On Sacred Ground
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Education
- Income
- $151,769
- Spending
- $163,468
- Reserves
- -0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 60%
- Highest pay
- $68,261, island marble butterfly program director
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 6 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 216% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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, 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 (3)
- $82,230 spent. Island Marble Butterfly Captive Rearing Program - Over 200 butterflies reared to support federally listed endangered species. 102 pupae successfully released into wild from the 2023 rearing season and 124 pupae prepared and inventoried to over winter for the 2025 release season. Benefits primarily 11,000 people on San Juan and Lopez Island.
- $30,952 spent. Mentors to Mentors Program- Benefits underserved youth in ecologically degraded areas. Program directly served 50 high school and colleged-aged students and impacted 200 supporting participants. Program facilitated and developed environmental leadership skills.
- $11,452 spent. Island Marble Butterfly Volunteer Program - Supports the establishment, maintenance and monitoring of island marble butterfly habitat. Island Marble Butterfly is a federally listed endangered species with habitat loss as one of its primary causes of decline. Impacts 11,000 residents on San Juan and Lopez Island, and 100-200 volunteers annually.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 December 2014.
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.