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Georgia Conservancy Inc

EIN 58-1027246 · Atlanta, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROTECT GEORGIA THROUGH ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC SOLUTIONS FOR STEWARDSHIP, CONSERVATION, AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF THE LAND AND ITS RESOURCES.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
9.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
12
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$140,105, president

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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 81% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 25

    25 of 26 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

    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 (4)
  1. $541,090 spent. A CUMULATIVE 195 LANDOWNERS RECEIVING LAND STEWARDSHIP ASSISTANCEBUILDING ON YEARS OF WORK THROUGH A FEDERAL PROGRAM, GEORGIA CONSERVANCYS METRICS THIS FY HIT A TOTAL OF 55 LAND OWNERS CONDUCTING PRESCRIBED BURNS ON OVER 13,000 ACRES IN HISTORICAL LONGLEAF PINE HABITAT COUNTIES; A TOTAL OF 140 LANDOWNERS NOW HAVE LONGLEAF PINE HABITAT MANAGEMENT PLANS THAT INCLUDE POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE BURNS. PROTECTING THE LONGLEAF PINE ECOSYSTEMS HEALTH ALSO PROTECTS THE SPECIES THAT RELY ON THIS DIVERSE ECOSYSTEM AND PROTECT THE MISSION OF THE SEVEN MILITARY INSTALLATIONS WITHIN THIS 60-COUNTY FOOTPRINT.
  2. $463,790 spent. NEW SALT MARSH RESTORATION INITIATIVE: THANKS TO GEORGIA POWER, GEORGIA PORTS AUTHORITY, SOUTHERN COMPANY GAS, AND GEORGIA PACIFIC WE HAVE DEVELOPED A PIPELINE PROGRAM FOR COASTAL RESTORATION PROJECTS THAT PROTECT OUR SENSITIVE COASTAL HABITATS AND CREATE MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES. INITIAL PROJECTS INCLUDE THE LIVING SHORELINE AT MARTHA RANDOLPH STEVENS PARK (MCINTOSH COUNTY), HOWARD COFFIN PARK (BRUNSWICK) AND THE JAYCEE PARK WETLAND RESTORATION (TYBEE). THIS NEW EFFORT ADVANCES A GOAL OF 1M ACRES OF SALT MARSH ON THE SOUTHERN ATLANTIC COAST BEING PROTECTED.
  3. $309,194 spent. CONSERVATION ACQUISITION OF THREATENED PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THE OKEFENOKEE SWAMP APPROXIMATELY 8,000 ACRES HAVE BEEN PERMANENTLY PROTECTED WITH FUTURE POSITIVE NEWS ABOUT THE ACRES STATUS STILL FORTHCOMING. THIS EFFORT MARKED GEORGIA CONSERVANCYS CONTINUED IMPACT ON THE PROTECTION OF THE SWAMPOUR WORK IN THE 70S TO SECURE FEDERAL NATIONAL WILDERNESS AREA DESIGNATION FOR THE SWAMP AND OUR EFFORTS IN THE 90S TO SECURE PROTECTIONS FROM POTENTIAL MINING BY DUPONT ARE MILESTONES OF THE DECADES OF VIGILANCE BY THIS ORGANIZATION.
  4. $231,896 spent. NEW OUTDOOR ENGAGEMENT: BURNING FOR BIRDS WAS HELD IN THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ACROSS SOUTHERN GEORGIA TO CONNECT PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS WITH LAND STEWARDSHIP RESOURCES AND THE BIRDING ENTHUSIAST COMMUNITY. PRESCRIBED BURNING WAS THE CONNECTIVE THREAD AS THE PRACTICE SUPPORTS THE LONGLEAF PINE HABITAT IN THIS GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE AS WELL AS SPECIES OF CONCERN SUCH AS BACHMANS SPARROW, NORTHERN BOBWHITE QUAIL, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH, AND EASTERN TOWHEE.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1967.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.