Round River Conservation Studies
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
ROUND RIVER CONSERVATION STUDIES PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITIES TO ACHIEVE ENDURING CONSERVATION THROUGH APPLIED SCIENCE, EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND ON- THE-GROUND SUPPORT.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- -1.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 92%
- Employees
- 16
- Volunteers
- 19
- Highest pay
- $164,851, former offic
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
Weak: 15 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 126% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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 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 (2)
- $894,022 spent. ROUND RIVER OPERATES STUDY ABROAD FIELD CONSERVATION SCIENCE PROGRAMS FOR UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE STUDENTS IN COORDINATION WITH ROUND RIVER'S CONSERVATION PROJECT ACTIVITIES AROUND THE WORLD. STUDENTS ACT AS CONTRIBUTING FIELD TECHNICIANS IN SUPPORT OF INDIGENOUS AND OTHER LOCAL CONSERVATION INITIATIVES, WHILE LEARNING ABOUT CONSERVATION SCIENCE IN SOME OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST REMAINING WILD ECOSYSTEMS, INCLUDING BOTSWANA, MONGOLIA, CHILEAN PATAGONIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, BELIZE, AND THE SKY ISLANDS OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA.
- $282,787 spent. ROUND RIVER COLLABORATES WITH INDIGENOUS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES ON LONG-TERM PROJECTS TO PROTECT INTACT, WILD LANDSCAPES AND THE WILDLIFE THEY HARBOR. ROUND RIVER PROVIDES TECHNICAL SCIENCE SERVICES IN THE AREAS OF ECOLOGY AND WILDLIFE SCIENCE, TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE INTERVIEWS, MAPPING/GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS, HABITAT AND CLIMATE CHANGE MODELING, AND HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT RESOLUTION. WE THEN COORDINATE WITH OUR LOCAL PARTNERS TO USE THESE TOOLS TO WORK TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE, LONG- TERM CONSERVATION ACHIEVEMENTS, RESULTING IN THE PROTECTION OF HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF ACRES OF WILDLANDS OVER ROUND RIVER'S 30-YEAR HISTORY.
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 November 6, 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 2024.
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 January 1993.
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 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.