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Springs Stewardship Institute

EIN 85-2866689 · Flagstaff, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

We promote and improve scientific understanding and stewardship of springs ecosystems and the riparian systems they support. We pursue this mission through research, sharing information, stewardship, and collaboration. We work closely with individuals and organizations with similar goals to plan and conduct springs research and disseminate the results. We provide information, trainings, advisement, tools, and expertise, both directly and electronically, to interested springs stewards. With the goal of reaching a broad and inclusive audience, we conduct outreach and education by publishing our findings and providing lectures and other presentations. We provide advisement and assistance to agencies conducting restoration or other management activities that promote the ecological care of springs. These strategies are designed to advance sustainable ecological stewardship of springs ecosystems for the benefit of nature and humanity.

Income
$615,273
Spending
$600,853
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 50%
Employees
5
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$99,825, 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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% 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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    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 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 (3)
  1. $452,296 spent. Springs Ecosystem Inventory and Assessment Consulting - The primary focus of this program is to inventory and assess spring ecosystems and provide recommendations to land managers to improve stewardship. Land managers include private landowners, federal and state agencies, tribes, and other nonprofit organizations. We submit project-level reports summarizing data collection and findings and provide geodatabases to partners while also hosting data on Springs Online (https://springsdata.org).This work also includes supporting and, in some cases, implementing restoration and protection actions informed by these assessments, such as fencing, flow restoration, and habitat improvement, as well as monitoring to evaluate effectiveness. More broadly, this program integrates hydrology, biology, and geomorphology to inform management and conservation at both site and regional scales.
  2. $20,800 spent. Springs Online Data Portal - SSI developed and maintains Springs Online (https://springsdata.org), a relational database containing information on over 160,000 springs, primarily across the western United States. Data include flow, water chemistry, vegetation, invertebrates, vertebrates, geomorphology, georeferencing, and imagery.The platform supports data integration, analysis, and reporting, with export options to Excel, Word, and GIS formats. It also includes spatial tools for mapping and visualization. Springs Online provides free access to a broad user base, including students, researchers, land managers, tribes, and nonprofit organizations, and serves as shared infrastructure for understanding and managing spring ecosystems.
  3. $39 spent. Springs Ecosystem Training - SSI provides educational materials, training, and tools for the general public, students, researchers, landowners, agencies, tribes, and other nonprofit organizations. These efforts include standardized inventory protocols, general information about springs, user guidance for the online database, imagery, and tools such as dichotomous keys for spring classification.We deliver training through field-based instruction, workshops, online meetings, and outreach events that connect people directly to spring ecosystems.

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 January 2021.

    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.