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Conservation Collective

EIN 83-0606873 · Leicester, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

IMPROVING THE ENVIROMENT WITHIN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO ALLOW FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE ENJOYMENT BY RESIDENTS, VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE.

Income
$82,427
Spending
$143,662
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
44.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
1
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$24,125, 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 44.9 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 74% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3705% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% 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

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 (3)
  1. $66,830 spent. RENOVATION, REZONING, AND MAINTENANCE OF THE PROPERTY 903 PASEO DEL PUEBLO NORTE, TAOS, NM FOR $350,000. THIS STRIKINGLY UNIQUE BUILDING IS ON THE MAIN DRAG OF TAOS, NM, AND WAS PREVIOUSLY A SECONDHAND STORE. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, OUR TEAM HAS BEEN RESTORING THE BUILDING WHILE USING IT AS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE AND A WAY TO SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT OUR CAUSE. WE HOSTED VOLUNTEERS TO ACCOMPLISH RENOVATION PROJECTS, INCLUDING: WORKING WITH A LOCAL BUILDING COMPANY TO REZONE THE PROPERTY TO DUAL-USE AND CREATE ACCURATE RECORDS LIKE BLUEPRINTS, ADDING AN ELECTRICAL SUBPANEL TO CREATE A KITCHEN IN THE COTTAGE ADDITION, AND CONTINUING TO SAFELY REDO AND MITIGATE DAMAGE FRMO THE BUILDING'S LONG HISTORY. WE OPENED THE SPACE AS A RESOURCE TO THE COMMUNITY BY HOSTING LOCAL ARTISTS AND FARM STANDS, BECOMING AN HQ FOR NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUPS, AND ACTIVELY SHARING OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE TOWN'S BUSINESSES, RESOURCES, AND GOVERNMENT.
  2. $20,006 spent. SUPPORTING OUR ADOPTED ANIMALS, OUR ORGANIZATION CARES FOR TWO TOMCATS (ROWDY AND RASY) AND ONE DOG (GROVER). OUR CATS ARE BROTHERS THAT WERE FOUND ON THE STREETS OF SANTA FE, NM AND OUR DOG WAS RESCUED FROM BEAR EARS NATIONAL MONUMENT IN UTAH. WE PROVIDED THESE ANIMALS WITH A SAFE HOME, FOOD, ENRICHMENTS, AND VETERINARY CARE. DUE TO THEIR AGE, THE VETERINARY CARE WAS FOCUSED ON TREATING AILMENTS AS WELL AS ONGOING PREVENTATIVE CARE. THEY HELPED US MITIGATE PESTS AT OUR TWO MAIN PROPERTIES AND PROVIDED SECURITY AND COMFORT TO OUR PROJECTS.
  3. $13,328 spent. RENOVATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE PROPERTY 55 CLEARWATER CREEK, LEICESTER, NORTH CAROLINA FOR $265,000. THIS PROPERTY IS NESTLED WITHIN A VALLEY OUTSIDE OF ASHEVILLE, NC, AND CONTAINS A TINY HOME WITH 11. 211 ACRES OF STEEP, FORESTED LAND. IT IS USED AS AN OFF-GRID COMMUNITY SPACE FOR AUTONOMOUS SYSTEM EDUCATION AND LOCAL GARDENING. WE USE THE TINY HOUSE TO CREATE A MODEL FOR A SIMPLIFIED LIEFSTYLE THAT UTILIZES INDEPENDENT UTILITIES TO ASSIST THE COMMUNITY. WE USE THE ACREAGE TO PROVIDE GARDEN PLOTS TO THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE THE SPACE TO GROW THEMSELVES, HOST INVASIVE SPECIES CLEANUPS AND VOLUNTEER HOURS, AND OPEN ACCESS TO OUR EVER-EXPANDING HIKING TRAILS. MAINLY CATERING TO THE N. TURKEY CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD, WE HAVE CREATED A SAFE AND FREE SPACE FOR OUR SURROUNDING COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND ENJJOY THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR HOBBY.

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 July 2020.

    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.