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Great Basin Resource Watch

EIN 88-0429762 · Reno, NV

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Natural resource protection: Protected communities and the environment from the negative impacts of mineral development; provided support to communities impacted by mining

Income
$298,520
Spending
$208,306
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 59%
Employees
2

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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, 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 (3)
  1. $62,746 spent. Strengthening Community Voices: ensures environmental justice around mining requires that the people that will be most affected are front and center to organizing and advocacy work. They are there on the ground where mining is happening or where it might happen, and are in the best place to know when mining proposed and what should be protected. Strengthening Community Voices strives to help foster the ability of directly affected peoples and the general public to be well equipped to address mining in their region and advocate for the protection of the community and environment.
  2. $51,533 spent. Mining Justice for the Energy Transition: work focuses on mineral extraction connected t oenergy transition technologies and the need to consider the full impact of their development while using this moment of new mineral extraction to usher in better mining practices. Despite the end use of these metals its vital to ensure that mine permitting is as protective as possible so that this green revolution does not become an ecological disaster in yet another era of irresponsible extraction that would perpetuate the colonial process that has brought the world to this place.
  3. $32,251 spent. Protection of Water and Sensitive Areas: seeks to prevent loss of environmentally and culturally sensitive areas from mining with water as a keystone resource. The mining industry pumps vast amounts of water affecting streams, springs, and seeps for many miles around the mine site. Often the water system is not expected to recover for hundreds of years. Many streams and springs are anticipated to dry up and the mitigation approach is to supply replacement water from another source and pipe the water to the spring location; an inadequate solution on multiple levels. The riparian areas are not preserved by this replacement scheme and most importantly the sources of the springs are not protected. It is the sources that need to be preserved and ultimately hold the cultural value. In addition, long term water pollution is also a consequence of many mining operations.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1999.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.