LIVING DESERT THE

🔒

Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

Sign in with your work email to view Tuckman-Chang indicators

Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1970

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

ALLEN MONROE

Phone

7603465694

Tax Period

2023-07-01 to 2024-06-30

LIVING DESERT THE, founded in 1970, is a mid-sized nonprofit in the Environment sector that reported $41.5M in total revenue in fiscal year 2023. Revenue surged 36% from the prior year, signaling strong growth momentum. The organization ran a surplus of $16.0M, a strong 38% operating margin.

Mission

TO PRESERVE PART OF THE COLORADO DESERT AND FOSTER THE CONSERVATION OF DESERT PLANTS AND ANIMALS.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $4,620,167 Revenue: $118,404

CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMING: THE LIVING DESERT IS AN AGENT OF CONSERVATION WITH 80+ PROJECTS IN 12 COUNTRIES ON 3 CONTINENTS, COLLABORATING WITH 70+ IN-COUNTRY ORGANIZATIONS. WE ARE GLOBAL LEADERS IN COMMUNITY-BASED CONSERVATION USING SUCCESSFUL BIOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE BASED TRAINING, RESEARCH, AND IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS ALL AROUND THE WORLD, WHILE ALSO INSPIRING RESOURCE SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS AMONG OUR VISITORS. THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OF THE LIVING DESERT COVER ALL ELEMENTS OF DESERT CONSERVATION AWARENESS TO PROVOKE CONSERVATION ACTIONS. WE REACH OVER 630,000 GUESTS ANNUALLY. WE PROVIDE INFORMAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING TO MORE THAN 50,000 ADULTS AND CHILDREN, INCLUDING OVER 30,000 SCHOOL CHILDREN. WE OFFER A DIVERSITY OF ENGAGING PROGRAMING THAT SPARKS A PASSION TO CARE FOR THE NATURAL WORLD.

Program 2

Expenses: $11,308,252 Revenue: $11,286,004

COLLECTIONS: THE PLANTS AND ANIMALS AT THE LIVING DESERT HAVE IMPORTANT ROLES, AS THEY ARE AMBASSADORS FOR THEIR WILD COUNTERPARTS. THE LIVING DESERT MAINTAINS ONE OF THE MOST NOTABLE AND EXTENSIVE COLLECTIONS OF DESERT FLORA AND FAUNA IN THE UNITED STATES. AS ONE OF ONLY TWO ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL GARDENS IN THE COUNTRY WITH DESERT CONSERVATION AS ITS MISSION, WE PROUDLY PROVIDE A HOME TO ALMOST 600 INDIVIDUAL DESERT ANIMALS OF OVER 152 SPECIES AND OVER 10,000 DESERT PLANTS OF OVER 1000 SPECIES IN OVER 50 THEMED GARDENS AND HABITATS. THE ZOO AND GARDENS IS SET WITHIN THE NATURAL SONORAN DESERT ENVIRONMENT IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SANTA ROSA MOUNTAINS. THE CARETAKERS OF THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL CARE AND WELL-BEING FOR ALL OF THESE SPECIES. THESE CARETAKERS PROVIDE CONNECTIONS WITH THESE ANIMALS AND PLANTS WITH OUR GUESTS SO THEY CAN BE INSPIRED TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE FOR THE DESERTS OF THE WORLD.

Program 3

Expenses: $6,461,810 Revenue: $4,422,593

MEMBERSHIP/PARK SERVICES: THE LIVING DESERT HAS BEEN IN OPERATION FOR ALMOST 54 YEARS. VARIOUS MEMBERSHIPS ARE OFFERED INCLUDING SINGLE, FAMILY, AND OTHER LEVELS, UP TO DONATIVE MEMBERSHIPS. THE...

MEMBERSHIP/PARK SERVICES: THE LIVING DESERT HAS BEEN IN OPERATION FOR ALMOST 54 YEARS. VARIOUS MEMBERSHIPS ARE OFFERED INCLUDING SINGLE, FAMILY, AND OTHER LEVELS, UP TO DONATIVE MEMBERSHIPS. THE LIVING DESERT'S MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM EXPANDS THE GUEST EXPERIENCE TO INCLUDE AN ONGOING CONNECTION TO THE MISSION AND SPECIAL EVENTS. EACH DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE LIVING DESERT TEAM STRIVES TO ASSURE EXCELLENCE IN THEIR AREA OF EXPERTISE TO PROVIDE OPTIMAL ANIMAL WELL- BEING, PARK PRESERVATION AND MEANINGFUL GUESTS CONNECTIONS. THE EXPERIENCE BEGINS WITH THE EASE OF PARKING AND PARK ENTRY; TO THE ENJOYMENT OF THE ANIMAL AND BOTANICAL COLLECTIONS; TO THE OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY EVENTS. THE LIVING DESERT BRINGS IN AN AUDIENCE FROM AROUND THE WORLD, BUT PARTICULARLY ACROSS THE COACHELLA VALLEY, A REGION NOTED FOR ITS RESORTS AND INFORMAL LEARNING PROCESSES.

🔒

Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

Sign in to view Trantor Score and financial metrics

Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2023)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $10,287,778

Program Service Revenue $16,460,772

Investment Income $12,932,615

Other Revenue $1,819,449

TOTAL REVENUE $41,500,614

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $448,790

Salaries & Benefits $13,098,525

Fundraising Expenses $2,063,505

Program Expenses $22,390,229

Other Expenses $11,991,756

TOTAL EXPENSES $25,539,071

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2023	2022	Change
Revenue	$41,500,614	$30,580,354	+0.4%
Expenses	$25,539,071	$20,547,217	+0.2%
Net Income	$15,961,543	$10,033,137	+0.6%

Key Indicators

✓ Grants to Organizations ✓ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✓ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

🔒

Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

Sign in to view all financial metrics

Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

262

Volunteers

611

Governance Policies

✓ Conflict of Interest Policy

✓ Whistleblower Policy

✓ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

✗ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✗ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✓ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

$653,402

Total Directors