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Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy

EIN 95-4790045 · Pasadena, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Formed in 2000, the Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy works with urgency to identify, conserve, enhance and steward critical natural habitats and wildlife corridors of the San Rafael Hills, Verdugo Mountains and foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains between Tujunga Wash and Altadena, and to link them to the Santa Monica Mountains at Griffith Park. Our overarching goal is to restore biodiversity throughout our Los Angeles region.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$843,173
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
14.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 50%
Employees
8
Volunteers
905
Highest pay
$90,000, 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 59% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 97% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    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 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 (3)
  1. $344,102 spent. COMMUNITY EDUCATION: OFFERED FREE CLASSES, FIELD TRIPS, INTERNSHIPS, WORKSHOPS, LECTURES AND PROGRAMS FREE TO THE PUBLIC EXPERIENTIAL, NATURE-BASED PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OPPORTUNITY FOR VOLUNTEERISM, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND PRESERVATION AND LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE FOR SUSTAINABLE FIRE HAZARD REDUCTION PRACTICES. DEVELOPED CURRICULUM AND TAUGHT CLASSES ABOUT NATIVE PLANT GROWTH AND USAGE FOR FIRE HAZARD REDUCTION GEOLOGY AND WILDLIFE. MAINTAINED AND MONITORED MOTION-SENSITIVE CAMERAS TO TRACK WILDLIFE MOVEMENT THROUGHOUT OUR AREA OF STUDY. PUBLISHED MAPS AND INFORMATION ABOUT LOCAL WILDLIFE AREAS. CONDUCTED OUR SEVENTH ANNUAL SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS EDUCATING THEM TO BECOME THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATIONISTS.
  2. $199,040 spent. LAND ACQUISITION: RESEARCHED AND SHARED DATA ABOUT NUMEROUS PROPERTIES CONTAINING CRITICAL HABITAT. LED DOCENT TOURS AND COMMUNITY FORUMS ABOUT LAND CONSERVATION AND WILDLIFE CORRIDORS TO GAIN COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR LAND ACQUISITIONS. MET WITH CITY PLANNERS TO EDUCATE THEM ABOUT THE NEED FOR WILDLIFE CORRIDOR LAND CONSERVATION. MET WITH PROGRAM INVESTORS AND EDUCATED MAJOR DONORS ABOUT ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES. CREATED AND UTILIZED A LAND EVALUATION TOOL TO PRIORITIZE LAND IN OUR STUDY AREA FOR ACQUISITION. CONDUCTED OUTREACH TO PROPERTY OWNERS. ACQUIRED ADDITIONAL 3 ADDITIONAL PARCELS IN CITY OF GLENDALE, TOTALING .697 ACRES.LAND STEWARDSHIP: PROTECTED AND MAINTAINED OPEN SPACE: 55.93 ACRES IN ALTADENA, 17.89 ACRES IN GLENDALE, 7.75 ACRES IN LA CRESCENTA, AND 11.3 ACRES IN PASADENA. STEWARDSHIP INCLUDES HABITAT RESTORATION, INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL, FIRE FUEL REDUCTION, INSTALLING AND MAINTAINING SAFE TRAILS, PAYMENT OF UTILITIES, PROPERTY TAXES, INSURANCE AND BIOLOGICAL STUDIES.
  3. $142,737 spent. LAND STEWARDSHIP: PROTECTED AND MAINTAINED OPEN SPACE: 55.93 IN ALTADENA, 17.14 ACRES IN GLENDALE, 7.75 ACRES IN LA CRESCENTA, AND 11.3 ACRES IN PASADENA. STEWARDSHIP INCLUDES HABITAT RESTORATION, INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL, FIRE FUEL REDUCTION, INSTALLING AND MAINTAINING SAFE TRAILS, PAYMENT OF UTILITIES, PROPERTY TAXES, INSURANCE AND BIOLOGICAL STUDIES.

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

  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 June 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 August 2000.

    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.