVAS CO-MANAGES TWO NATURE PRESERVES WITH THE NATURE CONSERVANCY: THE 104-ACRE YANKAUER PRESERVE, USED FOR SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND SUMMER DAY CAMP, AND 354-ACRE EIDOLON PRESERVE, IN MORGAN CO., WV. OPENED IN THE SPRING OF 2007, IT HOSTS 5 MILES OF TRAILS AND AN OPEN- AIR CABIN/SHELTER. DURING 2011, PVAS OBTAINED 46-ACRE STAUFFER'S MARSH, BY THE WAY OF GIFT. IT IS MANAGED FOR WILDLIFE HABITAT, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND HIKING. PVAS ALSO OWNS COOL SPRING PRESERVE, 13 ACRES, RECEIVED IN SEPTEMBER 2016, BY WAY OF GIFT. THEN AN ADDITIONAL 50 ACRES IN FEBRUARY, 2020 BY WAY OF GIFT. ALSO IN FEBRUARY 2020, THE ENTIRE 63 ACRES OF COOL SPRING PRESERVE WERE PLACED IN CONSERVATION EASEMENT WITH THE WEST VIRGINIA LAND TRUST. AN ADDITIONAL 11 ACRES WERE ADDED TO COOL SPRING PRESERVE IN APRIL 2024.
  3. $83,798 spent. SCHOOL PROGRAMS - EACH YEAR, PVAS PROVIDES AREA SCHOOLS WITH SPECIAL PROGRAMS INTENDED TO INCREASE CHILDREN'S UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE NATURAL WORLD. MOST OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED FOR GRADES PRE-K - 6. MORE THAN 3,000 STUDENTS FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE IN THESE PROGRAMS EACH YEAR.
  4. $201,244 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 November 6, 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 August 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 June 1984.

    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 November 4, 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.