Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

California Trout

EIN 23-7097680 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CALTROUT'S MISSION IS ENSURING HEALTHY WATER AND RESILIENT WILD FISH FOR A BETTER CALIFORNIA. WE SHARE A COMMON VISION OF A CALIFORNIA WHERE HEALTHY WATERS FLOW FROM HEADWATERS TO SEA. WHERE THE DIVERSITY AND RESILIENCE OF OUR WATERS AND FISH MATCH (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) THAT OF THE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT OUR STATE.

Income
$24.7 million
Spending
$23.6 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 65%
Employees
70
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$309,028, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 (4)
  1. $4.3 million spent. PROGRAM #1: THE CALIFORNIA TROUT (CALTROUT) SHASTA-LASSEN PROGRAM WORKED TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE SPRING-FED COLD-WATER RIVER SYSTEMS OF THE SHASTA-KLAMATH REGION THAT, IN THE FACE OF DROUGHT AND CLIMATE CHANGE, SUSTAIN NATIVE SALMONIDS, SUPPORT THE LOCAL ECONOMY, SUPPLY WATER TO CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND PROVIDE CRITICAL HABITAT FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES. THIS WORK INCLUDED PROTECTION OF LEGACY WATERS SUCH AS THE HAT CREEK/FALL RIVER, MCCLOUD, PIT RIVERS, THE BATTLE CREEK SALMON AND STEELHEAD RESTORATION PROJECT (BCSSRP) WHICH AIMS TO REMOVE FIVE DAMS, INSTALL FISH SCREENS AND LADDERS ON THREE DAMS, AND END THE DIVERSION OF WATER FROM THE NORTH FORK TO THE SOUTH FORK. CALTROUT WORKED ON RESTORING THE HABITAT CONDITIONS IN KEY KLAMATH TRIBUTARIES INCLUDING THE SHASTA-SCOTT WATERSHEDS BY (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) IMPROVING WATER MANAGEMENT ON AGRICULTURAL LANDS, REMOVING FISH BARRIERS AND SMALL DAMS, AND RESTORING INSTREAM FLOWS, ADVANCING THE KLAMATH DAM REMOVAL, AND ASSESSING SOURCE WATER RECHARGE AREA, VOLCANIC SPRINGS AND BASELINE CONDITIONS FOR WATER SECURITY. THE SCOTT RIVER PROJECT MOVED FORWARD WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THE SCOTT BAR MILL CR BRIDGE.
  2. $4.9 million spent. PROGRAM #2: THE CALIFORNIA TROUT (CALTROUT) NORTH COAST PROGRAM, WORKS TO PROTECT THE ECOLOGICAL HEALTH OF THE NORTH COAST'S RIVERS, AND THE SALMON AND STEELHEAD STRONGHOLD POPULATIONS THEY SUSTAIN. IN THE SMITH, KLAMATH, TRINITY, REDWOOD, MAD, THE EEL RIVERS, AND HUMBOLDT BAY, CALTROUT ESTABLISHED SOUND POLICIES AND SCIENCE-BASED RECOVERY AND MONITORING PROGRAMS, TO RESTORE PRODUCTIVE AND VIBRANT COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHERIES, GOOD WATER QUALITY, AND SUSTAINABLE WORKING LANDSCAPES. THIS REGION'S EFFORTS INCLUDED WORK TO REMOVE THE DAMS IN THE EEL RIVER AND MONITOR FISH RESPONSE AFTER THE CEDAR CREEK HATCHERY DAM REMOVAL, AND TO RESTORE ESTUARIES ON THE EEL RIVER, THE MAD RIVER, ELK RIVER, AND THE REDWOOD CREEK ESTUARY. OTHER EFFORTS INCLUDED WORK ON THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT AND THE ELK (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) RIVER RECOVERY AND COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM (CLEAN WATER ACT), REDWOOD AND PRAIRIE CREEK PUBLIC LAND PARTNERSHIPS, AND THE BULL CREEK HUMBOLDT REDWOODS STATE PARK PUBLIC LAND PARTNERSHIPS. WE ARE EXPANDING OUR SCIENCE AND MONITORING PROGRAMS TO BETTER PRIORITIZE SPECIES RECOVERY ON THE NORTH COST AND CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN POLICY DEVELOPMENT LINKING WATER MANAGEMENT TO SPECIES PROTECTION FOR ROBUST PROTECTION OF SALMON AND STEELHEAD.
  3. $4.4 million spent. PROGRAM #3: THE CALIFORNIA TROUT (CALTROUT) SOUTH COAST PROGRAM INCLUDES: THE SANTA MARGARITA RIVER BRIDGE REPLACEMENT AND FISH PASSAGE PROJECT- CONSTRUCTION OF A STEEL BRIDGE THAT PASSES 100 YR. FLOW - ACCOMPLISHMENTS: FINAL BRIDGE DESIGN, PLANS AND PERMITTING COMPLETED. THE I-5 METROLINK AT TRABUCO CREEK FISH PASSAGE PROJECT - RESTORE SOUTHERN STEELHEAD MIGRATION WHILE STABILIZING FLOOD CONVEYANCE AND TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN ORANGE COUNTY - ACCOMPLISHMENTS: FINAL DESIGN DEVELOPED FOR METROLINK FISHWAY. THE SOUTH COAST STEELHEAD COALITION - ACCOMPLISHMENTS: TWELVE PRIORITIZED PROJECTS AS PART OF SOUTH COAST STEELHEAD COALITION STRATEGIC PLAN. ALL HIGH PRIORITY PROJECTS ARE UNDERWAY OR COMPLETED. THE CA ENDANGERED SOUTH COAST STEELHEAD PETITION CESA LISTING - (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) ACCOMPLISHMENTS: IN JANUARY 2024, CDFW AFFIRMED THE CALTROUT PETITION. CDFW RECOMMENDED TO CA FISH & GAME COMMISSION THAT SOUTHERN STEELHEAD SHOULD BE LISTED AS A STATE ENDANGERED SPECIES. THE HARVEY DIVERSION FISH PASSAGE DAM REMEDIATION PROJECT - ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 75% PLAN SET, AND BASIS OF DESIGN REPORT ACHIEVED IN MARCH 2023. THE MALIBU CREEK RESTORATION PROJECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS: DRAFTED AND EXECUTED THE STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PLAN, IN CLOSE COLLABORATION W/ STATE PARKS, AGENCIES, AND PUBLIC STAKEHOLDERS.
  4. $6.2 million spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDING CENTRAL VALLEY PROGRAM, BAY AREA PROGRAM, SIERRA PROGRAM, SCIENCE PROGRAM AND ADVOCACY AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 April 1971.

    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.