The Conservancy of Southwest Florida Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE ARE A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON THE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES OF SW FLORIDA. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH A MYRIAD OF EFFORTS BY THE TEAMS IN OUR PROGRAMMATIC DEPARTMENTS: SCIENCE, POLICY, EDUCATION AND WILDLIFE REHABILITATION.
- Income
- $45.5 million
- Spending
- $12.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 28.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 84
- Volunteers
- 456
- Highest pay
- $325,785, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 28.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 72% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 213% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2528 of 28 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 September 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)
- $2.9 million spent. THE CONSERVANCY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TEAM IS COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP OF TOMORROW. WE STRIVE TO PROVIDE CHILDREN AND ADULTS AN APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S UNIQUE NATURAL RESOURCES. THROUGH THIS WORK, WE AIM TO EQUIP OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND CREATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS. INDIVIDUALS WHO APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE UNIQUE NATURAL RESOURCES ARE MORE WILLING TO HELP PROTECT AND TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES FACING SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S LAND, WATER AND WILDLIFE. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE EDUCATION TEAM IN FY 2024-2025: DURING THE YEAR, EDUCATION PROGRAMS REACHED MORE THAN 35,000 PARTICIPANTS, REPRESENTING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OVER THE PRIOR YEAR. PROGRAM EVALUATIONS SHOWED MEASURABLE GAINS IN ENVIRONMENTAL KNOWLEDGE AND INCREASED INTENT TO ENGAGE IN STEWARDSHIP BEHAVIORS. THE LEARNING ADVENTURE BUS EXPANDED ITS REACH THROUGH NEW COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, DELIVERING STEM-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TO SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE REGION. THE CONSERVANCY ALSO WELCOMED 24,130 VISITORS TO THE DALTON DISCOVERY CENTER AND JOHN & CAROL WALTER DISCOVERY WING, A 48 PERCENT INCREASE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR, THROUGH GUIDED TOURS, INTERPRETIVE EXHIBITS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING.
- $2.3 million spent. THE CONSERVANCY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S VON ARX WILDLIFE HOSPITAL ADMITS THOUSANDS OF NATIVE ANIMALS EVERY YEAR. THE WILDLIFE HOSPITAL IS DESIGNED TO MEET THE MEDICAL NEEDS OF INJURED, SICK AND ORPHANED NATIVE BIRDS, MAMMALS AND REPTILES, ULTIMATELY IMPROVING THEIR ABILITY TO BE RELEASED BACK IN TO THE WILD. THE SECOND GOAL IS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION TO OUR NATURE CENTER VISITORS ON HOW TO PREVENT INJURIES TO WILDLIFE. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE VON ARX WILDLIFE HOSPITAL IS THE ONLY FACILITY OF ITS KIND WITHIN COLLIER COUNTY. THE INJURED, SICK AND ORPHANED NATIVE WILDLIFE ARE CARED FOR BY A DEDICATED STAFF OF SEVEN FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, A STAFF VETERINARIAN, AND SEASONAL INTERNS. STAFF EFFORTS ARE SUPPORTED BY VOLUNTEERS WHO ASSIST WITH DIET PREPARATION, CAGE CLEANING, ANIMAL RESTRAINT AND WILDLIFE RESCUE AND RELEASE. ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE WILDLIFE REHABILITATION TEAM IN FY 2024-2025: DURING THE YEAR, THE HOSPITAL TREATED 3,457 ANIMALS, INCLUDING BIRDS, MAMMALS, AND REPTILES, ADDRESSING INJURIES RELATED TO VEHICLE COLLISIONS, HABITAT LOSS, DISEASE, AND HUMAN INTERFERENCE. IN RESPONSE TO AVIAN INFLUENZA RISKS, STAFF IMPLEMENTED ENHANCED BIOSECURITY PROTOCOLS, INCLUDING PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, MODIFIED INTAKE PROCEDURES, AND INCREASED MONITORING. THESE MEASURES SUCCESSFULLY PREVENTED IN-HOSPITAL TRANSMISSION WHILE MAINTAINING UNINTERRUPTED CARE. THE WILDLIFE REHABILITATION TEAM ALSO COORDINATED COMPLEX RESCUE, TREATMENT, AND RELEASE EFFORTS IN COLLABORATION WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, RETURNING ANIMALS TO APPROPRIATE HABITAT WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
- $2.0 million spent. THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE PROGRAM CONDUCTS APPLIED RESEARCH AND LONG-TERM MONITORING TO INFORM CONSERVATION, RESTORATION, AND LAND-USE DECISIONS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. CONSERVANCY SCIENTISTS COLLABORATE WITH ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND CONSERVATION PARTNERS TO ADDRESS COASTAL RESILIENCE, INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT, WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, AND ECOSYSTEM HEALTH. (CONTNUED ON SCHEDULE O)ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE TEAM IN FY 2024-2025: DURING THE YEAR, THE CONSERVANCY DOCUMENTED ONE OF THE STRONGEST SEA TURTLE NESTING SEASONS IN MORE THAN FOUR DECADES ON KEEWAYDIN ISLAND, MONITORING 558 NESTS AND RECORDING 38,179 HATCHLINGS.LONG-TERM DATA COLLECTED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS REGIONAL CONSERVATION PLANNING AND PUBLIC EDUCATION. THE CONSERVANCY'S INVASIVE SPECIES PROGRAM REACHED A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE, SURPASSING 20 TONS OF INVASIVE BURMESE PYTHONS REMOVED SINCE 2013. DURING THE YEAR, STAFF AND INTERNS REMOVED 6,549 POUNDS OF PYTHONS AND 2,945 DEVELOPING EGGS WHILE TRACKING SCOUT SNAKES ACROSS APPROXIMATELY 250 SQUARE MILES TO REDUCE REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS. SCIENTISTS ALSO MONITORED 7,961 MANGROVES ACROSS PERMANENT PLOTS IN CLAM BAY AND GOODLAND FRUIT FARM CREEK, ASSESSING ECOSYSTEM HEALTH AND RESILIENCE TO SEA LEVEL RISE, ALTERED HYDROLOGY, AND STORM IMPACTS. THIS MONITORING SUPPORTS RESTORATION STRATEGIES THAT HELP BUFFER COASTAL COMMUNITIES AND PROTECT WILDLIFE HABITAT.
- $1.8 million spent. THE CONSERVANCY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY TEAM USES A SCIENCE-BASED APPROACH TO TACKLE BROAD REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND COLLABORATES WITH PARTNERS SUCH AS BUSINESS, ENVIRONMENTAL, ACADEMIC AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS TO ENSURE THE PROPER STEWARDSHIP OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S WATER, LAND AND WILDLIFE. THEY PROVIDE OUR REGION'S DECISION MAKERS WITH THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSERVATION ISSUES. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TACKLED BY THE TEAM ARE SMART GROWTH, WATER ISSUES, MINING, ENDANGERED SPECIES AND WILDLIFE HABITAT PROTECTION. ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE POLICY TEAM IN FY 2024-2025: DURING THE YEAR, THE CONSERVANCY ACTIVELY DEFENDED FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT PROTECTIONS AND OPPOSED EFFORTS TO WEAKEN WETLAND PERMITTING OVERSIGHT. STAFF PROVIDED TECHNICAL ANALYSIS, SUBMITTED FORMAL COMMENTS, AND MOBILIZED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH POLICY ACTION ALERTS. THE POLICY TEAM LAUNCHED PUBLIC-FACING TOOLS, INCLUDING A WETLANDS STORY MAP AND A PANTHER DASHBOARD, TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE DATA ON HABITAT PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS. A TOTAL OF 8,243 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN POLICY ACTION ALERTS ADDRESSING MAJOR LAND-USE AND WILDLIFE ISSUES. THROUGH LITIGATION AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS, THE CONSERVANCY SECURED PERMANENT CONSERVATION OUTCOMES, INCLUDING THE PROTECTION OF 655 ACRES OF CRITICAL FLORIDA PANTHER HABITAT, PRESERVING AN ESSENTIAL WILDLIFE CORRIDOR IN EASTERN COLLIER COUNTY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 October 13, 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 September 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 February 1971.
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 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.