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Tortoise Group

EIN 94-2838299 · Las Vegas, NV

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Wild tortoise conservation initiatives: Tortoise Group partners with several federal, state, and local agencies with the sole intent of conserving our state's reptile. Through partnerships with United States Geological Survey (USGS), the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Nevada Dept of Wildlife (NDOW), and Clark County Desert Conservation Program (DCP), and many more, Tortoise Group is able to augment existing studies and research projects as well as providing volunteer labor hours to assist in ongoing conservation projects in Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument (TUSK), Lake Mead National Rec Area, and uninhabited portions of the Mojave Desert within NV. Tortoise Group is at the forefront of providing volunteers for "citizen science" projects. Tortoise Group's Road Warriors project with Clark County Desert Conservation Program conducts road mortality surveys along roadways and fence inspections during less active season. Data collected from these surveys inform local, state

Income
$87,040
Spending
$73,755
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
14.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
4
Volunteers
130
Highest pay
$22,167, executive director

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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (4)
  1. Wellness Clinics:Tortoise Group (TG) offers four free annual Wellness Clinics and Microchipping Clinics to the public in the summer months when the tortoises are active. These clinics provide tortoise custodians with free wellness exams for their captive pet tortoises including examining for illness, weighing and measuring, sexing their tortoise, and microchipping. This program assists tortoise custodians with the increased cost of exotic veterinary care for tortoises by providing a free physical exam and general health screening. Tortoise Group does not offer veterinary services, prescribe medications or sterilize tortoises.
  2. Captive desert tortoise adoption program: It is only legal to keep desert tortoises as pets in states where they naturally occur. There are several federal and state laws addressing the issue of transfer and custodianship of captive desert tortoises, Tortoise Group operates as the sole entity legally allowed to adopt these animals in NV.
  3. Wild tortoise conservation initiatives: Tortoise Group partners with several federal, state, and local agencies with the sole intent of conserving our state's reptile. Through partnerships with United States Geological Survey (USGS), the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Nevada Dept of Wildlife (NDOW), and Clark County Desert Conservation Program (DCP), and many more, TG is able to augment existing studies and research projects as well as providing volunteer labor hours to assist in ongoing conservation projects in Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument (TUSK), Lake Mead National Rec Area, and uninhabited portions of the Mojave Desert within NV. TG is at the forefront of providing volunteers for "citizen science" projects.
  4. $45,032 spent. Total Program Expenses

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 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 November 6, 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 December 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 August 1984.

    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 November 4, 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.