Wild Ones -- Natural Landscapers Ltd
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WILD ONES PROMOTES ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND LANDSCAPING PRACTICES TO PRESERVE BIODIVERSITY BY EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE PRESERVATION, RESTORATION, AND ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIVE PLANT COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 57%
- Reserves
- 13.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 69%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 7,811
- Highest pay
- $75,278, executive director
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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1557% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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, 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)
- $632,203 spent. ENGAGE LOCAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS, EVENT WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, AND CONFERENCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF INFORMING AND EDUCATING MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION BENEFITS OF USING NATIVE PLANTS IN NATURAL LANDSCAPING. PRODUCE BROCHURES, VIDEOS, JOURNALS, AND MAINTAIN BOTH A WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE, ALL FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING VALIDATED INFORMATION NATIONALLY FOR MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION BENEFITS OF USING NATIVE PLANTS IN NATURAL LANDSCAPING. ENRICH COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING GRANTS TO QUALIFIED SCHOOLS AND LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO USE NATIVE PLANTINGS TO IMPROVE THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, BENEFIT SOIL STRUCTURE, ENHANCE PLANT COMMUNITIES, INCREASE NATIVE POLLINATORS, SUPPORT NATIVE FAUNA, IMPROVE AIR QUALITY, AND EXPAND WATER SHEDS.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1991.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.