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California Institute of Environmental Studies

EIN 94-2353199 · Davis, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE INSTITUTE IS DEDICATED TO SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, THE RESULTS OF WHICH ARE USED TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION IN THE AREAS OF CONSERVATION BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY,INCLUDING THE WISE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
34
Volunteers
350
Highest pay
$126,651, executive dir.

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

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $1.3 million spent. California Institute of Environmental Studies (CIES) is a non-profit organization that was established with the purpose of promoting conservation of marine and coastal birds and their habitats. In recent years, CIES has expanded its role in habitat conservation to include working with a variety of heavily impacted island habitats within the Channel Islands. During this past year, CIES was a key stakeholder in the conservation of natural resources, particularly marine birds and their habitats, within the Channel Islands. During fiscal year 2024_2025, CIES continued to be a leader within California for marine bird conservation. CIES conducted numerous studies and conservation actions for 16 species of marine birds working with land managers within the Channel Islands. Seabird conservation and monitoring work was conducted on 6 of the 8 Channel Islands, working with 6 different organizations. In addition, CIES staff assisted the Marine Bird Restoration Group of Japan, a sister nonprofit organization, with a study of Japanese murrelets. CIES produced numerous annual reports for its clients and presented results at several scientific conferences. CIES also conducted an innovative study on the movements of the ashy storm-petrel during the breeding season the first study of its kind on this species.CIES continued to expand their role in island habitat conservation within the Channel Islands. CIES conducted extensive restoration work for Channel Islands National Park working with the National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and The Nature Conservancy. Restoration work benefiting marine and coastal birds as well as a wide range of rare and endangered plants were conducted on Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, Santa Barbara and San Miguel islands. CIES conducted restoration work over hundreds of acres and outplanted over 10,000 plants as part of these restoration efforts. Significant progress in habitat restoration was gained at Anacapa and Santa Rosa islands this past year. During the year, CIES partnered with The Nature Conservancy and the National Park Service to receive a three-year $4.5 million grant to conduct habitat restoration on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa islands. So far, the project has been successful at outplanting thousands of plants to initiate restoration of rare plant species.Also during this fiscal year, CIES played a significant role in monitoring island fox and island skunk populations at Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel islands. CIES also played a lead role in efforts to eradicate Argentine ants from Santa Cruz Island. Finally, CIES has developed a partnership with the Catalina Island Conservancy and works with this organization on habitat restoration at Catalina Island. CIES and the Conservancy anticipates continuing to expand the partnership over the next several years.

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 July 1977.

    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.