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Ward 8 Woods Conservancy Inc

EIN 83-4498574 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceWeak43 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Ward 8 Woods Conservancy works to rejuvenate and enhance the beauty, ecological health, and public enjoyment of the more than 500 acres of forest in the Ward 8 section of Washington, DC. We engage residents as paid staff and as volunteers to restore the woodland ecology, build trails, and promote healthy and sustainable living. We use the woods as a tool for healing and empowerment.

Income
$620,493
Spending
$520,200
Spent on programs
51%
Reserves
6.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
13

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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    50% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (5)
  1. $157,525 spent. PARK STEWARD PROGRAM - The Park Steward program provides income, meaningful work and paid training to residents who face barriers to employment. Park Stewards act as de facto caretakers for more than a thousand acres of forested land in some of the DC areas most challenged neighborhoods. In 2025, nine people passed through the program and worked a collective 2,986 hours. Together with volunteers, they removed 142,000 pounds of trash, including 1,159 tires and 6,451 filled bags. They also cut invasive vines from 1,612 trees and chopped down more than a thousand invasive bushes.
  2. $52,508 spent. TRASH FREE DC. Trash-Free DC is a citywide campaign to reduce littering and trash pollution, funded by a grant from the DC Department of Energy and Environment and led by Ward 8 Woods. In 2025, we conducted litter surveys and community outreach to identify five high-litter neighborhoods across the city as targets for the programs efforts to change perceptions and habits. In addition to outreach in the target areas, our Outreach Coordinator has become a known presence at community meetings and events around Ward 8 and has been a visible spokesperson for the bottle bill campaign.
  3. $26,254 spent. VOLUNTEER PROGRAM - In 2025, In 2025, Ward 8 Woods welcomed 614 volunteers at 37 volunteer events. Attendees at our two monthly clean-ups have regularly tended to streets along Shepherd Parkway and Suitland Parkway, while private groups tackled legacy trash in areas including stream valleys of Barnaby Run, across the line in Oxon Hill, Maryland.
  4. $13,128 spent. ADVOCACY PROGRAM. The advocacy of Ward 8 Woods staff carries weight because it comes directly from the front lines - sometimes literally. When we perform maintenance work that the government should do but doesnt, we gain credibility to push for better services. When we spend our days in the woods, lawmakers recognize our expertise. Our executive director has even testified before the DC Council while working in the woods, via Zoom, surrounded by trees and trash that illustrate his points. In 2025, he and other Ward 8 Woods staff delivered or submitted testimony for six DC Council hearings, attended 4 rallies, and endorsed 13 sign-on letters and petitions, They were also featured on local online, print, radio and TV outlets
  5. $13,127 spent. Forest-Based Learning Program. Our newest program connects Ward 8 youth to the land around them and promotes environmental ethics that will last a lifetime. Amid budget cuts and growing gaps in environmental education in DC schools, we offer something unique: immersive nature experiences in students own neighborhoods with no need for bus transportation and at no cost to schools or families. In 2025, we presented five spring and five fall lessons as part of an after-school program at Merrick Center. A forested hilltop behind the building serves as an outdoor classroom to examine soil, trees, and animals.

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

  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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2019.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.