Port Costa Conservation Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PRESERVING FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT 83 ACRES EAST OF PORT COSTA AS A WILDLIFE PRESERVE AND THE HISTORIC 1911 PORT COSTA SCHOOL BUILDING, WHICH IS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, AS AN HISTORICAL RESOURCE FOR COMMUNITY, CIVIC & RECREATIONAL USES.
- Income
- $75,150
- Spending
- $86,101
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 20.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 45%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 8
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 20.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 90% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, 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 (4)
- $82,657 spent. THE SOCIETY HAS ESTABLISHED HIKING, BIKING AND RIDING TRAILS, IN ADDITION TO A VISTA POINT ON ITS SCENIC AND WILDLIFE PRESERVATION PROPERTY. THE HISTORIC WAGON ROAD, USED AS THE TRAIL TEMPLET, STARTS AT THE BUILDING PROPERTY AND TIES INTO THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT'S (EBRPD) CARQUINEZ SHORELINE PARK PROPERTY AND CARQUINEZ STRAIT SCENCIC LOOP TRAIL, THUS PROVIDING A VITAL LINK IN THE AREA'S TRAIL SYSTEM. THE VISTA POINT IS AT THE HIGHEST ELEVATION ON THE PRESERVE AND PROVIDES SPECTACULAR VIEWS OF CARQUINEZ STRATI, MT. DIABLO AND NEARBY PARKLANDS. THE TRAILS ARE OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS AND ARE CURRENTLY MAINTAINED BY EBRPD. WE DERIVE NO DIRECT REVENUE FROM THE PROPERTY. DIRECT EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPERTY ARE FROM PROPERTY TAXES ONLY.
- $3,444 spent. THE PORT COSTA SCHOOL BUILDING, PLAYGROUND AND BALLFIELD ARE MAINTAINED FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT AND AS AN HISTORICAL RESOURCE AND IS OPERATED USE BY THE PUBLIC,INCLUDING RECREATION, COMMUNITY AND CIVIC USES. THE BUILDING IS THE ONLY PUBLIC BUILDING IN PORT COSTA IS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. THE SOCIETY CONTINUES TO SEEK GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THIS PROJECT.THE BUILDING SERVES NOT ONLY THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, BUT VISTORS TO PORT COSTA AND THE SURROUNDING PARKLANDS WITH 95% OF THE STRUCTURAL REPAIRS COMPLETED AND THE STORM DRAIN DIVERTED AROUND THE FACILITY INSTEAD OF UNDER THE BUILDING, WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND USE OF THE BUILDING WHILE CONTINUING WITH THE RESTORATION. WE HAVE COMPLETED INSTALLATION OF A NEW ELECTRICAL SERVICE PANEL AND MUCH OF THE WIRING REPLACEMENT. A NEW FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM FOR THE BUILDING ALSO BEEN INSTALLED AND IS NOW OPERATIONAL. THE PORT COSTA SCHOOL BUILDING, PLAYGROUND AND BALLFIELD ARE MAINTAINED FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT AND AS AN HISTORICAL RESOURCE AND IS OPERATED USE BY THE PUBLIC,INCLUDING RECREATION, COMMUNITY AND CIVIC USES. THE BUILDING IS THE ONLY PUBLIC BUILDING IN PORT COSTA IS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. THE SOCIETY CONTINUES TO SEEK GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THIS PROJECT.THE BUILDING SERVES NOT ONLY THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, BUT VISTORS TO PORT COSTA AND THE SURROUNDING PARKLANDS WITH 95% OF THE STRUCTURAL REPAIRS COMPLETED AND THE STORM DRAIN DIVERTED AROUND THE FACILITY INSTEAD OF UNDER THE BUILDING, WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND USE OF THE BUILDING WHILE CONTINUING WITH THE RESTORATION. WE HAVE COMPLETED INSTALLATION OF A NEW ELECTRICAL SERVICE PANEL AND MUCH OF THE WIRING REPLACEMENT. A NEW FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM FOR THE BUILDING ALSO BEEN INSTALLED AND IS NOW OPERATIONAL.
- THE SOCIETY HAS ESTABLISHED HIKING, BIKING AND RIDING TRAILS, IN ADDIONION TO A VISTA POINT ON ITS SCENIC AND WILDLIFE PRESERVATION PROPERTY. THE HISTORIC WAGON ROAD, USED AS THE TRAIL TEMPLET, STARTS AT THE BUILDING PROPERTY AND TIES INTO THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT'S (EBRPD) CARQUINEZ SHORELINE PARK PROPERTY AND CARQUINEZ STRAIT SCENCIC LOOP TRAIL, THUS PROVIDING A VITAL LINK IN THE AREA'S TRAIL SYSTEM. THE VISTA POINT IS AT THE HIGHEST ELEVATION ON THE PRESERVE AND PROVIDES SPECTACULAR VIEWS OF CARQUINEZ STRATI, MT. DIABLO AND NEARBY PARKLANDS. THE TRAILS ARE OPEN TO DRIVE NO DIRECT REVENUE FROM THE PROPERTY. DIRECT EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPERTY ARE FROM PROPERTY TAXES ONLY.
- THE SOCIETY HAS ESTABLISHED HIKING, BIKING AND RIDING TRAILS, IN ADDIONION TO A VISTA POINT ON ITS SCENIC AND WILDLIFE PRESERVATION PROPERTY. THE HISTORIC WAGON ROAD, USED AS THE TRAIL TEMPLET, STARTS AT THE BUILDING PROPERTY AND TIES INTO THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT'S (EBRPD) CARQUINEZ SHORELINE PARK PROPERTY AND CARQUINEZ STRAIT SCENCIC LOOP TRAIL, THUS PROVIDING A VITAL LINK IN THE AREA'S TRAIL SYSTEM. THE VISTA POINT IS AT THE HIGHEST ELEVATION ON THE PRESERVE AND PROVIDES SPECTACULAR VIEWS OF CARQUINEZ STRATI, MT. DIABLO AND NEARBY PARKLANDS. THE TRAILS ARE OPEN TO DRIVE NO DIRECT REVENUE FROM THE PROPERTY. DIRECT EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPERTY ARE FROM PROPERTY TAXES ONLY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, 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 October 13, 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 March 2026.
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 July 1979.
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 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.