Los Angeles Conservation Corps
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE LA CONSERVATION CORPS CREATES EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE to build resilience in themselves, THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH A PROGRAM OF WORK, EDUCATION AND SUPPORT.
- Income
- $33.0 million
- Spending
- $31.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 88%
- Employees
- 882
- Volunteers
- 160
- Highest pay
- $240,728, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 36% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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 June 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 (2)
- $20.6 million spent. Young Adult Corps - The LA Conservation Corps' Young Adult Corps consists of two components: Conservation Programs and Corpsmember Development. Conservation Programs aka Young Adult Corps (serves youth and young adults, primarily ages 18 to 26 at enrollment, at sites in Northeast (NELA), South, and East Los Angeles; Compton; and, East and West San Fernando Valley: The Young Adult Corps provides paid on-the-job training, a high school diploma program, vocational education and case management/transition support services to approximately 500 Corpsmembers each year. Corpsmembers earn at least the City/County of Los Angeles minimum wage while performing basic-through-advanced environmental and conservation-related work projects, such as habitat restoration, tree planting and urban forestry, park and trail construction, water-efficient landscaping, graffiti removal, recycling, community beautification and natural disaster preparation/response. Corpsmembers can also participate in highly specialized job training programs, including the Environmental Worker and Job Training Program to become certified in hazardous waste removal or other vocational programs such as the YouthBuild Job Training Program to receive hands-on construction experience. Corpsmember Development consists of two components: Development/Transition and Education Programs.Development/Transition Programs: Case managers help Corpsmembers address their personal, family and other issues that have previously hampered their success in school and work. These obstacles and barriers often include: homelessness or a risk of becoming homeless; substance abuse; health needs (mental and physical); emotional support and development (grief counseling, anger management, conflict resolution and racial/gender/sexual orientation tolerance); family issues (unity, supervision, family conflict, and reunification) and transportation assistance and legal aid/counsel (child support, warrants, tickets, and probation or parole issues). Corps Navigators work with Corpsmembers to develop roadmaps and plan out the practical steps they need to take to achieve their personal, educational and career goals. Additional services available to Corpsmembers include individual and group counseling, life skills workshops, and other college/career services that will help them successfully exit the Corps into a job, post-secondary education or advanced training. Also, Corpsmembers who exit the Young Adult Corps are tracked by a case manager for up to 12 months and are provided with the necessary follow-up services to ensure their success with full-time employment and, if applicable, their educational and/or vocational training endeavors. Education Programs: The Corps serves Corpsmembers and other youth ages 14 to 26 at enrollment through a charter school partnership with the Los Angeles Education Corps (LAEC). LAECs education programs at two Los Angeles sites serve approximately 200 youth, some of whom are Corpsmembers, who have been expelled, dropped out or never even started high school. These youth are given a second chance to earn a state-accredited high school diploma. Academics are complemented by an environmental education curriculum, experiential learning activities, college preparatory services, career preparation and work readiness services and case management. Corps-administered college and vocational scholarship opportunities and transition support are also available through both in-house and outside opportunities.
- $5.8 million spent. After School Program: The After School Program (serving elementary, middle and high school students) provides homework assistance, academic support and enrichment along with recreation activities to approximately 6000 children at 22 Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) campuses. Academic enrichment activities emphasize conservation, the environment, science, technology, engineering and math. Students also join in art, music and sports activities, serve as teacher aides and participate in on-campus service-learning projects to further connect their classrooms to their daily lives. The program provides working parents in low-income communities with safe and free supervision and care for their children during the hours after school when children this age may encounter unsafe, unsupervised activities that lead to poor school attendance, risky behaviors and low educational achievement.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1985.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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