Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative's mission is to protect, promote, and restore native Hawaiian dry forest.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $647,886
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 10.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 42%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 600
- Highest pay
- $86,170, 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 44% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 213% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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
Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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)
- $199,809 spent. Land Management: Through management informed by science, WDFI protected approximately 300 acres of native habitat from wildfire through weed management and fuelbreak maintenance. WDFI collected and stored native seeds, propagated several thousand native plants, and planted 2000 native trees, converting five acres of degraded land into managed forest restoration areas. In 2025, WDFI also secured an additional 116 acres for forest conservation
- $88,722 spent. Youth Education: WDFI hosted nature immersion after-school programming four days per week throughout the school year for 52 students. This place-based program serves area youth ages 9-13 and is provided at no cost to families. WDFI also provided field trips for local elementary school students and a four-week summer program for youth. A four-week summer camp was also offered at no cost to families and students.
- $194,881 spent. Community Outreach & Public Education: WDFI hosted monthly interpretive walks for the general public, as well as bi-monthly community workdays that engaged our local and visiting community. WDFI also provided field trips for visiting students, local schools, and other groups. WDFI also hosted a major educational event, the Wiliwili Festival, which engaged the community in-person at the preserve and online through virtual tours, workshops, talks, and activities. In 2025 WDFI also became the host of a professional symposium to promote conservation strategy and research with 250 attendees.
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 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 2025.
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 February 2012.
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.