Westwind Stewardship Group
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 66 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE WESTWIND STEWARDSHIP GROUP INSPIRES PEOPLE TO BE STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR COMMUNITIES BY CONSERVING WESTWIND'S DIVERSE ECOSYSTEMS IN PERPETUITY AND FOSTERING LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCES FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- -6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 82%
- Employees
- 76
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $115,014, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 35% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 66 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 12 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
10 of 10Gave 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 2024, 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)
- $1.2 million spent. CAMP WESTWIND - INNOVATIVE CAMP PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH, TEENS, AND FAMILIES, OFFERED ALL SUMMER AND DURING CERTAIN WEEKENDS/HOLIDAYS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. A. OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES: KAYAKING, CANOEING, PADDLEBOARDING, SNORKELING, HIKING, BACKPACKING, RIVER/OCEAN DIPPING, NATURE STUDY/DISCOVERY, AND FREE OUTDOOR PLAY AMIDST THE BEACH, DUNES, AND RAIN FOREST. B. TEAM BUILDING/GROUP ACTIVITIES: TREE CLIMB, CHALLENGE COURSE, TEAM BUILDING, GROUP CAMPING, SUSTAINABLE LIVING PRACTICE C. ARTS ACTIVITIES: DRAW/PAINT, BEADS/MACRAME, NATURE ART, FUSED GLASS, TIE-DYE, IMPROV THEATRE/TALENT SHOW, LOTS OF SINGING!
- $331,504 spent. GROUP AND CABIN RENTALS: GROUPS LARGELY SELF-DIRECT THEIR WESTWIND EXPERIENCE, WITH ORIENTATION AND GUIDANCE FROM WESTWIND STAFF. THROUGH WESTWIND'S RUSTIC ACCOMMODATIONS, FOOD SERVICE OPTIONS (WHICH FOCUS ON REGIONAL SOURCING AND SCRATCH COOKING), AND SELF-CONTAINED FACILITY (FOR EXAMPLE, WATER IS SOURCED AND TREATED ON THE SITE), GUESTS LEARN PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SELF-RELIANCE, SUSTAINABILITY, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, AND LIVING LIGHTLY ON THE LAND.
- $162,984 spent. FOOD SERVICE/CATERING: WESTWIND PROVIDES CATERING SERVICES FOR RENTAL GROUPS AND EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE AT WESTWIND.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.
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 October 2005.
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.