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Ogallala Land and Water Conservancy

EIN 87-2748543 · Clovis, NM

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CONSERVE THE AGRICULTURAL LAND AND GROUNDWATER OF THE OGALLALA AQUIFER PALEOCHANNELS IN CURRY COUNTY BY FOREVER PROTECTING, PRESERVING, AND STEWARDING THESE NATURAL RESOURCES FOR VISTAS, RECREATION, WILDLIFE, AND NON-IRRIGATED AGRICULTURAL USE TO ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, CURRY COUNTY, AND THE CITY OF CLOVIS.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 90%
Employees
1
Highest pay
$108,000, secretary/ex

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

Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 98% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 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)
  1. $1.2 million spent. THE OGALLALA LAND & WATER CONSERVANCY (OLWC) CONTINUED IMPLEMENTING ITS VOLUNTARY, INCENTIVE-BASED GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM IN EASTERN NEW MEXICO TO CONSERVE THE OGALLALA AQUIFER WHILE SUPPORTING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS, LOCAL COMMUNITIES, AND MISSION RESILIENCE FOR CANNON AIR FORCE BASE. DURING FY25, PROGRAM EXPENDITURES SUPPORTED THE EXECUTION OF THE 4TH YEAR OF WATER RIGHT LEASE AGREEMENT (WRLA) PAYMENTS TO PARTICIPATING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS WHO TRANSITIONED IRRIGATED FARMLAND TO DRYLAND CROPPING, PASTURELAND, GRAZING, AND REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. BY JUNE 30, 2025, OLWC HAD TRANSITIONED APPROXIMATELY 11,120 IRRIGATED ACRES AND RETIRED 56 IRRIGATION WELLS WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA. THESE EFFORTS CONSERVED AN ESTIMATED 12,859 ACRE-FEET OF GROUNDWATER ANNUALLY (APPROXIMATELY 4.19 BILLION GALLONS PER YEAR), WITH CUMULATIVE AVOIDED WITHDRAWALS OF APPROXIMATELY 36,981 ACRE-FEET OVER FOUR YEARS. OLWC CONTINUED ADVANCING PARTICIPATING LANDOWNERS FROM TEMPORARY WRLAS INTO PERPETUAL GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION EASEMENTS DESIGNED TO CONSERVE UP TO 80% OF GROUNDWATER WHILE SUPPORTING LONG-TERM AGRICULTURAL LAND STEWARDSHIP, LIVESTOCK OPERATIONS, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND NON-IRRIGATED AGRICULTURAL USE. BY JUNE 30, 2025, OLWC HAD SUBMITTED AND RECEIVED APPROVAL FOR CONSERVATION EASEMENT APPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH 10 PARTICIPATING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS; FIVE HAD SECURED FULL FUNDING COMMITMENTS, AND FIVE WERE ADVANCING PENDING FUNDING AVAILABILITY. PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION WAS SUPPORTED THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE READINESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION INTEGRATION (REPI) PROGRAM, NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS), CENTRAL CURRY SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, AND OTHER LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL PARTNERS. MONITORING DATA COLLECTED WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA CONTINUED TO DEMONSTRATE POSITIVE GROUNDWATER RESPONSE TRENDS ASSOCIATED WITH REDUCED IRRIGATION PUMPING. THE OGALLALA LAND & WATER CONSERVANCY (OLWC) CONTINUED IMPLEMENTING ITS VOLUNTARY, INCENTIVE-BASED GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM IN EASTERN NEW MEXICO TO CONSERVE THE OGALLALA AQUIFER WHILE SUPPORTING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS, LOCAL COMMUNITIES, AND MISSION RESILIENCE FOR CANNON AIR FORCE BASE. DURING FY25, PROGRAM EXPENDITURES SUPPORTED THE EXECUTION OF THE 4TH YEAR OF WATER RIGHT LEASE AGREEMENT (WRLA) PAYMENTS TO PARTICIPATING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS WHO TRANSITIONED IRRIGATED FARMLAND TO DRYLAND CROPPING, PASTURELAND, GRAZING, AND REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. BY JUNE 30, 2025, OLWC HAD TRANSITIONED APPROXIMATELY 11,120 IRRIGATED ACRES AND RETIRED 56 IRRIGATION WELLS WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA. THESE EFFORTS CONSERVED AN ESTIMATED 12,859 ACRE-FEET OF GROUNDWATER ANNUALLY (APPROXIMATELY 4.19 BILLION GALLONS PER YEAR), WITH CUMULATIVE AVOIDED WITHDRAWALS OF APPROXIMATELY 36,981 ACRE-FEET OVER FOUR YEARS. OLWC CONTINUED ADVANCING PARTICIPATING LANDOWNERS FROM TEMPORARY WRLAS INTO PERPETUAL GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION EASEMENTS DESIGNED TO CONSERVE UP TO 80% OF GROUNDWATER WHILE SUPPORTING LONG-TERM AGRICULTURAL LAND STEWARDSHIP, LIVESTOCK OPERATIONS, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND NON-IRRIGATED AGRICULTURAL USE. BY JUNE 30, 2025, OLWC HAD SUBMITTED AND RECEIVED APPROVAL FOR CONSERVATION EASEMENT APPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH 10 PARTICIPATING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS; FIVE HAD SECURED FULL FUNDING COMMITMENTS, AND FIVE WERE ADVANCING PENDING FUNDING AVAILABILITY. PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION WAS SUPPORTED THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE READINESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION INTEGRATION (REPI) PROGRAM, NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS), CENTRAL CURRY SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, AND OTHER LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL PARTNERS. MONITORING DATA COLLECTED WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA CONTINUED TO DEMONSTRATE POSITIVE GROUNDWATER RESPONSE TRENDS ASSOCIATED WITH REDUCED IRRIGATION PUMPING.

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

  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 October 13, 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 June 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 November 2022.

    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 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.