Pole Mountain Lookout Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Pole Mountain Lookout has partnered with Sonoma Land Trust to create a permanent home for this icon at their Pole Mountain Preserve. It endures because of a dedicated community and generous donations. The lookout management has reorganized and new leadership has emerged. Updating lookout operations and providing modern technology are key priorities. Restored staffing means there will be backup for equipment failure, spotting puffs of smoke early, and aiding fire crews on the ground.
- Income
- $54,504
- Spending
- $70,389
- Reserves
- 3.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (1)
- $67,156 spent. Pole Mountain Lookout has partnered with Sonoma Land Trust to create a permanent home for this icon at their Pole Mountain Preserve. It endures because of a dedicated community and generous donations. The lookout management has reorganized and new leadership has emerged. Updating lookout operations and providing modern technology are key priorities. Restored staffing means there will be backup for equipment failure, spotting puffs of smoke early, and aiding fire crews on the ground.The lookout currently hosts two high-performance 360 PTZ cameras, provided by Alert Wildfire in partnership with PG&E. One camera may be busy monitoring a fire while the other rotating camera continues to provide visibility for its approximate 25-mile operating range. As the technology improves Pole Mountain Lookout will expand automated monitoring capabilities for the best possible coverage.You can view the Pole Mountain Alert Wildfire cameras at http://www.alertwildfire.org/northbay/.The over 50-year-old Pole Mountain Lookout had been located at the peak of Pole Mountain for almost 40 of those years and has been demolished in preparation for the new build. Design and final drawings of the new structure are complete and various other activities continue to pave the way for a modern lookout facility. The new structure will be made primarily of high-quality steel a material that will guarantee low maintenance and long service life.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 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 July 2019.
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.