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Canyonlands Natural History Association

EIN 87-0274120 · Moab, UT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$7.5 million
Spending
$5.0 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
33.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 83%
Employees
53
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$145,475, executive director

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 33.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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, 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 (4)
  1. $1.7 million spent. NPSINTERPRETATION, EDUCATION AND VISITOR SERVICES (IEVS): FUNDING FOR FREE PUBLICATIONS, JR RANGER MATERIALS, GENERAL INTERPRETATION SUPPLIES, CANYON YOUTH ENGAGEMENT EDUCATION PROGRAM, INTERN AND VOLUNTEER SUPPORT, AND ONBOARDING MANY SEASONAL PARK RANGER POSITIONS FOR THE SOUTHEAST UTAH GROUP PARKS, INCLUDING HOUSING SUPPORT FOR INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS.RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP STRATEGY: SCIENCE IS A LARGE AREA OF SUPPORT FROM CNHA TO THE NPS SPANNING A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS. FUNDS WERE USED FOR GAME CAMERAS FOR WILDLIFE MONITORING, AND THE PURCHASE OF A WEATHER STATION FOR LONG TERM VEGETATION MONITORING. ALSO INCLUDED WERE MONITORING FOR HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS AND WATER QUALITY, ACOUSTIC MONITORING FOR MEXICAN SPOTTED OWLS, INVASIVE PLANT SURVEYS, AND GPS COLLARS FOR BIGHORN SHEEP STUDIES. AS WITH IEVS, CNHA PROVIDED FUNDING FOR ARCHAEOLOGY AND NATURAL RESOURCE INTERN POSITIONS ALONG WITH HOUSING SUPPORT FOR THE INTERNS. PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: SUPPORT FOR NIGHT SKY PROGRAMS INCLUDING A NIGHT SKY RANGER POSITION FOR CANYONLANDS, THE PURCHASE OF A SMART TELESCOPE AND TABLET, AND CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR THE ANNUAL ASTRO FEST.
  2. $422,086 spent. BLMMAJOR SUPPORT IN 2025 FOR IMPROVING CAMPGROUND AND TRAIL ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL USER GROUPS. WE BROUGHT OUT FOLKS FROM DOVETAIL CONSULTING TO ASSESS MULTIPLE CAMPGROUNDS AND MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS TO SEE WHERE IMPROVEMENTS COULD BE MADE. WE THEN HIRED AND SCA INTERN TO WORK WITH THE BLM TO MEASURE SLOPE, GRADIENT AND OBSTACLES FOR OVER 100 MILES OF TRAILS. THIS WORK WILL PROVIDE BETTER INFORMATION FOR SIGNAGE AT TRAILHEADS AND AN INTERACTIVE MAP FOR WEBSITES SO THAT USERS CAN MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS ON WHETHER THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO NAVIGATE CERTAIN TRAILS. CNHA CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE BLM IN THEIR OUTREACH EFFORTS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES FUNDING A NATURAL RESOURCES FIELD DAY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, A JUNIOR RANGER DAY, AND INTERNSHIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. EVERY YEAR WE FUND OUTREACH MATERIALS AND SIGNAGE FOR THE BLM. 2025 INCLUDED INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE FOR THE POSEY HISTORICAL MARKER SITE, ROUTE SIGNS FOR TRAILHEADS AND ROADS, POWDER COATING OF SIGN PEDESTALS THAT WERE DONATED TO THE BLM FROM THE PARK SERVICE, THE PRINTING OF THE AREA BLM NEWSPAPER AND CEDAR MESA TRIP PLANNER.
  3. $588,077 spent. USFSTHE LARGEST AREA OF SUPPORT FOR THE FOREST SERVICE CAME IN THE WAY OF HOUSING. CNHA BEGAN THE PROCESS OF PURCHASING 4 TINY HOMES FOR THE MANTI LA SAL NATIONAL FOREST TO BE USED FOR EMPLOYEE HOUSING. WE PUT DOWN A DEPOSIT FOR ALL FOUR HOUSES. ONE HOUSE WAS COMPLETED AND INSTALLED IN 2025, AND WE MADE PAYMENTS ON FRAMING HOUSES NUMBER 2 & 3. WORK ON THE THREE REMAINING TINY HOMES WILL BE COMPLETED IN 2026.CNHA SUPPORTED THE FOREST SERVICE BY PROVIDING INTERNS FROM UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY TO BACKFILL STAFFING SHORTAGES. INTERNS ASSISTED WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF WORK ACROSS NUMEROUS PROGRAMS WITH MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES INCLUDING RECREATION TRAIL CREWS, WILDLIFE AND BOTANY, CULTURAL RESOURCE MONITORING, AND RANGE MANAGEMENT CONDUCTING VEGETATION SURVEYS, SPRING RESTORATION PROJECTS, AND MONITORING RANGE CONDITIONS.TRAILHEAD IMPROVEMENTS IN BEARS EARS NATIONAL MONUMENT. THE DRY WASH ALCOVE TRAIL AND TRAILHEAD WAS RECENTLY CREATED TO PROVIDE AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE TRAIL WITHIN THE BEARS EARS NATIONAL MONUMENT. THIS TRAILHEAD AND SITE IS THE ONLY FRONT COUNTRY CULTURAL RESOURCE ON USFS LANDS WITHIN BENM AND IS THE PRIMARY LOCATION THE USFS DIRECTS USERS SEEKING A MORE FRONT COUNTRY AND ACCESSIBLE EXPERIENCE IN BENM.
  4. $1.6 million spent. SALES AND OTHER PARTNERSHIPS AND OUTREACH

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 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 2025.

    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 1969.

    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.