Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 32% 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
PROMOTE INTEREST IN GEOLOGY AND ALLIED SCIENCES AND THEIR PRACTICAL APPLICATION, TO FOSTER SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND TO ENCOURAGE FELLOWSHIP AND COOPERATION AMONG ITS MEMBERS.
- Income
- $184,439
- Spending
- $209,138
- Spent on programs
- 32%
- Reserves
- 96.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 61%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 175
- Highest pay
- $99,063, executive di
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
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (science, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 96.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 35% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1532% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (science, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $19,894 spent. CONTINUING EDUCATION AND SYMPOSIA: PROGRAMS FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION IN THE FIELD OF GEOLOGY ARE HELD THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR. ATTENDANCE VARIES ON EACH EDUCATIONAL CLASS.
- $20,045 spent. PUBLICATIONS: THE ASSOCIATION PUBLISHES BOOKS RELATIVE TO THE FIELD OF GEOLOGY. PUBLICATIONS INCLUDE PERIODICALS TO MEMBERS AND TO OUTSIDE SUBSCRIBERS; PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE DIGITALLY.
- $26,862 spent. MEMBER SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES: ACTIVITIES ARE SPONSORED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE MEMBERSHIP. VARIOUS MEMBERS OF APPROXIMATELY 2,100, ATTEND THESE ACTIVITIES DURING THE YEAR, TYPICALLY.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1988.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.