Washingtons National Park Fund
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $3.6 million
- Spending
- $2.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 13.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 88%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $130,105, marketing & communications director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 September 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)
- $791,345 spent. MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK FUNDING: GRANTS TO MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK SUPPORTED A VARIETY OF PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, WHICH RECRUITS OVER A THOUSAND PARTICIPANTS TO RESTORE TRAILS, PATROL ALPINE MEADOWS, PROVIDE VISITOR PROGRAMS, AND MORE; MEADOW ROVERS, WHO EDUCATE PARK VISITORS ABOUT TREATING THE FRAGILE MEADOWS WITH CARE; EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE VOLUNTEERS, ALSO KNOWN AS THE SUPERHEROES OF VACATION ROADSIDE MISHAPS; ACCESS FOR ALL, A PROJECT THAT ENABLES PARK STAFF TO EVALUTE TRAIL ACCESSIBILTY AND CREATE ACCESSIBILITY RESOURCES FOR VISITORS; AND THE ALPINE GARDEN PROTECTION TEAM.
- $649,115 spent. OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK FUNDING: GRANTS TO OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK SUPPORTED A VARIETY OF PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS INCLUDING MAKAH CULTURAL RESOURCE MONITORING TO ENSURE ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES ARE DOCUMENTED AND PROTECTED; BACKCOUNTRY SKI ACCESS AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS; THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE PROGRAM; THE ADVENTURES IN YOUR BIG BACKYARD YOUTH PROGRAM; THE NATIVE PLANT NURSERY VOLUNTEER PROGRAM; SUPPORT FOR THE ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM; AND SUPPORT FOR BACKCOUNTRY TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS.
- $418,117 spent. NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK FUNDING: GRANTS TO NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK SUPPORTED A VARIETY OF PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS INCLUDING "BEAR RANGERS" TO EDUCATE VISITORS ON PROPER FOOD STORAGE AND HOW TO SAFELY COEXIST WITH THE PARK'S WILDLIFE THROUGH THE BEAR ESSENTIALS SAFETY PROGRAM; THE FOOD SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT, WHICH PARTNERS THE PARK WITH THE LUMMI NATION AND COMMON THREADS; BACKCOUNTRY PERMIT EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS; AND THE NATURE EXPLORATION PROJECT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 January 2007.
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.
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.