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Chattooga Conservancy Inc

EIN 58-2121969 · Mountain Rest, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood79 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF THE CHATTOOGA RIVER WATERSHED; TO ENSURE THE VIABILITY OF NATIVE SPECIES AND A HEALTHY HUMAN ENVIRONMENT; TO EMPOWER COMMUNITIES TO PRACTICE GOOD LAND STEWARDSHIP.

Income
$287,779
Spending
$238,996
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
48.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 48%
Employees
7
Volunteers
65
Highest pay
$43,680, executive di

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

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 48.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 52% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    5 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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, 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 (5)
  1. $95,896 spent. CHATTOOGA STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE ADVOCATES FOR STREAM RESTORATION, MONITORS ECOLOGICAL HEALTH, AND ENGAGES COMMUNITIES IN WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP. OUR ONGOING WORK INCLUDES THE IMPLEMENTATION OF 2 WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLANS ON MAJOR REGIONAL WATERWAYS. USING ADOPT-A-STREAM METHODS, WE COMPLETED 110 WATER QUALITY MONITORING BASELINE ENTRIES IN 2025. WE LED 5 NONNATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES (NNIS) REMOVAL EVENTS, 1 EARTH DAY RIVER CLEANUP, 20 PUBLIC PARK STEWARDSHIP EVENTS, AND PRESENTED STEWARDSHIP INFORMATION AT 9 COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS ACROSS 3 STATES. WE MAILED A 24-PAGE PUBLICATION TO 374 CITIZENS, FEATURING HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL ARTICLES ON WATERSHED ECOSYSTEMS AND RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP.
  2. $57,538 spent. WE PROVIDE OVERSIGHT OF THE US FOREST SERVICE'S MANAGEMENT OF OVER 180,000 ACRES OF NATIONAL FOREST IN SC, GA, AND NC. WE PARTERED WITH THE USFS TO IMPLEMENT A POLLUTION MAGAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE RIPARIAN ZONE OF A MAJOR CHATTOOGA RIVER TRIBUTARY. THIS PROJECT REHABILITATED 8 CAMPSITES, CLOSED 9 OTHERS, BLOCKED AND REVEGITATED 4 ILLEGAL ORV TRAILS, AND INSTALLED AN EDUCATIONAL KIOSK WITH LEAVE NO TRACE PRINCIPLES. WE MONITORED LOGGING PROJECTS AND FEDERAL ACTIONS IMPACTING THE WATERSHED, INFORMING THE PUBLIC ABOUT 9 FEDERAL ACTIONS THROUGH 5 DIGITAL NEWSLETTERS AND 15 SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS. WE CONTINUED PARTNERING WITH USFS ON A NATIVE RIVER CANE RESTORATION PROJECT, INVOLVING NNIS REMOVAL AND TARGET-SPECIES PROMOTION ACROSS THE 29 -ACRE SITE, WHILE DELIVERING 30 CANE CULMS TO CHEROKEE ARTISANS.
  3. $38,359 spent. ACCREDITED BY THE LAND TRUST ALLIANCE SINCE 2016, WE UPHOLD RIGOROUS STANDARDS FOR OUR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND PRIVATE-LAND CONSERVATION WORK. IN 2025 WE CLOSED ON A NEW 42-ACRE CONSERVATION EASEMENT. WE INSPECTED ALL 13 EASEMENT PROPERTIES AND COMPLETED ONE BASELINE REPORT. WE CONTINUED RESTORING THE DONATED 52.66-ACRE CLEAR CREEK PROPERTY THROUGH 6 NNIS REMOVAL EVENTS, FOCUSING ON PRESERVING THE TRACT'S CONSERVATION VALUES WHILE CREATING EDUCATIONAL AND STEWARDSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY.
  4. $1,478 spent. DIRT ROAD AID: THE CONSERVANCY IS ACTING AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR AN ORGANIZATION PROVIDING URGENTLY NEEDED SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT, FOOD, TRANSPORTATION AND RESORUCES TO THOSE IMPACTED BY HURRICANE HELENE.
  5. DIRT ROAD AID: THE CONSERVANCY IS ACTING AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR AN ORGANIZATION PROVIDING URGENTLY NEEDED SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT, FOOD, TRANSPORTATION AND RESORUCES TO THOSE IMPACTED BY HURRICANE HELENE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 December 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 February 1995.

    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.