Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Conservation Society of El Paso Csep

EIN 74-6064341 · El Paso, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 42% of its spending went to programs.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 332 cents.

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

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO INSPIRE, ENGAGE, AND EMPOWER THE COMMUNITY THROUGH IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCESTHAT FOSTER A DEEPER CONNECTION TO ANIMALS AND NATURE, PROMOTE CONSERVATION, AND FOSTERENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. WE ARE DEDICATED TO PROMOTING CONSERVATION, PROTECTING THEENVIRONMENT, AND CULTIVATING A SENSE OF STEWARDSHIP FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. BY FOSTERING THEBOND BETWEEN PEOPLE AND NATURE, WE STRIVE TO CREATE LASTING IMPACTS ON THE WELL-BEING OF OURPLANET AND OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$100,968
Spending
$423,800
Spent on programs
42%
Reserves
9.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 39%
Employees
4
Volunteers
124
Highest pay
$116,891, executive director

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

Financial health

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 320% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 75% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    42% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 332 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 (1)
  1. $179,201 spent. THE SOCIETY CONDUCTS AN INTEGRATED CONSERVATION EDUCATION PROGRAM SERVING CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS IN THE EL PASO BORDER REGION. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE SOCIETY HELD YOUTH SUMMER CAMP SESSIONS PROVIDING HANDS-ON WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION EDUCATION TO APPROXIMATELY 260 CHILDREN, DELIVERED CONSERVATION EDUCATION PROGRAMMING AND WILDLIFE WORKSHOPS TO SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND CONDUCTED COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH AREA ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND STEWARDSHIP. A TOTAL OF 5 WORKSHOPS WERE HOSTED AND 187 PARTICIPANTS. THESE ACTIVITIES REFLECT THE SOCIETY'S MISSION OF CONNECTING COMMUNITIES WITH THE NATURAL WORLD AND EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 October 13, 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 August 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 February 1964.

    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 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.