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Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Corporation

EIN 80-0038830 · Yuma, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THROUGH COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL MUNICIPAL, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY GROUPS, THE YUMA CROSSING NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA'S (YCNHA) MISSION IS TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES OF THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER AREA KNOWN AS THE YUMA CROSSING. THROUGH EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, YCNHA INTERPRETS THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE REGION. IN PARTICULAR, YCNHA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF THE YUMA CROSSING NATIONAL LANDMARK.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
4.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
44
Volunteers
83
Highest pay
$110,332, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    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 September 30, 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. $2.5 million spent. THE SEVENTH YEAR OF OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF THE YUMA EAST WETLANDS (YEW), A 400 ACRE MULTI-SPECIES CONSERVATION PROGRAM SITE ALONG THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER. THIS AREA IS ALSO A HIKING AND RECREATION AREA FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND VISITORS TO YUMA. IN FY 2024 GRANT FUNDING ALLOWED COMPLETION OF TWO RECREATIONAL PARK PROJECTS WHERE WALKING TRAILS, SHADE RAMADAS, IRRIGATION, TREES, SHRUBS AND WILDLIFE INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE WERE ADDED TO A TOTAL OF 10 ACRES IN TWO WETLAND AREAS ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER. FOR THE THIRD YEAR, FROM PRIVATE FOUNDATIONAL FUNDING, YCNHA'S FIELD TRIP PROGRAM WAS EXPANDED TO 3RD - 5TH GRADES, DOUBLING IN-PERSON STUDENT ATTENDEES (3,106 THIS YEAR VERSUS 1,400 LAST YEAR) FROM 32 YUMA COUNTY SCHOOLS. THE STEM BASED CURRICULUM INCLUDES LESSONS ON DESERT SOUTHWEST HISTORY, RIVER AND WETLANDS ECOLOGY, AND NOW OFFERS AN ENTERTAINING VIRTUAL VIDEO COMPONENT VIEWED BY 114 CLASSES LOCALLY BUT IS ALSO AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE. TWO KEY POSITIONS WERE FILLED AFTER COMPLETING CAREFUL RESTRUCTURE AND PROMOTION PLANS. CONTINUING A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND BUSINESSES TO INITIATE A TOURISM CAMPAIGN FOR THE "HISTORIC YUMA EXPERIENCE." CONTINUED OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT OF TWO HISTORIC STATE PARKS/MUSEUMS WHICH ARE ELEMENTS OF THE YUMA CROSSING NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK. THE SEVENTH YEAR OF OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF THE YUMA EAST WETLANDS (YEW), A 400 ACRE MULTI-SPECIES CONSERVATION PROGRAM SITE ALONG THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER. THIS AREA IS ALSO A HIKING AND RECREATION AREA FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND VISITORS TO YUMA. IN FY 2024 GRANT FUNDING ALLOWED COMPLETION OF TWO RECREATIONAL PARK PROJECTS WHERE WALKING TRAILS, SHADE RAMADAS, IRRIGATION, TREES, SHRUBS AND WILDLIFE INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE WERE ADDED TO A TOTAL OF 10 ACRES IN TWO WETLAND AREAS ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER. FOR THE THIRD YEAR, FROM PRIVATE FOUNDATIONAL FUNDING, YCNHA'S FIELD TRIP PROGRAM WAS EXPANDED TO 3RD - 5TH GRADES, DOUBLING IN-PERSON STUDENT ATTENDEES (3,106 THIS YEAR VERSUS 1,400 LAST YEAR) FROM 32 YUMA COUNTY SCHOOLS. THE STEM BASED CURRICULUM INCLUDES LESSONS ON DESERT SOUTHWEST HISTORY, RIVER AND WETLANDS ECOLOGY, AND NOW OFFERS AN ENTERTAINING VIRTUAL VIDEO COMPONENT VIEWED BY 114 CLASSES LOCALLY BUT IS ALSO AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE. TWO KEY POSITIONS WERE FILLED AFTER COMPLETING CAREFUL RESTRUCTURE AND PROMOTION PLANS. CONTINUING A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND BUSINESSES TO INITIATE A TOURISM CAMPAIGN FOR THE "HISTORIC YUMA EXPERIENCE." CONTINUED OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT OF TWO HISTORIC STATE PARKS/MUSEUMS WHICH ARE ELEMENTS OF THE YUMA CROSSING NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 2025.

    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 June 2002.

    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.