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Paleocultural Research Group

EIN 86-0840634 · Longmont, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PALEOCULTURAL RESEARCH GROUP (PCRG) CONDUCTS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, TRAINS STUDENTS, AND EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ON THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE GREAT PLAINS AND SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAINS. PCRG PROJECTS APPLY STATE-OF-THE-ART FIELD AND LAB TECHNIQUES TO RESEARCH ON HUMAN COMMUNITIES AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS TO THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, FROM NORTH AMERICA'S EARLIEST NATIVE AMERICAN INHABITANTS TO NINETEENTH-CENTURY HISPANO AND AMERICAN TRADERS AND SETTLERS. PCRG BROADLY DISSEMINATES THE FINDINGS OF ITS PROJECTS TO PROFESSIONAL AND PUBLIC AUDIENCES, RAISING AWARENESS OF PLAINS AND ROCKY MOUNTAINS ARCHAEOLOGY AND FOSTERING PRESERVATION OF THE UNMATCHED ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES THOSE REGIONS CONTAIN.

Income
$318,728
Spending
$369,788
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
5
Volunteers
79
Highest pay
$54,975, research director

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: 54 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $326,826 spent. PROVIDED ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH, POST-FIELD PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS OF FAUNAL REMAINS, ARTIFACTS AND OTHER HISTORIC MATERIALS DISCOVERED AT VARIOUS SITES IN THE GREAT PLAINS AND ROCKY MOUNTAINS. PREPARED TECHNICAL REPORTS AND NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARIES THAT DESCRIBED PROJECT FINDINGS.

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 November 6, 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 December 1997.

    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 November 4, 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.