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San Juan Citizens Alliance

EIN 84-1447465 · Durango, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The San Juan Citizens Alliance advocates for clean air, pure water, and healthy lands - the foundations of resilient communities, ecosystems and economies in the San Juan Basin.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
9
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$94,458, executive dir.

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    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 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)
  1. $619,877 spent. Climate change: San Juan Citizens Alliance pursued retirement of polluting coal facilities in the Four Corners region, and cleaner sources of electricity for Colorado utility customers. In northwest New Mexico, SJCA supported completion of the San Juan Solar renewable energy project as replacement for now-retired coal-fired San Juan Generating Station. SJCA also supported and tracked additional solar development projects, including Foxtail Flats, which is projected to begin construction in 2026, as part of the regions transition to renewable energy. SJCA provided public outreach and education to members of La Plata Electric Association to encourage forward-looking policies to support local, renewable energy sources and supported LPEAs replacement of its long-term power supply contract from Tri-State with a new portfolio of local and renewable energy sources. SJCA also continued tracking abandoned oil and gas wells in New Mexico advocating for companies or the state to clean-up these old leaking wells. SJCA also tracked the proposed expansion of the Navajo Mine and participated in regulatory proceedings related to the proposed acquisition of Public Service Company of New Mexico to ensure continued progress toward a zero-carbon energy future.
  2. $177,295 spent. Public lands protection: San Juan Citizens Alliance spearheaded public outreach and education to improve conservation management across the San Juan National Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands in southwest Colorado. SJCA continued to lead public opposition to the massive proposed Village at Wolf Creek development project, a planned city of 8,000 people atop Wolf Creek Pass that continues to be stalled almost 40 years after originally proposed. SJCA engaged the public to review and comment on development activities including proposed timber sales, oil and gas leases, and forest and recreation planning efforts to ensure the protection of wildlife habitat and quiet recreation uses, with a particular focus on the HD Mountains, the ponderosa pine forests west of Dolores, and the undeveloped alpine valley of Minnie Gulch above Silverton. SJCA also worked with the Forest Service on the Salter timber project to advocate for protection of some of the largest and oldest trees in the forest.
  3. $90,880 spent. Wildlife: San Juan Citizens Alliance organized public outreach and education around the reintroduction of wolves to Colorado, and supported the development of conflict reduction strategies between ranchers and wolves to improve coexistence. SJCA also engaged in efforts to advance wolverine reintroduction in Colorado, and advocated for improved management of domestic sheep to increase herds of native bighorn sheep.
  4. $52,739 spent. Animas River: San Juan Citizens Alliance engaged in the Colorado Dredge and Fill Rulemaking (Regulation 87), working with a statewide coalition to strengthen protections for wetlands and ephemeral streams and to ensure clear permitting requirements for future development projects that may impact water resources. SJCA participated in the Animas River Stakeholder Group in Silverton, worked with the Animas Watershed Partnership to support development of the Animas River watershed plan, and supported the Southwestern Water Conservation District in ongoing water quality data collection efforts.

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 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 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 May 1998.

    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.