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Harpeth Conservancy

EIN 62-1802858 · Brentwood, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO RESTORE AND PROTECT CLEAN WATER AND HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS FOR RIVERS IN TENNESSEE BY EMPLOYING SCIENTIFIC EXPERTISE AND COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS TO DEVELOP, PROMOTE, AND SUPPORT BROAD COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP AND ACTION.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
15.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
10
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$166,918, president

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

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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

    13 of 13 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 March 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 (3)
  1. $308,642 spent. THE WATERSHED SCIENCE & RESTORATION PROGRAM PROVIDES THE SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION FOR HARPETH CONSERVANCY'S WORK. THROUGH A COMBINATION OF EXPERT-DRIVEN STUDIES, CITIZEN-SCIENCE MONITORING, AND PROMOTING A COORDINATED APPROACH THROUGHOUT THE REGION, THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES THE DATA NECESSARY TO EVALUATE THE BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL CONDITION OF OUR RIVERS AND STREAMS. OUR SCIENTIFIC WORK BECOMES THE BASIS OF CONSERVATION PLANNING, INFORMING THE AREAS AND APPROACHES WHERE WE CAN MAXIMIZE IMPACT. PART OF THAT IMPACT COMES THROUGH IMPLEMENTING ON-THE-GROUND PROJECTS TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND RESTORE WILDLIFE HABITAT. FROM LARGE-SCALE DAM REMOVAL AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS TO VOLUNTEER DRIVEN RIPARIAN REFORESTATION, WE WORK WITH STATE AGENCIES, CITIES, FARMERS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO BUILD A MULTIFACETED APPROACH TO RESTORING NATURAL RIVER FLOWS, REDUCING EROSION, AND LIMITING POLLUTION ENTERING OUR WATERWAYS.
  2. $347,221 spent. THE CLEAN WATER PROTECTION PROGRAM ADVANCES THE REGULATORY AND POLICY SOLUTIONS NECESSARY TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN TENNESSEE. THIS PROGRAM WORKS TO ESTABLISH SCIENTIFICALLY BASED POLICY THAT IMPROVES WATER QUALITY, INCLUDING WATER WITHDRAWAL PERMITS THAT LEAVE SUFFICIENT FLOW FOR WILDLIFE, NUTRIENT POLLUTION LIMITS THAT RESTORE NATURAL WATER CHEMISTRY, AND STORMWATER REGULATIONS THAT REDUCE EROSION. WE ARE ACTIVELY PURSUING AND DEFENDING REGULATORY SYSTEMS THAT PROTECT THE HEALTH OF HUMANS AND WILDLIFE BY WORKING WITH STATE AGENCIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, ORGANIZING STATEWIDE COALITIONS, AND BUILDING LOCAL CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT. THE EFFORT TO SET LIMITS ON THE AMOUNT OF NUTRIENT POLLUTION ENTERING THE HARPETH IS THE MOST ADVANCED IN THE STATE, AND WE STRIVE TO MAKE THIS A MODEL FOR RIVERS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEASTERN US.
  3. $308,642 spent. THE OUTREACH, EDUCATION, & RECREATION PROGRAM CREATES OPPORTUNITIES TO FOSTER AWARENESS OF ISSUES AFFECTING FRESHWATER RESOURCES AND APPRECIATION FOR THE INCREDIBLE DIVERSITY OF SPECIES FOUND IN THE REGION. THIS PROGRAM WORKS WITH CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND INDIVIDUALS TO BUILD THE LOCAL SUPPORT AND INVOLVEMENT NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE OUR MISSION OF PROTECTING RIVERS AND CLEAN WATER. THROUGH EDUCATIONAL EVENTS WITH LOCAL YOUTH PROGRAMS, AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, AND PROVIDING INFORMATION ON WAYS INDIVIDUALS CAN HELP, WE HOPE TO INSPIRE PERSONAL ACTIVISM AND DEVELOP COMMUNITY LEADERS. WE VIEW RECREATION AS AN AVENUE TO BUILDING STRONG ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS, AND WORK TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO RIVERS BY DEVELOPING BLUEWAYS AND PARTNERING WITH LOCAL OUTFITTERS TO DEMONSTRATE RESPONSIBLE USE OF OUR RESOURCES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2000.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.