Mcdowell Sonoran Conservancy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 36% 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
THE MCDOWELL SONORAN CONSERVANCY PRESERVES AND ADVANCES NATURAL OPEN SPACE THROUGH SCIENCE, EDUCATION AND STEWARDSHIP. AS STEWARDS OF THE PRESERVE, WE CONNECT THE COMMUNITY TO THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT FOR THIS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 36%
- Reserves
- -2.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 625
- Highest pay
- $123,139, coo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 36% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1536% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 2522 of 22 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
7 of 7Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (1)
- $576,601 spent. THROUGH OUR YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAM, WE BROUGHT ENGAGING, SCIENCE BASED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO APPROXIMATELY 4,000 STUDENTS. THESE PROGRAMS SPARKED CURIOSITY FOR, AND LOVE OF, THE SONORAN DESERT WHICH OFTEN LEADS TO A GREATER RESPECT FOR, AND DESIRE TO CONSERVE, NATURE.OVER 600 VOLUNTEERS LOGGED OVER 73,000 HOURS ASSISTING US IN PROVIDING OUR SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. THE VALUE OF THESE HOURS TOTALED $2,450,071 AND IS INCLUDED AS CONTRIBUTION REVENUE AND EXPENSE FOR FINANCIAL STATEMENT PURPOSES. FOR FORM 990, HOWEVER, THE IRS REQUIRES THIS AMOUNT BE EXCLUDED FROM BOTH REVENUE AND EXPENSE.WE HOSTED OUR SECOND TOUR DE SCOTTSDALE BICYCLE RACE (FUNDRAISER) WITH OVER 2,600 RIDERS, NETTING THE ORGANIZATION ALMOST $150,000. WITH OVER 60 TRAIL CAMERAS, WE CAPTURED NEARLY ONE MILLION PHOTOS DOCUMENTING 21 ANIMAL SPECIES AND THEIR HABITS, PROVIDING INVALUABLE INSIGHTS INTO THEIR BEHAVIOR, HABITAT USE, AND MIGRATION PATTERNS - INSIGHTS THAT HAVE INFORMED TARGETED CONSERVATION STRATEGIES AND PROTECTION EFFORTS. IN FY2025, OVER 290 NATIVE PLANTS WERE PLANTED AND OVER 120 ACRES OF PRESERVE LAND WERE SEEDED WITH NATIVE SEEDS IN EFFORTS TO RESTORE AREAS DAMAGED BY WILDFIRE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 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 May 1991.
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.