Friends of the Desert Mountains
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE FRIENDS OF THE DESERT MOUNTAINS IS TO PRESERVE LAND TO SUPPORT EDUCATION, CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY, AND TO ACT AS THE SUPPORT ORGANIZATION FOR THE SANTA ROSA & SAN JACINTO MOUNTAINS NATIONAL MONUMENT.
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $1.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 29.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 57%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $116,201, executive director
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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 29.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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, 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)
- $183,780 spent. LAND ACQUISITION: SINCE 1987, FRIENDS OF THE DESERT MOUNTAINS HAS BEEN A DRIVING FORCE IN PROTECTING THE BREATHTAKING LANDSCAPE OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY-SAFEGUARDING OVER 63,000 ACRES OF PRISTINE DESERT. WE WORK HAND-IN-HAND WITH WILLING LANDOWNERS TO PURCHASE UNDEVELOPED, ECOLOGICALLY VITAL PROPERTIES AT FAIR MARKET VALUE. EACH ACRE WE CONSERVE HELPS ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY MULTIPLE SPECIES HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN, PROTECTING THE REGIONS RARE WILDLIFE AND FRAGILE ECOSYSTEM FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
- $348,679 spent. EDUCATION: FROM SCENIC GUIDED HIKES TO ENGAGING LECTURES AND INTERACTIVE PRESENTATIONS, WE OPEN EYES AND INSPIRE HEARTS-ALL AT NO COST TO THE PUBLIC. OUR PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES, CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH THE DESERTS RICH AND NATURAL HERITAGE AND EMPOWERING THEM TO BECOME STEWARDS OF THE LAND. BEHIND THE SCENES, WE ALSO INVEST IN RIGOROUS TRAINING FOR OUR TEAM AND VOLUNTEERS, DEEPENING THEIR EXPERTISE IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND THE UNIQUE STORY OF CALIFORNIAS DESERT LANDSCAPES.
- $283,673 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH: WE BELIEVE THAT CONSERVATION THRIVES WHEN PEOPLE CARE DEEPLY-AND THEY CAN NOT CARE IF THEY DONT KNOW. THAT IS WHY FRIENDS OF THE DESERT MOUNTAINS IS EVERYWHERE: SPEAKING AT COMMUNITY EVENTS, CRAFTING COMPELLING MEDIA STORIES, AND SHARING OUR MISSION WITH ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN-FROM EARLY MORNING ROTARY CLUBS TO LOCAL CLASSROOMS. OUR PASSIONATE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS ARE RELENTLESS ADVOCATES, KEEPING THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC LANDS AND DESERT PRESERVATION AT THE FOREFRONT OF COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS.
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 November 6, 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 September 1987.
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 November 4, 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.