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Native Seeds Southwestrn Endangered Aridland Resources Clearing House

EIN 94-2899356 · Tucson, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NATIVE SEEDS/SEARCH CONSERVES AND SHARES THE SEEDS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE DESERT SOUTHWEST AND MEXICO SO THAT THESE ARID-ADAPTED CROPS MAY BENEFIT COMMUNITIES AND NOURISH A CHANGING WORLD.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
24
Volunteers
167
Highest pay
$99,279, executive director thru feb.

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 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 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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 52% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 (3)
  1. $672,452 spent. CONSERVATION: THIS PROGRAM OVERSEES THE GROWING OUT AND REGENERATION OF SEEDS IN OUR CONSERVATION CENTER GARDEN, MANAGEMENT OF THE SEED BANK COLLECTION, INCLUDING GERMINATION TESTING, CONDUCTING SEED INVENTORIES, CLEANING AND PACKING SEEDS AND COORDINATING WITH DISTRIBUTION. THE CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT ALSO COORDINATED WITH PARTNER FARMERS TO GROW OUT AND REGENERATE RARE AND ENDANGERED SEEDS. IN 2025, BETWEEN THE NS/S CONSERVATION CENTER GARDENS IN TUCSON AND OVER 18 REGIONAL PARTNER FARMERS, WE SUCCESSFULLY GREW OVER 65 ACCESSIONS FOR REGENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION.
  2. $423,395 spent. DISTRIBUTION: OUR DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT PROVIDES ACCESS TO HEIRLOOM SEEDS STEWARDED AND MANAGED BY NS/S THROUGH SALES AND FREE SEED ACCESS PROGRAMS. SEEDS AND PLANT STARTS ARE SOLD THROUGH THE ONLINE STORE AND AT PLANT SALES. COMMUNITY SEED ACCESS PROGRAMS FOR NATIVE AMERICAN INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND TRIBES ARE MANAGED TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO CULTURALLY RELEVANT SEEDS. IN 2025, ALMOST 29,000 FREE SEED PACKETS WERE SHARED TO THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AS WELL AS 209 SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY GARDENS.
  3. $149,434 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: OUR EDUCATION WORK IS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO GARDENERS AND FARMERS FROM THE SOUTHWEST, ESPECIALLY IN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE CONNECTIONS TO THE SEEDS WE STEWARD. WE GIVE PRESENTATIONS, RESOURCES AND TRAINING ON SEED SAVING AND ALSO HOST VISITS AND TOURS OF THE CONSERVATION CENTER, INCLUDING THE GARDEN, SEEDLAB AND SEEDBANK. IN 2025, WE HOSTED AND PRESENTED AT 20 WORKSHOPS ON GARDENING AND SEEDSAVING, PROVIDED 23 TOURS AND VISITS AT THE CONSERVATION CENTER, VISITED SEVERAL FARMS AND COMMUNITY GARDENS TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL CONSULTATION AND PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT, TABLED AT 16 EVENTS TO REPRESENT NS/S AND PRESENTED AT 23 CONFERENCES AND/OR MEETINGS.

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 October 1983.

    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.