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Volcan Mountain Foundation

EIN 33-0329894 · Julian, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Volcan Mountain Foundation's mission is to preserve Volcan Mountain Range in its natural state for all generations.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$840,208
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
8.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 54%
Employees
4
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$84,889, president

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: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 69% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 94 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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)
  1. $23,159 spent. Acquisitions & Land Preservation: For over 35 years, VMF has been preserving land within the 15-mile long Volcan Mountain Range by facilitating strategic acquisitions, and since 2009 by directly acquiring and managing 1,096 acres of key conserved lands. Since 1989, more than 19,000 acres of land have been acquired by conservation agencies and organizations, bringing conserved land within the 52,000 acre range to roughly 42,000 acres. VMF actively monitors land ownership within the range for opportunities and raises funds for, and maintains, a substantial land acquisition fund so that it can move quickly to purchase high-value conservation property as it becomes available from willing sellers. Building and maintaining partnerships with public agencies and conservation organizations that can own, manage and fund conservation lands is an ongoing, instrumental part of VMF's preservation activities as we continue to work to see that all lands within the range are preserved.
  2. $518,100 spent. Stewardship: Habitat Conservation, Monitoring & Natural Resource Management Although the Volcan Mountain Foundation only first became a land owner and manager in 2009, VMF has been partnering with San Diego County Parks & Recreation rangers and staff for over two decades on botanical and rare plant field surveys, habitat restoration projects, and building and maintaining trails. That experience is now brought to bear on the nearly 1,100 acres that VMF owns and manages on Volcan Mountain. VMF staff and volunteers have worked to restore forest health through coordinated conifer replanting efforts after devastating wildfires. We work to ensure ongoing oak forest and headwaters health in the face of invasive pests, like the gold-spotted oak borer, with a multigenerational oak replanting project, and through removal of invasive species, like bull thistle and the Chinese tree of heaven. VMF's volunteer Wildlife Imaging Team monitors and tracks wildlife presence on VMF and adjacent properties in partnership with Volcan Mountain neighbors, regional wildlife biologists, San Diego Natural History Museum and others. In 2023, VMF embarked on a three-year Volcan Mountain Nature Center Montane Forest Resilience Project, largely funded by a Wildlife Conservation Board $1.55m grant.
  3. $129,651 spent. Environmental Education & Community Outreach: VMF's Volcan Mountain Nature Center is an inspiring site to experience and learn about the importance of the forests and headwaters of San Diego County. Water from the Volcan Mountain Range feed four of the largest watersheds in San Diego County. For thousands of years, Native Americans have known the importance of Volcan Mountain; calling it Hahachepang--'where the waters come from'. Now school kids, families and adult life-long learners come to the Nature Center to discover and learn about what watersheds are and the importance of keeping them, and their headwaters healthy. Visitors make uplifting nature connections and experience history and culture in ancient conifer and oak forests. By offering motivating experiences and developing critical ecoliteracy VMF is cultivating the future generations of nature-loving conservation stewards that will protect Volcan Mountain and the world's environment.

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

  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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1992.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.