Friends of Rose Canyon
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Protect, Preserve and Restore Rose Canyon and The Rose Creek Watershed
- Income
- $163,986
- Spending
- $165,396
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 42.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 75%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 272
- Highest pay
- $47,212, president
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 75% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 42.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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
Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 4 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
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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)
- $37,798 spent. Education Activities Objective To connect people with nature. To educate and inspire people to support environmental protection and restoration, particularly in Rose Canyon and the Rose Creek watershed. To educate people about San Diegos biodiversity and the threats to it. Activities We provided free guided nature walks in Rose Canyon and Marian Bear Park for 38 elementary school classes from 7 area schools the walks included the teachers and many parents. We had a booth at a large community event at which we had a licensed presenter of live native wildlife. Many of our Environmental Stewardship activities listed below were also educational.
- $13,085 spent. Research, Outreach, Advocacy, Lobbying Objective To protect Rose Canyon and the Rose Creek watershed and nearby undeveloped lands from negative impacts, and to support their conservation and habitat restoration. Activities we monitored plans that would have negative impacts to the habitat in Rose Canyon and the Rose Creek watershed, and we advocated for elimination of those impacts.
- $95,790 spent. Environmental Restoration/Stewardship Objective To remove invasive plants and restore native habitat in Rose Canyon to engage the public in habitat restoration planting, weeding, and watering, and to educate people about our native plants and animals. Activities we contracted with a non-profit organization and a restoration company to conduct habitat restoration in Rose Canyon, which we planned and oversaw. We logged 825 restoration volunteer hours, with a total of 272 volunteers and 44 events. Volunteers removed invasive plants planted, weeded and watered native plants and planted acorns to restore native oaks. We coordinated our activities with City of San Diego Open Space Park Rangers.
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 March 2006.
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.