Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Wildrock

EIN 47-5279299 · Crozet, VA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WILDROCKS MISSION IS TO PROMOTE NATURE PLAY FOR HEALTH AND HAPPINESS. GIVEN THAT NATURE PLAY IS LESS A PART OF DAILY LIFE TODAY THAN IN ANY PREVIOUS GENERATION, IT IS NECESSARY TO CREATE ENTICING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO RECONNECT WITH THE NATURAL WORLD. OUR MISSION IS BASED ON THE EVIDENCE THAT NATURE CONNECTION: FOSTERS SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL AND INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDHOOD AND BEYOND; INSPIRES A CONSERVATION ETHIC BY GIVING PEOPLE JOYFUL MEMORIES THAT LEAD TO A DESIRE TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE NATURAL PLACES; BUILDS COMMUNITIES OF COLLABORATION AND CREATIVITY NEEDED TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME.

Income
$387,369
Spending
$336,105
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
33.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
20
Volunteers
90
Highest pay
$75,600, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 33.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 (5)
  1. $63,462 spent. GENERAL PARK USE: WILDROCK'S NATURE PLAYSCAPE, TRAILS, AND BARN CENTER ARE OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR FAMILY DAY TRIPS, COMMUNITY GROUP EXCURSIONS, FIELD TRIPS AND SMALL FAMILY EVENTS SERVING APPROXIMATELY 8000 KIDS EACH YEAR.
  2. $59,545 spent. OFFSITE ACTIVITIES: WILDROCK OFFERS A RANGE OF NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLYARDS, MULTIFAMILY HOUSING COMPLEXES, AND LOCAL PARKS. PROGRAMS WORK TO SERVE WILDROCK'S MISSION TO PROMOTE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE BENEFITS OF NATURE PLAY SERVING APPROXIMATELY 8000 EACH YEAR.
  3. $52,414 spent. CAMPS ARE OFFERED DURING SPRING BREAK AND SUMMER. OUR CAMP PROGRAMS TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF WILDROCK'S IDYLLIC LANDSCAPE DESIGNED FOR FREE PLAY AND EXPLORATION. NATURE PROVIDES ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGING THE IMAGINATION, CREATING ART WITH NATURAL MATERIALS, INVESTIGATING STREAMS AND FORESTS, AND MAKING UP GAMES WITH FRIENDS. THE MAJORITY OF THE DAY IS OUTSIDE. CAMPERS SPEND JOYFUL DAYS ON THE FOREST TRAIL, LEARN TO CARE FOR WILDROCK'S ANIMALS, AND PARTAKE IN COLLABORATIVE SKILL-BUILDING WORKSHOPS. EACH DAY INCLUDES NATURE EXPLORATION, FREE PLAY, AND MAKER-SPACE CRAFTS. REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE OF WALKER UPPER ELEMENTARY PLAYGROUND, INCLUDING RENOVATIONS TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES.
  4. $124,909 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE RETREATS, CLASSES & CONFERENCES. SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS (INCLUDES DAY CAMPS AND RETREAT : WILDROCK OFFERS FIELD TRIPS THAT COMBINE PLAY-BASED LEARNING ON THE PLAYSCAPE WITH INQUIRY-BASED ACTIVITIES IN WILDROCK'S FOREST, STREAMS, AND MEADOWS. ALL THE TRIPS ADHERE TO THE VIRGINIA STANDARDS OF LEARNING AND ENGAGE APPROXIMATELY 4000 CHILDREN EACH YEAR. WILDROCK NATURE PLAY LAB, LLC: THIS LLC ALLOWS WILDROCK TO SELL NATURE PLAY LABS, A COMBINATION PLAY STRUCTURE AND STORAGE FACILITY, TO LOCAL SCHOOL PARTNERS WORKING WITH US ON SCHOOL PROGRAMS.
  5. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE RETREATS, CLASSES & CONFERENCES. SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS (INCLUDES DAY CAMPS AND RETREAT : WILDROCK OFFERS FIELD TRIPS THAT COMBINE PLAY-BASED LEARNING ON THE PLAYSCAPE WITH INQUIRY-BASED ACTIVITIES IN WILDROCK'S FOREST, STREAMS, AND MEADOWS. ALL THE TRIPS ADHERE TO THE VIRGINIA STANDARDS OF LEARNING AND ENGAGE APPROXIMATELY 4000 CHILDREN EACH YEAR. WILDROCK NATURE PLAY LAB, LLC: THIS LLC ALLOWS WILDROCK TO SELL NATURE PLAY LABS, A COMBINATION PLAY STRUCTURE AND STORAGE FACILITY, TO LOCAL SCHOOL PARTNERS WORKING WITH US ON SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2016.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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.