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Passes our checks

Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center

EIN 68-0233272 · Mount Shasta, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair54 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Mt. Shasta Bioregional Ecology is a community of people inspired to honor, protect, and restore our world-renowned mountain environment. We advocate strong enforceable protections for our mountain, for clean air and water, for healthy forests and wildlife habitat. We do this by fostering ecological and community resilience, supporting local stewardship and restoration activities, incorporating cultural and community values as the foundation of our actions, engaging in intergenerational education, and stewarding our home ecosystem.

Income
$453,216
Spending
$290,479
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
10.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
6
Volunteers
0

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.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 137% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 54 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 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 (6)
  1. $29,560 spent. Community Fire Resiliency: This program strengthens wildfire resilience in Siskiyou County by deepening community relationships and expanding on-the-ground mitigation efors-all provided at no cost to participants. MSBEC leads and coordinates collaborative efforts with partner organizations, agencies, and residents to assess needs, build local capacity, and organize events that foster neighborhood connection and cohesion. Free educational workshops empower residents with the knowledge and tools to prepare for wildfire risks. These efforts directly support physical resilience projects-including fuels reduction, home hardening, and improving ingress and egress---tailored to the unique needs of each subcommunity.
  2. $66,021 spent. Protect Medicine Lake Highlands & Aquifer: For nearly 30 years in partnership with the Pit River Nation and Stanford Law Clinic, MSBEC sought protection against extractive practices. Recently achieving a national monument designation for some of the region, MSBEC continues to defend that status and progress on the management plan. MSBEC holds free educational outings in the region. MSBEC continues to seek protection for the water through state mechanisms.
  3. $17,877 spent. Fiscal Sponsorship: MSBEC serves as fiscal sponsor for Culinary Action for Education, Mount Shasta Mycological Society and RAD Camp's mobile greenhouse.
  4. $23,104 spent. Forest and Watershed Watch: MSBEC works to safeguard regional forest habitats and to preserve the rich diversity of the mountain environment. MSBEC participates in environmental review processes and monitoring for new proposals as well as review of new agency analyses and plans. MSBEC monitors Forest Service Schedule of Proposed Actions to evaluate impacts and provides early comments in the environmental review processes.
  5. $34,116 spent. WILD SPACES
  6. $41,804 spent. VARIOUS PROJECTS, ECO CAMP, EARTH DAY, COMMUNITY EDUCATION, HOME PROGRAM, WCF

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

  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 December 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 February 1996.

    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.