Phoenix Conservancy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Phoenix Conservancy's mission is to restore endangered ecosystems globally for the communities that depend on them and the conservation of biodiversity. We seek out the most critically-endangered ecosystems (10% or less intact) on a Local (Palouse prairie), National (Great Plains prairie), and Global (Madagascar rainforest) scale, where we use ecosystem restoration to combat 1) biodiversity loss, 2) climate change and resulting insecurity, desertification, and erosion, and 3) poverty and economic strife.
- Income
- $940,331
- Spending
- $846,721
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 0.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 78%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $71,450, executive director, board member
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 52% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (4)
- $160,325 spent. The Madagascar program for The Phoenix Conservancy (TPC) supports restoration and fire protection for rainforest in Madagascar. We continued firebreak construction and initiated reforestation at hundreds of new sites, created thousands of local employment opportunities, and continued developing sustainable alternate livelihood projects in the region. In addition to continuing employment opportunities, and continued developing sustainable alternate livelihood projects in the region. In addition to continuing it possible for thousands of individuals to survive the world's first famine induced by climate change.
- $374,763 spent. The Palouse Prairie program supports restoration of endangered Palouse Prairie in southeastern Washington. Funding was used to develop new restoration programs and sites, plant thousands of native plants and seeds, remove invasive species, convert waste biomass into biochar, and conduct activities related to restoring native prairie across the region.
- $149,593 spent. The Organizational Capacity program supports the growth of TPC as a young conservation nonprofit. Funding was used to purchase equipment, expand publicity efforts, and expand our capacity to execute our mission. This year, funds allocated to this program were directed towards overhead, salaries, administrative costs and other costs reflected in Management & General Expenses.
- $45,780 spent. The Great Plains program for The Phoenix Conservancy (TPC) supports restoration and native plant cultivation in support of restoration in the Great Plains. This year, on-site seed collection was conducted in central South Dakota, native plants were planted in restoration sites, and collected seeds of native plants were cleaned, processed, and either used to expand native plant horticulture for future seed production, or returned to be sown as part of greater restoration efforts in the region.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2016.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.