California Native Plant Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To protect Californias native plants and their natural habitats, today and into the future, through science, education, stewardship, gardening, and advocacy
- Income
- $9.5 million
- Spending
- $9.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 13.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 47%
- Employees
- 68
- Volunteers
- 820
- Highest pay
- $185,713, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
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, 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 (5)
- $4.8 million spent. Plant ScienceCalifornia's ambitious climate, working land, and biodiversity initiatives require the best available science on the state's native plants and habitats. With the State of California's record investment in vegetation mapping, the CNPS Vegetation Program partnered to complete 5 million acres of vegetation mapping, 100 additions or updates to the Manual of California Vegetation, and monitoring and sampling of 120 federally managed public lands. Vegetation mapping on Californias Central Coast was a highlight with 2,500 new vegetation surveys, more than 10,000 existing surveys compiled. More than 190 plant alliances and 1,556 rare and sensitive plant species were mapped. During this same time, CNPS Rare Plant Program Staff vouchered 522 plants, surveyed 225 rare plants, and made 46 status additions and updates to the CNPS Rare Plant Inventory. A highlight was the teams conservation work in the Caldor Fire burn scar, where the Rare Plant team and volunteers collected 85,000 rare plant seeds for seed-banking and 19 herbarium vouchers. Together, they collected 157 data points across 58 populations of target species, thanks in part to more than 600 hours of support from CNPS volunteers. In community science, the CNPS Fire Followers science project captures more than 62,000 observations in post-fire areas, contributing to our growing understanding of native plants in burn areas. Last, work on the California Native Seed Strategy continued, with 235 species identified as candidates for restoration seed.
- $1.6 million spent. Engagement & OutreachThis year, CNPS Education, Horticulture, and Public Affairs staff worked to engage the public, strengthen partnerships, and educate decision-makers through a wide range of activities. In Education, CNPS prepared for the 2026 CNPS Conference by forming its Conference Planning Committee and beginning its work under the theme: Growing the Movement Together for Native Plants. Education Staff also designed the new Biodiversity in Urban Gardens community science project, launching in late 2025/early 2026. The team awarded 15 student research grantees over $14,000 in funding, welcomed 110 participants to sold-out plant science workshops, and, under the leadership of the CNPS Rare Plant Program, awarded 94 new Certified California Botanists. Horticulture staff began work on cooperative agreements with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to scale up native plant production and habitat for pollinators, and introduced the new, interactive Calscape Garden Planner on Calscape.org. In Public Affairs, the team continued its leadership role in the Power in Nature coalition, advocating with partners statewide for the State of Californias goal to protect 30% of its lands and coastal waters by 2030. One noteworthy highlight was the passage of Proposition 4, which secured $10 billion in much-needed long-term conservation funding for the implementation of conservation, restoration, and land management projects across the state. Today, CNPS is reaching more people than ever with nearly 250,000 social media followers and 50,000 email subscribers.
- $608,756 spent. ConservationThe CNPS Conservation Program works with volunteers, staff, and partners to undertake the environmental review, legal action, and advocacy needed to protect California native plants and habitats today and into the future. This year, CNPS Conservation and Public Affairs staff launched a new Advocacy Corps to support its grassroots network of volunteers at key moments of decision-making. In January, CNPS staff and volunteer representatives were invited to the White House to celebrate the designations of Stttla and Chuckwalla National Monuments. The new monuments coupled with the May 2024 expansions of Berryessa Snow Mountain and San Gabriel Mountains National Monuments represented nearly 1 million newly conserved acres in California! As the new federal administration took office, CNPS and partners across the state pivoted to a statewide defense campaign to ensure Californias new national monuments and public lands stay in public hands with the highest levels of protection for native plants and habitats. CNPS also provided comment letters and initiated litigation to protect imperiled habitats and plants, including a case against the Jurupa Valley City Council to protect a one-of-a-kind native oak estimated to be 13,000-18,000 years old!
- $255,300 spent. PUBLICATIONSThe CNPS Publication Program provides a unique platform for native plants and the people studying and advocating for them. Subject matter spans scientific, horticultural, cultural, conservation, and educational topics surrounding native plants. This year, CNPS published Part II of a special issue of its science journal, Artemisia -- Indigenous Perspectives: Native Plants and Climate Change. The program also published three editions of its popular Flora magazine (distribution ~15,000) along with California's first comprehensive guide to lupine titled, "Lupines of California" by Teresa Sholars and Stuart Wilson.
- $225,543 spent. Chapter SupportCNPS's 35 chapters are the face of the native plant movement in communities across California and Baja California, Mexico. This year, CNPS volunteers contributed 157,000 volunteer hours, the equivalent of 430 hours a day! CNPS staff support volunteer-led chapter work in a technical assistance capacity, ranging from plant science and CEQA-process training to communications and operational guidance. Staff hosts coordinating meetings, provides professional best practice guidelines, and oversees and provides training in technical platforms including websites, Zoom, email marketing, volunteer management tools, and online sales. Staff also updates an extensive online chapter handbook, directories, codes of conduct, and other administrative tools. Highlights of chapter activities this year include: volunteer contributions for vegetation mapping and rare plant work in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, the Central Coast, far Northern California, and the Caldor Fire burn area; a City of Ukiah grant to the CNPS Sanhedrin Chapter for native plants in public spaces; Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Gold Resolution award for the Milo Baker Chapters native plant restoration at Doran Regional Park in Bodega Bay; the Yerba Buena Chapters work to remove tens of thousands of invasive plants from Buckeye Canyon on San Bruno Mountain; distribution of more than 3,500 wildflower seed packets through the Santa Clara Valley Chapters Wildflower Ambassadors Program; removal of French broom at Lompico Headwaters in Santa Cruz County; the Alta Peak Chapters Tulare Lake lecture series; a grant to the Sequoia Chapter to establish native plant gardens with Fresno High Schools International Baccalaureate program; the discovery of a rare Arctostaphylos in San Luis Obispo; a $98,566 grant from the Orange County Chapter to the UC Irvine Herbarium to process plant vouchers and support publications with local plant identifications; a neighborhood-led restoration of Elephant Hill in El Sereno; and the Riverside-San Bernardino Chapters work to protect a 13,000 year-old Palmers oak, estimated to be one of the oldest living organisms on Earth. CNPS Chapters across Southern California were also on the frontlines of the Los Angeles wildfires, providing education and support for local residents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 2025.
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 September 1965.
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 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.