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Lighthawk

EIN 84-0852104 · Loveland, CO

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 47% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

LIGHTHAWK FLIES TO SAVE THE EARTH. LIGHTHAWK EXISTS BECAUSE WE KNOW EXCELLENT CONSERVATION WORK CAN BE DONE WITH AIRCRAFT. MOST CONSERVATION GROUPS ARE UNAWARE OF THE EFFICIENCY SAVINGS AND IMPACT TO PERCEPTIONS AERIAL VIEWS CAN PROVIDE. EVEN WHEN THEY DO, FLIGHTS MAY SEEM UNAFFORDABLE TO THEM. LIGHTHAWK'S CONSERVATION PROFESSIONALS IDENTIFY SIGNIFICANT CONSERVATION ISSUES AND WORK WITH LEADING CONSERVATION PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO CO-DESIGN EFFECTIVE FLIGHT CAMPAIGNS WHERE AVIATION CAN QUICKLY ACCELERATE THE WORK TO MORE QUICKLY ACHIEVE SIGNIFICANT OUTCOMES. ONCE CAMPAIGNS ARE DESIGNED, WE LEVERAGE A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF MORE THAN 350 HIGHLY-EXPERIENCED VOLUNTEER PILOTS WHO MAKE FLIGHTS AFFORDABLE BY DONATING THEIR TIME, AIRCRAFT, EXPERTISE AND FUEL. WE ARE ABLE PROVIDE FLIGHTS TO OUR PARTNERS WITHOUT CHARGE BECAUSE OF THE CHARITABLE SUPPORT OF OUR PILOTS.

Income
$729,263
Spending
$942,643
Spent on programs
47%
Reserves
-10 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
7
Volunteers
273
Highest pay
$122,537, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    47% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 March 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 (3)
  1. $150,381 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: 34% OF THIS FISCAL YEAR WAS SPENT WORKING WITH PARTNERS LIKE THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, AUDUBON, SURFRIDER FOUNDATION, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE, AMONG OTHERS, AS WELL AS LEGISLATORS AT ALL LEVELS THROUGHOUT THE U.S. LIGHTHAWK FLIGHTS PROVIDED THE CATALYTIC AERIAL PERSPECTIVE THAT ALLOWED DATA COLLECTION, SURVEYS, MONITORING, MEDIA OUTPUT AND CRITICAL LEGISLATIVE DECISION MAKERS TO EVALUATE CURRENT CONDITIONS AS WELL AS SET FUTURE CONSERVATION GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
  2. $181,342 spent. RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT: LAND, WATER AND WILDLIFE: 41% OF THIS FISCAL YEAR. LIGHTHAWK FLIGHTS SUPPORTED LAND TRUST OVERSIGHT AND MANAGEMENT THROUGHOUT THE US THROUGH EASEMENT MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF LAND FOR ACQUISITION FEASIBILITY AND PROVIDING COMPLIANCE AND OTHER INFORMATION OTHERWISE NOT ACCESSIBLE. LIGHTHAWK FLIGHTS INFORMED RESEARCH STUDIES ON COASTAL SEA LEVEL CHANGES, AND OTHER MAJOR WATER AREAS LIKE THE DELAWARE AND COLORADO RIVERS. LIGHTHAWK FLIGHTS PROVIDED OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE DATA TOWARD ANNUAL COUNTS OF SALMON, VARIOUS ENDANGERED BIRD SPECIES, ALGAL BLOOMS AND INVASIVE PLANT GROWTH, AND RIPARIAN WATER RIGHTS ISSUES.
  3. $110,574 spent. WILDLIFE TRANSPORT: 25% OF THIS FISCAL YEAR. WHEN COVID SHUT DOWN ALMOST ALL COMMERCIAL AVIATION, IT ALSO HALTED THE SPECIES TRANSPORT THAT SOME OF THE MAJOR AIRLINES ASSISTED IN. THIS PAST YEAR SAW UNPRECEDENTED NEED FOR MOVING ENDANGERED ANIMALS LIKE MEXICAN WOLVES, MASKED BOBWHITE QUAIL AND WHITE ABALONE. FOR WOLVES, RE-DENNING PUPS FROM CONSERVATION BREEDING CENTERS TO NEW FOSTER MOTHERS IN THE WILD IS A CRITICALLY TIMED EVENT AND LIGHTHAWK FLIGHTS WERE CRUCIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THESE RELOCATION EFFORTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 March 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 April 1982.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Caution.

    California's Attorney General lists its registration as revoked as of December 31, 2002. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.

    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.