Environment (C340) IRS Verified DX Registered 990 on File

THE LIVING DESERT

EIN: 95-3385354 · PALM DESERT, CA 92260-6156 · United States · FY 2024 Data

3 out of 5 58 / 100 Based on 2+ years of filings

Financial strength (30%) 82/100

Reliability (20%) 55/100

Effectiveness (25%) 88/100

Impact (25%) No data yet

Financial data: FY 2024 · Scored 9/13/2026

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CharityAI™ Score

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Mission Statement

desert conservation through preservation, education and appreciation

Financial Overview — FY 2024

$41.5M

Total Revenue

$25.5M

Total Expenses

$152.6M

Net Assets

262

Employees

Revenue Sources

Expense Breakdown

Program Expense Ratio 87.7%

Fundraising Efficiency 77.4%

Operating Reserve 71.69x

Liability-to-Asset 2.3%

Revenue Diversification 39.7%

Executive Compensation $881K

Compared with Peers

FY 2024

Compared with 187 similar organizations (United States, Environment, $10M–$100M in expenses), FY 2024.

This organization Middle half of peers (P25–P75) Peer median

Ratio	This org	Peer median	Position (P10 → P90)
Program expense ratio Program expenses / total expenses · higher is better	87.7%	84.4%	P10P90	Above median
Admin expense ratio Management and general / total expenses · lower is better	4.2%	10.2%	P10P90	Top quarter
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expenses / total expenses · lower is better	8.1%	3.2%	P10P90	Bottom quarter
Fundraising efficiency Fundraising expenses / gross fundraising income · lower is better	77.4%	1344.7%	P10P90	Top quarter
Operating reserve Months of expenses covered by net assets · higher is better	71.7 mo	13.2 mo	P10P90	Top quarter
Liabilities to assets Total liabilities / total assets · lower is better	2.3%	15.6%	P10P90	Top quarter
Revenue concentration Share of revenue from the largest source · lower is better	39.7%	88.9%	P10P90	Top quarter
Revenue growth Year over year revenue growth	35.7%	7.5%	P10P90
Expense growth Year over year expense growth	24.3%	11.2%	P10P90
Surplus margin Surplus as a share of revenue	38.5%	2.8%	P10P90

Financial History

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Net Assets	Program %	Staff
2024	$41.5M	$25.5M	$152.6M	87.7%	262
2023	$30.6M	$20.5M	$139.5M	87.5%	244
2022	$51.6M	$17.6M	N/A	—	242

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Organization Details

EIN: 95-3385354
State: CA
City: PALM DESERT
ZIP: 92260-6156
Classification: C340
Category: Environment
Rating: 3★
Coverage: A
Last Updated: Aug 2026
IRS Ruling Year: 1976
Foundation Code: 16
Form 990: On File

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CharityAI™ rates charities from 0 to 100 using public filings (IRS Form 990 and the equivalent registries outside the US) together with the information the charity itself provides on DonationX. Ratings are recalculated every quarter, without human bias, and shown as stars.

Four pillars

Financial strength30%

Program expense ratio, fundraising efficiency, operating reserves, liabilities and revenue diversification, compared with similar organizations.

Reliability20%

Standing with the registry, filing history, verification and how complete the profile is.

Effectiveness25%

How much goes to programs and how consistently the organization delivers them.

Impact25%

The outcomes the charity reports on DonationX: people served, cost per service and results.

Stars

★★★★★ 80–100 ★★★★☆ 60–79 ★★★☆☆ 40–59 ★★☆☆☆ 20–39 ★☆☆☆☆ 1–19

A pillar with no data counts as zero. Without impact metrics the score is capped at 59 (three stars): only the charity can supply that data.
The coverage grade (A to D) says how much filing data the score rests on; NONE means there is not enough to rate.
An organization that is not in good standing with its registry (for example a revoked tax exemption) is shown as Not rated.
"Compared with peers" places the charity's key ratios against organizations of the same country, sector and size.

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