Rusk Ranch Nature Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Mission of the Rusk Ranch Nature Center is to benefit the community with enrichment jobs housing and opportunities for the public particularly young people to appreciate the natural world and instill a sense of stewardship toward the earth and its inhabitants and preserve and conserve nature and wildlife. At Rusk Ranch Nature Center we value the healing power of nature and natures ability to nurture creativity to inspire a sense of belonging and to build community by showing us our deep inter-connectedness. We value the long term wholeness of recognizing that people and nature are inseparable. We strive to nurture whole families multi-age groups and children. Our most significant activities are to offer hands on experiences in nature to families children and visitors.
- Income
- $89,979
- Spending
- $75,769
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 1.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 66%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 25
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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, under $250k).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 47% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 96% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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.
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, 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)
- $8,129 spent. 1 Nature Service & Immersion: We hosted youth and family groups to assist in maintaining the nature center constructing nature exhibits and engaging in nature immersion activities to learn about native plants and wildlife. Participants stayed on-site in furnished tents enjoying visits to the river and observing wildlife after completing tree planting tasks.
- $61,898 spent. 2 Nature Discovery Center at the nonprofit organization facilitated engaging experiences through the Butterfly Pavilion and Nature Discovery Trail catering to a diverse audience including school groups developmentally disabled adults and senior living communities. Visitors including students witnessing butterfly emergence at schools and travelers exploring the trail actively participated in cultivating pollinator plants. The initiative further expanded with the introduction of new exhibits and the inception of an all-access pathway in the natural playground enhancing educational and recreational opportunities for all participants.
- $110 spent. 3 As a service to the community we are partnered with local schools to offer field trip space for organized school visits. This does not cost us anything and we receive no fees from the schools. In 2025 we hosted the Kalmiopsis Community Arts High School the Illinois Valley High School service work group and several small day care schools.
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
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2007.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.