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Carmel River Watershed Conservancy

EIN 77-0548869 · Carmel, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceWeak35 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CONSERVANCY'S MISSION IS THE PROTECTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES THAT FORM THE CARMEL RIVER WATERSHED INCLUDING THREATENED SPECIES OF STEELHEAD AND CALIFORNIA RED-LEGGED FROGS. THE CONSERVANCY BALAANCES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

Income
$130,661
Spending
$237,068
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
40.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 83%
Employees
1
Highest pay
$105,231, executive dir.

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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 40.3 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 81% of income.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (1)
  1. $204,137 spent. CRWC HIGHLIGHTS 2024CONTINUED DELIVERY OF THE SECOND ITERATION OF THE CARMEL RIVER WATERSHED HEALTH REPORT CARD TO IDENTIFY AREAS THAT NEED TO BE PRIORITIZED FOR MANAGMENT BY THE 2020 CARMEL RIVER TASK FORCE ACTION PLAN.PARTNERED WITH THE CAL STATE UNIVERSITY MONTEREY BAY WATERSHED INSTITUTE FOR THE UPDATE AND DELIVERY OF THE REPORT CARD.CONTINUED REASEARCH ON WILDFIRE IMPACT TO THE WATERSHED.STARTED MONTHLY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IN THE WINTER MONTHS CALLED SCIENCE UNCORKED. EACH PROGRAM WAS REGULARLY ATTEDED BY 75 COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH TOPICS INCLUDING IMPACTS TO WATERSHED, DESALINATION, REMOVAL OF THE SAN CLEMENTE DAM, UNDERSTANDING DROUGHT RESILIENCE AND FIRE PREVENTION.RECEIVED GRANT FROM THE COASTAL CONSERVANCY TO FUND WILDFIRE PREPARATION. THE CONSERVANCY IS IMPLEMENTING A STWARDSHIP GUIDE TO PREVENT WILDFIRE AND FLOODING.

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

  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? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    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 December 2024.

    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 August 2000.

    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.