Discover Life in America Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
DISCOVER LIFE IN AMERICA ADVANCES SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY, BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION, AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGH THE ALL TAXA BIODIVERSITY INVENTORY (ATBI) IN GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK AND BEYOND. WORKING WITH SCIENTISTS, VOLUNTEERS, EDUCATORS, AND PUBLIC AGENCIES, DLIA DOCUMENTS BIODIVERSITY, SUPPORTS RESEARCH, TRAINS FUTURE CONSERVATION PROFESSIONALS, AND CONNECTS PEOPLE WITH THE REMARKABLE DIVERSITY OF LIFE FOUND IN ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST BIOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT NATIONAL PARKS.
- Income
- $360,833
- Spending
- $318,341
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 12.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 34%
- Employees
- 4
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (2)
- $258,524 spent. ALL TAXA BIODIVERSITY INVENTORY (ATBI) DISCOVER LIFE IN AMERICA CONTINUED COORDINATING THE ALL TAXA BIODIVERSITY INVENTORY (ATBI), ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST COMPREHENSIVE EFFORTS TO DOCUMENT ALL SPECIES WITHIN A PROTECTED AREA. WORKING CLOSELY WITH GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK, UNIVERSITIES, MUSEUMS, RESEARCHERS, AND VOLUNTEERS, DLIA SUPPORTED BIOLOGICAL INVENTORIES, SPECIES IDENTIFICATION, SPECIMEN DOCUMENTATION, DATA MANAGEMENT, AND SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION. SINCE THE ATBI BEGAN, RESEARCHERS HAVE DOCUMENTED MORE THAN 11,000 NEW SPECIES RECORDS FOR THE PARK, INCLUDING MORE THAN 1,000 SPECIES NEW TO SCIENCE. ACTIVITIES DURING THE YEAR INCLUDED BIODIVERSITY SURVEYS, RESEARCH COORDINATION, NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION, PUBLIC EDUCATION, SCIENTIFIC OUTREACH, AND SUPPORT FOR VISITING RESEARCHERS. ALL TAXA BIODIVERSITY INVENTORY (ATBI) DISCOVER LIFE IN AMERICA CONTINUED COORDINATING THE ALL TAXA BIODIVERSITY INVENTORY (ATBI), ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST COMPREHENSIVE EFFORTS TO DOCUMENT ALL SPECIES WITHIN A PROTECTED AREA. WORKING CLOSELY WITH GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK, UNIVERSITIES, MUSEUMS, RESEARCHERS, AND VOLUNTEERS, DLIA SUPPORTED BIOLOGICAL INVENTORIES, SPECIES IDENTIFICATION, SPECIMEN DOCUMENTATION, DATA MANAGEMENT, AND SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION. SINCE THE ATBI BEGAN, RESEARCHERS HAVE DOCUMENTED MORE THAN 11,000 NEW SPECIES RECORDS FOR THE PARK, INCLUDING MORE THAN 1,000 SPECIES NEW TO SCIENCE. ACTIVITIES DURING THE YEAR INCLUDED BIODIVERSITY SURVEYS, RESEARCH COORDINATION, NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION, PUBLIC EDUCATION, SCIENTIFIC OUTREACH, AND SUPPORT FOR VISITING RESEARCHERS.
- DISCOVER LIFE IN AMERICA ADVANCES SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY, BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION, AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGH THE ALL TAXA BIODIVERSITY INVENTORY (ATBI) IN GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK AND BEYOND. WORKING WITH SCIENTISTS, VOLUNTEERS, EDUCATORS, AND PUBLIC AGENCIES, DLIA DOCUMENTS BIODIVERSITY, SUPPORTS RESEARCH, TRAINS FUTURE CONSERVATION PROFESSIONALS, AND CONNECTS PEOPLE WITH THE REMARKABLE DIVERSITY OF LIFE FOUND IN ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST BIOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT NATIONAL PARKS. EDUCATION AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT DLIA EXPANDED PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF BIODIVERSITY THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, CITIZEN SCIENCE INITIATIVES, PRESENTATIONS, PUBLICATIONS, INTERPRETIVE MATERIALS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS. PROGRAMS ENCOURAGED STEWARDSHIP OF NATIVE SPECIES AND ECOSYSTEMS WHILE INCREASING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION. INTERNSHIPS AND RESEARCH SUPPORT DLIA PROVIDED INTERNSHIPS AND HANDS-ON FIELD EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS AND EARLY-CAREER SCIENTISTS WHILE SUPPORTING PROFESSIONAL RESEARCHERS CONDUCTING BIODIVERSITY STUDIES THROUGHOUT GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK. INTERNS PARTICIPATED IN FIELD SURVEYS, SPECIMEN PROCESSING, PUBLIC EDUCATION, RESEARCH LOGISTICS, AND CONSERVATION PROJECTS, HELPING PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATION PROFESSIONALS. PARTNERSHIPS DLIA CONTINUED WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK, PARK PARTNERS, UNIVERSITIES, MUSEUMS, CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND CITIZEN SCIENTISTS TO ADVANCE BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH, CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, AND SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REGION. THROUGH NEARLY THREE DECADES OF PARTNERSHIP WITH GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK, DISCOVER LIFE IN AMERICA HAS HELPED ESTABLISH THE SMOKIES AS AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MODEL FOR BIODIVERSITY INVENTORY, SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION, AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN CONSERVATION.
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
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 December 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 December 2000.
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.
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