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Natural Communities Coalition

EIN 93-1229006 · Irvine, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENCOURAGE PRESERVATION, ENHANCEMENT AND RESTORATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES WITHIN THE DESIGNED RESERVE THROUGH INTERACTION WITH THE PUBLIC AGENCIES, CONSERVATION-ORIENTED ORGANIZATIONS, PROPERTY OWNERS AND THE INTERESTED PUBLIC.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
89.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 99%
Employees
4
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$291,865, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 89.2 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 93% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 September 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 (3)
  1. $1.1 million spent. MONITORING COORDINATION - THE ANNUAL MONITORING OF SPECIES AND NATURAL COMMUNITIES OF THE RESERVE IS THE WAY NCC MEASURES THE SUCCESS OF LAND MANAGEMENT ACTIONS AND IMPACTS OF PUBLIC RECREATION, AND HOW IT TRACKS THE ECOLOGICAL HEALTH OF SPECIES FOR WHICH NROC WAS ESTABLISHED. IN ADDITION TO ONGOING ECOLOGICAL MONITORING EFFORTS, NCC CONDUCTED TWO FOCUSED TARGET BIRD SPECIES MONITORING EFFORTS - CALIFORNIA GNATCATCHER AND COASTAL CACTUS WREN ACROSS THE RESERVE. ADDITIONALLY, NCC COMPLETED A RESERVE-WIDE MONITORING EFFORT RESULTING IN A RECLASSIFICATION OF VEGETATION COMMUNITIES.
  2. $1.0 million spent. RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT - WORKING WITH LANDOWNERS AND LAND MANAGERS THAT MAKE UP THE MORE THAN 37,000 ACRE NATURE RESERVE OF ORANGE COUNTY (NROC), NCC CONDUCTED A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS INTRODUCING THESE PARTICIPATING MEMBERS INTO THE EFFECTIVE USE OF A NEWLY REVISED HABITAT RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT PLAN DEVELOPED BY NCC. THE MULTIPLE YEAR WORKSHOP WILL RESULT IN THE RESTORATION OF 50 ACRES OF COASTAL SAGE SRUB (CSS) AND THE SKILLS LEARNED WILL PROMOTE ADDITIONAL ACRES OF THE HABITAT RESTORATION ACROSS NROC. EFFORTS FURTHER BENEFIT THE THREE TARGET SPECIES AND 31 ADDITIONAL SPECIES IDENTIFIED IN THE NATURAL COMMUNITY CONSERVATION PLAN (NCCP) AND HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN (HCP) WHICH ARE THE SCIENCE UNDERPINNINGS OF NROC.
  3. $39,547 spent. COWBIRD TRAPPING - NCC CONTINUED ITS ANNUAL OBLIGATION TO TRAP BROWNHEADED COWBIRD TO MANAGE THEIR IMPACTS ON PROTECTED BIRD SPECIES. COWBIRDS ARE BROOD PARASITES. FEMALE COWBIRDS LAY THEIR EGGS IN THE NEST OF OTHER NATIVE BIRDS. THE SPECIES TO WHICH THE NEST BELONGS UNKNOWINGLY RAISE THE COWBIRD CHICK OFTEN TO THE DETRIMENT OF THEIR OWN CHICKS. IN AREAS WHERE COWBIRD POPULATIONS ARE HIGH, TRAPS ARE USED TO LOWER THEIR NUMBERS AND INCREASE REPRODUCTIVE AND FLEDGLING SUCCESS OF BIRD SPECIES PARASITIZED BY COWBIRDS. A TOTAL OF NEARLY ONE DOZEN TRAPS WERE DEPLOYED FOR A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 2,400 TRAPDAYS IN THE RESERVE WHERE COWBIRD IMPACTS ON PROTECTED SONGBIRDS ARE POTENTIALLY HIGH.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 March 1998.

    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.