South Carolina Coastal Conservation League Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
We advocates to protect the natural environment of South Carolinas coast for the benefit of all. We envision a South Carolina coast where wildlife thrives, air and water are clean, and natural
- Income
- $9.6 million
- Spending
- $5.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- 42.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 56%
- Employees
- 59
- Volunteers
- 581
- Highest pay
- $232,931, 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
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 42.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 97% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 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 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 (2)
- $2.2 million spent. The following are the League's Conservation Programs: Communities, Transportation, Land UseThe objective of this program is to advocate for land conservation and quality of life in South Carolina coastal communities by advocating for sustainable urban growth patterns, efficient and clean transportation systems, and permanent land protection where appropriate. The Conservation League provides technical and professional assistance to local residents to help preserve their land and communities, advocates for good land use policies, and provides community organizing expertise.(Continued on Schedule O)Examples of priority projects include:Advocating for public transportation and mobility solutions like the Lowcountry Rapid Transit project;Advocating against highways, such as 1-526, I-73, and Highway 22 Extension, that contribute to suburban sprawl and disproportionately impact low-wealth communities;Advancing local and state resilience policies that minimize development in low-lying areas and prioritize the use of natural green infrastructure for coastal protection;Advancing conservation funding in counties and at the state level;Ensuring that wetland fill is avoided, and when necessary, adequately mitigated through land protection and restoration; andWorking through local land use planning to establish strong urban growth and urban service boundaries (especially in Jasper, Berkeley, Charleston, Beaufort, and Horry Counties).Land, Water, WildlifeThe objective of this program is to advocate for natural resource conservation to further our mission of protecting clean and abundant water, natural habitats, and the health of people and wildlife. The Conservation League accomplishes this goal by ensuring public policies are adequate and properly implemented to protect water quality and quantity, wildlife habitat, and valuable landscapes, as well as communicating to a broad audience about how to get involved in decisions affecting these coastal assets.Examples of priority projects include:Fighting inappropriately sited mines that threaten coastal resources and disproportionately impact communities;Protecting beaches such as Captain Sam's Spit and Bay Point Island from irresponsible development;Preventing plastic pellet pollution ("nurdles") and passing local and state laws to hold polluters responsible.Opposing Clean Water Rule rollbacks;Protecting our shoreline and marine habitats - such as oyster beds and saltmarsh; Restoring and protecting wildlife habitat in places such as Crab Bank and Deveaux Bank and advocating for strengthening enforcement and regulations; andAdvocating for resilient coastlines and prioritized land conservation that will help with marsh migration and carbon sequestration.EnergyThe objective of this program is to advocate for clean energy as components of a healthy ecosystem and quality of life, through policy reform, public awareness campaigns, and educational outreach. The Conservation League promotes energy efficiency, energy conservation, retirement of fossil-fueled energy equipment, and renewable energy as the cheapest and most effective solutions to the climate, health, and social crises associated with our current energy system.Examples of priority projects include:Challenging new gas pipelines through pristine areas such as the ACE Basin; Working to ensure that data centers do not exploit the state's energy and water resources to benefit job creation primarily focused in other states.Creating and implementing regulatory processes that ensure fair consideration of clean energy in the planning and operation of the electricity and natural gas supply, transmission, and distribution systems;Establishing regulatory and financial mechanisms to promote implementation of energy efficient technologies;Reducing carbon emissions from dirty fuel sources, like coal and other fossil fuels, through advocacy and state policy reform;Reducing single occupancy cars on the road and electrifying transportation;Promoting market-based procurement processes that can speed the transition to cleaner energy systems; andPreventing offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling
- $1.6 million spent. Food and AgricultureRural lands are being converted to urban uses every day. Farmland has been hit hardest by this change, which represents an ecological, economic, cultural and public health crisis for South Carolinians. This challenge was the impetus for the creation of Grow Food Carolina in 2011.GrowFood Carolina supports small and mid-sized South Carolina farmers by marketing, promoting, and selling their produce across the coast, but primarily to restaurants in the Charleston area. (Continued on Schedule O)Since opening in 2011, GrowFood has sold over $11 million of local products, facilitating more than $9 million of revenue back to South Carolina's small and mid-sized farmers over the last 14 years. Today, GrowFood Carolina works with more than 120 growers producing on more than 6,000 acres throughout South Carolina. GrowFood Carolina markets more than 400 items including fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, dairy, honey, eggs and salt to major retail chains, more than 400 restaurants, and a growing number of institutions and corporate campuses.In March 2020, when the pandemic hit South Carolina, restaurant sales plummeted to nearly zero. That meant that local farmers who had planted fields full of fresh vegetables to sell to GrowFood Carolina and to other retailers no longer had enough buyers to sustain their farm businesses. GrowFood Carolina quickly pivoted to create and sell boxes of food directly to Charleston-area families, while launching government support and "Soil to Sustenance" programs to provide similar nutritious food boxes to families in need and those with health challenges. Through food box sales and partnerships with heath organizations and other nonprofits, more than 300,000 pounds of produce have been donated to families in need. These programs helped our farmers stay in business.
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
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 November 6, 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 June 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 August 1989.
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 November 4, 2026.
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