Passes our checks

Death Valley Natural History

EIN 95-2083126 · Death Valley, CA

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

What it says it does

Preserving & interpreting the natural & cultural resources of the region with government partners.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

Reserves
0 of 35
Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20
It owes 36% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

Independent board
25 of 25
9 of 9 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.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15
Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
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, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)

$941,499 spent. Support for Death Valley National Park. Death Valley Natural History Association (DVNHA) continued to support a number of Death Valley Projects. At Scotty's Castle DVNHA funded programs to restored the historic theater organ and chimes tower. We continued our support of the Death Valley Education Program giving 20 transportation grants to local schools for science- ased education in the park. DVNHA sold 279,500 educational items and provided 9,824 visitor contacted hours.
$46,990 spent. Support for Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. At Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, we sold 10,580 educational items and provided 2,187 visitor contact hours. Due to FWS staffing issues we had to put a number of projects on hold.
$43,607 spent. Educational Programing. Our Death Valley Institute was active even with areas of the park closed due to flooding. We completed 9 programs with 59 participants for 330 educational hours. We also had 6 bus groups and a private group with 171 participants and 820 educational hours.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 September 2024.
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 March 1972.
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.