Wyland Foundation
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
THE WYLAND FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO PROMOTING, PROTECTING, AND PRESERVING THE WORLD'S OCEAN, WATERWAYS, AND MARINE LIFE. THE FOUNDATION ENCOURAGES ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS THROUGH EDUCATION PROGRAMS, PUBLIC ARTS PROJECTS, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS.
- Income
- $502,336
- Spending
- $575,744
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 86%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 100
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: 49 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 52% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 80 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
- $525,290 spent. NATIONAL MAYOR'S CHALLENGE FOR WATER CONSERVATIONSINCE 2010, MORE THAN 1,000 U.S. CITIES HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE WYLAND NATIONAL MAYOR'S CHALLENGE FOR WATER CONSERVATION. IN 2025, RESIDENTS PLEDGED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF SPECIFIC WATER-SAVING AND POLLUTION PREVENTION ACTIONS, INCLUDING REDUCING SINGLE-USE PLASTICS, LIMITING FERTILIZER AND PESTICIDE USE, AND ADOPTING WATER-SMART LANDSCAPING. RELATED INITIATIVES INCLUDED MYVOLUNTEERWATER PROJECTS, WHICH ENGAGED HOUSEHOLDS IN AT-HOME POLLUTION PREVENTION, AND WATER-WISE PARKS, WHICH DEMONSTRATED SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING PRACTICES TO REDUCE URBAN RUNOFF. EXAMPLES INCLUDE COMMUNITIES SUCH AS DALLAS, WESTMINSTER, AND SAN CLEMENTE.WYLAND CLEAN WATER MOBILE LEARNING EXPERIENCETHE WYLAND FOUNDATION'S 1,000-SQUARE-FOOT MOBILE SCIENCE CENTER VISITED OVER 30 COMMUNITIES IN 2025, REACHING MORE THAN 15,000 STUDENTS, WITH A FOCUS ON TITLE I SCHOOLS AND UNDERSERVED AREAS. THE PROGRAM FEATURES A THEATER AND HANDS-ON LEARNING STATIONS THAT DEMONSTRATE HOW STORMWATER RUNOFF CARRIES POLLUTANTS TO RIVERS, LAKES, AND OCEANS, PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH DIRECT LESSONS IN WATER CONSERVATION AND POLLUTION PREVENTION.NATIONAL WATER IS LIFE ART CHALLENGEMORE THAN 25,000 K-12 STUDENTS FROM 45 STATES HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE WYLAND WATER IS LIFE ART CHALLENGE, CREATING ARTWORK THAT REFLECTED THE CULTURAL, ECONOMIC, AND ECOLOGICAL VALUE OF CLEAN WATER. IN 2025, CLASSROOMS RECEIVED EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, ART SUPPLIES, AND LARGE-FORMAT CANVASES, PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT CREATIVITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.STREAMS OF HOPE DIGITAL PLATFORMTHE FOUNDATION LAUNCHED STREAMS OF HOPE, A NEW EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM THAT INTEGRATES WATER QUALITY TESTING, STUDENT STORYTELLING, AND DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT. IN 2025, PILOT PROGRAMS IN LAGUNA BEACH, SAN CLEMENTE, AND ANAHEIM ENABLED STUDENTS TO CONDUCT WATER TESTING, UPLOAD RESULTS, AND CREATE DIGITAL PAGES TO SHARE FINDINGS. THE PLATFORM ALIGNS WITH NGSS AND COMMON CORE STANDARDS AND PROVIDES MEASURABLE OUTCOMES FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.WATER'S EXTREME JOURNEY MAZETHE WATER'S EXTREME JOURNEY TRAVELING MAZE EXHIBIT ENGAGED FAMILIES AT MUSEUMS AND SCIENCE CENTERS NATIONWIDE. THE 1,000-SQUARE-FOOT EXHIBIT DEMONSTRATED THE WATER CYCLE AND SHOWED HOW HOUSEHOLD BEHAVIORSSUCH AS CHEMICAL USE AND WATER CONSERVATIONIMPACT LOCAL WATERSHEDS.CLIMATE, HEAT + HEALTH PROJECTIN 2025, THE WYLAND FOUNDATION PILOTED A CLIMATE, HEAT + HEALTH OUTREACH INITIATIVE IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. WORKING WITH WITH LOCAL HEALTH AGENCIES, BUSINESSES, AND UNIVERSITIES, THE PROGRAM TRAINED 7 UNDERGRADUATE FELLOWS AND 30 BILINGUAL OUTREACH SPECIALISTS, ENGAGED OVER 1,250 RESIDENTS, DONATED AND PLANTED 250 SHADE TREES, REACHED 500 STUDENTS THROUGH THE MOBILE LEARNING CENTER, CONDUCTED COMMUNITY RISK ASSESSMENTS, SCREENINGS, PROVIDED ESSENTIAL INFORMATION TO REDUCE EXTREME HEAT RISK, AND CO-HOSTED A HEALTH AND CLIMATE FAIR FOR 500 RESIDENTS. THE INITIATIVE DEMONSTRATED THE CONNECTION BETWEEN COMMUNITY HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCE, WITH A LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE OF SCALING THE MODEL FOR USE BY OTHER NONPROFITS IN THE REGION.REGIONAL AND COMMUNITY PROJECTSART LESSONS IN THE WILD, CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DANA WHARF WHALE WATCHING, PROVIDED STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WITH ON-THE-WATER ART AND SCIENCE LESSONS ABOARD A 63' CATAMARAN, REACHING PARTICIPANTS WITH EDUCATION ON GRAY WHALE MIGRATION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CLEAN WATER.
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 2024.
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 June 1993.
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.