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Chelonian Research Institute Corporation

EIN 59-3661056 · Oviedo, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceWeak19 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 20% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO UNDERTAKE RESEARCH UPON TURTLES AND TORTOISES (CHELONIANS), TO PROMULGATE EXISTING INFORMATION ABOUT CHELONIANS TO THE PUBLIC AND TO FOSTER CONSERVATION THROUGH THE WORLD.THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO UNDERTAKE RESEARCH UPON TURTLES AND TORTOISES (CHELONIANS), TO PROMULGATE EXISTING INFORMATION ABOUT CHELONIANS TO THE PUBLIC AND TO FOSTER CONSERVATION THROUGH THE WORLD.THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO UNDERTAKE RESEARCH UPON TURTLES AND TORTOISES (CHELONIANS), TO PROMULGATE EXISTING INFORMATION ABOUT CHELONIANS TO THE PUBLIC AND TO FOSTER CONSERVATION THROUGH THE WORLD.

Income
$41,597
Spending
$125,753
Spent on programs
20%
Reserves
94.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (science, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 94.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 202% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 96% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    20% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 19 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (science, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    0 of 25

    2 of 2 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 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. $12,500 spent. MAINTAINING A REFERENCE COLLECTION OF PRESERVED SPECIMENS THAT SHALL SEEK TO INCLUDE ALL LIVING TAXA OF TURTLES AND TORTOISES, AND THAT SHALL ACCUMULATED BY SALVAGE RATHER THAN BY SACRIFICE OF LIVING ANIMALS.MAINTAINING A REFERENCE COLLECTION OF PRESERVED SPECIMENS THAT SHALL SEEK TO INCLUDE ALL LIVING TAXA OF TURTLES AND TORTOISES, AND THAT SHALL ACCUMULATED BY SALVAGE RATHER THAN BY SACRIFICE OF LIVING ANIMALS.MAINTAINING A REFERENCE COLLECTION OF PRESERVED SPECIMENS THAT SHALL SEEK TO INCLUDE ALL LIVING TAXA OF TURTLES AND TORTOISES, AND THAT SHALL ACCUMULATED BY SALVAGE RATHER THAN BY SACRIFICE OF LIVING ANIMALS.
  2. $6,250 spent. OPERATION A SPECIALIZED RESEARCH AND INFORMATION CENTER THAT WILL CONSTITUTE AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE BY BIOLOGIST, PALEONTOLOGISTS, OTHER SCIENTISTS AND RESEARCHERS, STUDENTS, YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.OPERATION A SPECIALIZED RESEARCH AND INFORMATION CENTER THAT WILL CONSTITUTE AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE BY BIOLOGIST, PALEONTOLOGISTS, OTHER SCIENTISTS AND RESEARCHERS, STUDENTS, YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.OPERATION A SPECIALIZED RESEARCH AND INFORMATION CENTER THAT WILL CONSTITUTE AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE BY BIOLOGIST, PALEONTOLOGISTS, OTHER SCIENTISTS AND RESEARCHERS, STUDENTS, YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
  3. $2,500 spent. DEMOSTRATING THE CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC AS WELL AS THE SCIENTIFIC, ECOLOGICAL AND MATERIAL VALUE OF TURTLES AND TORTOISES BY MEANS OF ON SITE DISPLAYS AS WELL AS OUTREACH PROGRAMS.DEMOSTRATING THE CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC AS WELL AS THE SCIENTIFIC, ECOLOGICAL AND MATERIAL VALUE OF TURTLES AND TORTOISES BY MEANS OF ON SITE DISPLAYS AS WELL AS OUTREACH PROGRAMS.DEMOSTRATING THE CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC AS WELL AS THE SCIENTIFIC, ECOLOGICAL AND MATERIAL VALUE OF TURTLES AND TORTOISES BY MEANS OF ON SITE DISPLAYS AS WELL AS OUTREACH PROGRAMS.
  4. $3,750 spent. WRITING, EDITING, AND PUBLISHING SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE FIELD OF CHELONIOLOGY, AS WELL AS POPULAR AND GENERAL WORKS INTENDED FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.WRITING, EDITING, AND PUBLISHING SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE FIELD OF CHELONIOLOGY, AS WELL AS POPULAR AND GENERAL WORKS INTENDED FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.WRITING, EDITING, AND PUBLISHING SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE FIELD OF CHELONIOLOGY, AS WELL AS POPULAR AND GENERAL WORKS INTENDED FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on July 15, 2022 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on July 15, 2022.

    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 February 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 April 2024.

    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.