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Conservation Legacy

EIN 84-1450808 · Durango, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CONSERVATION LEGACY ENGAGES FUTURE LEADERS WHO PROTECT, RESTORE, AND ENHANCE OUR NATION'S LANDS THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE.IN 2024, CONSERVATION LEGACY ENGAGED 2,524 PARTICIPANTS WHO COMPLETED OVER 1.5 MILLION SERVICE HOURS ON PUBLIC LAND AND IN COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE. PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED IN EDUCATION, TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. PROJECTS HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE THE IMPROVEMENT OF OVER 500,000 ACRES OF LAND, AND CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF OVER 1,000 MILES OF TRAILS.

Income
$57.4 million
Spending
$53.5 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 68%
Employees
2,326
Volunteers
21,182
Highest pay
$196,752, president

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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).

  • 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, 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 (8)
  1. $17.3 million spent. STEWARDS INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENTS - STEWARDS INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES INDIVIDUALS WITH SERVICE AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES AND PRESERVE OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. PARTICIPANTS WORK WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES, TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS, AND NONPROFITS BUILDING INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY, DEVELOPING COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS, AND SUPPORTING ECOSYSTEM HEALTH. IN 2024, THE STEWARDS PROGRAM COMPLETED 1,390,852 HOURS OF SERVICE, WHICH INCLUDED THE IMPROVEMENT OF 374,232 ACRES OF LAND.
  2. $8.3 million spent. SOUTHWEST CONSERVATION CORPS (SCC) OPERATES CONSERVATION SERVICE PROGRAMS ACROSS SOUTHERN COLORADO AND NORTHERN NEW MEXICO THAT ENGAGE YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS AND VETERANS ON PUBLIC LANDS. SCC WORKS TO FOSTER INCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES AND COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS FOR POSITIVE GROWTH THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, LEADERSHIP, AND COMPASSION TOWARDS OUR LANDS AND COMMUNITIES. IN 2024, SCC COMPLETED 218,557 HOURS OF SERVICE, IMPROVED 5,802 ACRES OF LAND, 28,539 ACRES WERE MAPPED/SURVEYED AND 353 MILES OF TRAIL WERE MAINTAINED/CONSTRUCTED.
  3. $7.2 million spent. ANCESTRAL LANDS CONSERVATION CORPS (ALCC) OPERATES PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY THOUGH PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA. THE PROGRAM'S VISION IS TO LEAD INDIGENOUS NATIONS BACK TO ECOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL WELL-BEING BY ENGAGING UNDERREPRESENTED INDIGENOUS YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IN CONSERVATION SERVICE PROGRAMS THAT RECONNECT PARTICIPANTS TO THE LAND, THEIR CULTURAL HERITAGE, AND THEIR TRADITIONS. IN 2024, ALCC COMPLETED 155,120 HOURS OF SERVICE, IMPROVED 4,007 ACRES OF LAND AND MAINTAINED OR CREATED 80 MILES OF TRAIL.
  4. $5.5 million spent. ARIZONA CONSERVATION CORPS (AZCC) OPERATES PROGRAMS ACROSS ARIZONA ENGAGING INDIVIDUALS AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES THROUGH SERVICE AND CONSERVATION. AZCC IS FOCUSED ON CONNECTING YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS AND RECENT ERA MILITARY VETERANS WITH CONSERVATION SERVICE WORK PROJECTS ON PUBLIC LANDS. IN 2024, AZCC COMPLETED 149,475 HOURS OF SERVICE, IMPROVED 33,154 ACRES OF LAND AND MAINTAINED OR CREATED 360 MILES OF TRAIL.
  5. $3.8 million spent. APPALACHIAN CONSERVATION CORPS (ACC) OPERATES PROGRAMS ACROSS VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND OHIO ENGAGING INDIVIDUALS AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES THROUGH SERVICE AND CONSERVATION. ACC IS FOCUSED ON CONNECTING YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH CONSERVATION SERVICE WORK PROJECTS ON PUBLIC LANDS. IN 2024, ACC COMPLETED 123,705 HOURS OF SERVICE, IMPROVED 1,740 ACRES OF LAND AND MAINTAINED OR CREATED 419 MILES OF TRAIL.
  6. $3.0 million spent. CONSERVATION CORPS NEW MEXICO (CCNM) OPERATES PROGRAMS ACROSS NEW MEXICO AND WEST TEXAS ENGAGING INDIVIDUALS AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES THROUGH SERVICE AND CONSERVATION. CCNM IS FOCUSED ON CONNECTING YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH CONSERVATION SERVICE WORK PROJECTS ON PUBLIC LANDS. IN 2024, CCNM COMPLETED 88,034 HOURS OF SERVICE, IMPROVED 2,518 ACRES OF LAND AND MAINTAINED OR CREATED 357 MILES OF TRAIL.
  7. $2.1 million spent. CONERVATION CORPS NORTH CAROLINA (CCNC) OPERATES PROGRAMS PRIMARILY IN NORTH CAROLINA ENGAGING INDIVIDUALS AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES THROUGH SERVICE AND CONSERVATION. CCNC IS FOCUSED ON CONNECTING YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH CONSERVATION SERVICE WORK PROJECTS ON PUBLIC LANDS. IN 2024, SECC COMPLETED 53,615 HOURS OF SERVICE, IMPROVED 75,000 ACRES OF LAND AND MAINTAINED OR CREATED 91 MILES OF TRAIL.
  8. $1.9 million spent. SOUTHEAST CONSERVATION CORPS (SECC) OPERATES PROGRAMS ACROSS TENNESSEE AND THE SURROUNDING STATES ENGAGING INDIVIDUALS AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES THROUGH SERVICE AND CONSERVATION. SECC IS FOCUSED ON CONNECTING YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH CONSERVATION SERVICE WORK PROJECTS ON PUBLIC LANDS. IN 2024, SECC COMPLETED 61,236 HOURS OF SERVICE, IMPROVED 26,105 ACRES OF LAND AND MAINTAINED OR CREATED 94 MILES OF TRAIL.

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 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 2024.

    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 1998.

    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.