Gaviota Coast Conservancy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
GAVIOTA COAST CONSERVANCY IS DEDICATED TO PERMANENTLY PROTECTING THE RURAL CHARACTER AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY OF THE GAVIOTA COAST FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
- Income
- $555,276
- Spending
- $1.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- -403.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $116,443, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 32 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 100% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 87% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 39% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
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, 2024, 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)
- $438,532 spent. GAVIOTA COAST CONSERVANCY ACTIVELY PURSUES PERMANENT CONSERVATION OF SPECIAL GAVIOTA COAST PARCELS THROUGH FEE-FOR-TITLE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS AS WELL AS CONSERVATION EASEMENTS WITH WILLING SELLERS. THE CONSERVANCY ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN THE CALIFORNIA PROGRAM TO PRESERVE 30% OF THE STATES LAND BY 2030. WE PUBLISHED A 50 PAGE WHITE PAPER, VISION FOR THE GAVIOTA COAST
- $326,368 spent. WE ANALYZE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS FOR CONSISTENCY WITH LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LAND USE LAWS AND POLICIES, PROVIDING WRITTEN AND ORAL TESTIMONY DURING PUBLIC HEARINGS. GAVIOTA COAST CONSERVANCY HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN PREVENTING INAPPROPRIATE MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ON THE GAVIOTA COAST. THE CONSERVANCY HAS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL TRAIL ACROSS THE GAVIOTA COAST. THE CONSERVANCY PROMOTES CARBON FARMING AND REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE ACROSS SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, WITH A FOCUS ON THE GAVIOTA COAST. THESE PROGRAMS STRIVE TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF THE REGIONS FARMS AND RANCHES.
- $132,023 spent. THE CONSERVANCY CONDUCTS COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GAVIOTA COAST AND THE NEED TO PRESERVE ITS RURAL CHARACTER AND ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY FROM THE THREAT OF INAPPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT. WE UTILIZE LOCAL MEDIA TO ENHANCE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT. THE CONSERVANCY MAINTAINS A WEBSITE AND PARTICIPATES IN SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ON ISSUES AND OUR OBJECTIVES. WE PUBLISH A PERIODIC NEWSLETTER CONTAINING INFORMATION ON THE GAVIOTA COAST AND CURRENT EVENTS AFFECTING ITS PRESERVATION, AND WE COORDINATE EFFORTS BY INDIVIDUALS AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO ACHIEVE OUR OBJECTIVES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1998.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.