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Nectandra Institute

EIN 95-4751630 · Alameda, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Nectandra Institute's mission is to promote the conservation of the montane cloud forests of Costa Rica through public education, scientific research, and watershed stewardship.

Income
$51,953
Spending
$85,210
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
59.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 59.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 64% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $21,115 spent. Outreach and education program: Outreach and education efforts were directed primarily to rural communities of Costa Rica's upper Balsa River watershed. Nectandra Institute worked closely with a consortium of local community watershed management associations on efforts aimed at improving protection for the watershed forests and water resources, including co-organizing and sponsoring an annual "New culture of Water" month. Through these activities, Nectandra Institute and our community partners build public awareness for watershed protection through a series of educational, recreational and entertainment activities. During the year, we hold workshops and training sessions on topics such as conservation, ecological restoration, and environmental stewardship. Outreach efforts also include online videos, images and information.
  2. $41,197 spent. Conservation, Restoration and Advocacy programs: Restoration and conservation efforts continued on lands totalling 570 acres purchased by local community organizations with eco-loans from Nectandra Institute. During 2022, we co-ordinated over 862 person-hours of restoration and monitoring work, including tree planting, measuring tree growth, monitoring the water volume flowing from springs and in streams, and photo documentation of forest restoration progress. Conservation of lands acquired through Nectandra Institute eco-loans has improved the protection of the sources of drinking water for ca. 16000 people. Additional conservation work continued on 40 acres of land owned by Nectandra Institute. We increased participation with other regional and national organizations to exchange topical information including the inter-institutional commission for the Paseo de Nubes bio-corridor, which exists to strengthen the biological connectivity between Juan Castro Blanco National Park and the Alberto Manuel Brenes Biological Preserve--a species and endemism hotspot, and CONAFLU, a national confederation of water management associations in Costa Rica.
  3. $2,500 spent. Inventory work continued on the fauna of the Nectandra Cloud Forest Preserve, with special focus this year on parasitic flies and wasps with collaboration of two US entomologists. Malaise traps were used to continuously trap flying insects 24/7 at selected sites. Thirty thousand specimens were preserved, sorted, and submitted for DNA bar coding to identify the trapped insects. The results are being analyzed and compared to other known collecting ites in Costa Rica.

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 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 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 December 1999.

    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.