Blue Deer Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
As an expression of Sacred Fire, we offer a home for shared experiences of transformation and healing by embracing the knowing of the natural world.
- Income
- $417,640
- Spending
- $434,116
- Spent on programs
- 63%
- Reserves
- -15.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 31
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: 33 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 76% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 49% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1563% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 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.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $187,877 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE BLUE DEER CENTER TO PRESERVE SYMBOLS OF THE PAST BY PRESENTING PUBLIC WORKSHOPS, PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS IN THEIR MAIN HOUSE, YURT CLASSROOM,
- $64,880 spent. Plant Spirit Medicine includes several offerings: An introductory on-demand online course-Growing Awareness of Nature. designed to give people a direct experience of the aliveness of nature and natures ancestral relationship with humans. Healer Training hybrid course: online and in person courses. Our ancestors lived in this way, where nature was alive and there was no illusion of separation from nature. They had a relationship with the spirits of nature and would call upon them for healing and wisdom. This ancient practice, long forgotten in the modern world, was remembered, revitalized, and reintroduced by Blue Deers Founder, the late teacher and healer, Eliot Cowan, and has proven to be as effective in todays world as in past times.
- $22,583 spent. HEALING INTENSIVE- Healing Intensive is a residential 5-day retreat only offered at Blue Deer Center. A Healing Intensive is composed of Indigenous spiritual healing in the Huichol tradition, a time for contemplation and reflection in the natural world, and gatherings around the fire. Adult men and women of all ages and backgrounds discover that the medicine of Ancestral Traditions runs deep and exerts a powerful spiritual benefit. The Healing Intensive provides a rare opportunity to experience a healthy village life.THE CAMP AND PROVIDES THE RIGHT CONDITIONS FOR HEALING TO OCCUR.
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 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 May 2002.
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.