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Rubicon Trail Foundation

EIN 20-1397705 · Placerville, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceWeak19 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE RUBICON TRAIL FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO THE FUTURE HEALTH AND USE OF THE RUBICON TRAIL WHILE ENSURING RESPONSIBLE MOTORIZED YEAR-ROUND TRAIL ACCESS. THE FOUNDATION ACTS AS THE SUPPORT FOR RUBICON WORK PROJECTS AND AS LIAISON WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS. THIS SUPPORT CAN RANGE FROM GETTING APPROVAL FRO PROJECTS FROM THE APPROPRIATE AGENCIES TO FEEDING VOLUNTEERS AND BUYING THE SUPPLIES NEEDED TO MAINTAIN THE TRAIL. WE ALSO FIGHT THE EFFORTS OF OTHERS TO CLOSE OR RESTRICT USE OF THE RUBICON TRAIL SYSTEM.OUR OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS REPRESENT A WIDE VARIETY OF RUBICON TRAIL USERS AND SUPPORTERS. THESE INCLUDE TRAIL USERS, RUBICON AREA LAND OWNERS, COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES, MANUFACTURERS AND RUBICON EVENT ORGANIZERS.

Income
$106,465
Spending
$77,071
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
51.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 63%
Employees
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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 51.9 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 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% 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

Weak: 19 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 15 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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep 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 (1)
  1. $56,646 spent. ENGAGED IN EDUCATION OUTREACH TO TRAIL USERS BY WORD OF MOUTH AND HANDOUTS AS PART OF A JOINT VENTURE WITH EL DORADO COUNTY. THIS INCLUDES PROVIDING TRAIL BROCHURES WITH MAP AND DETAILS, PLUS RUBICON TRAIL FOUNDATION TRAIL PATROL AND FRIENDS OF THE RUBICON BROCHURES, T-SHIRTS PROVIDED TO VOLUNTEER TRAIL PATROL AND KIOSK STAFF FOR EASY IDENTIFICATION.HELD VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP AND LAND STEWARDSHIP CLASS.PROVIDED MAINTENANCE OF THE TRAIL BY SUPPORTING VOLUNTEER WORKERS AND PROVIDING SUPPLIES. WORKED CLOSELY WITH SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND FORESTRY SERVICES ON TRAIL PROJECTS AND ENHANCEMENTS. PROVIDED VOLUNTEER MEALS AND TRACKED VOLUNTEER HOURS FOR MATCHING DONATION FUNDS TO COUNTIES.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.