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Friends of Plumas Wilderness

EIN 68-0239283 · Quincy, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO STUDY, EXPLORE, AND MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS WHERE THE SIERRA AND CASCADES MEET.

Income
$243,757
Spending
$151,708
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
16.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
3

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

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

  • 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, 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 (5)
  1. A. PROJECT PLUMAS INITIATIVE OBJECTIVE: ESTABLISHING A COLLABORATIVE, SCIENCE-DRIVEN CONSERVATION VISION, CENTERED ON THE ENDURING PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC LANDS ENCOMPASSING THE UPPER FEATHER RIVER WATERSHED (UFRW). THE GOAL IS TO SAFEGUARD 400,000 ACRES OF PRISTINE WILD LANDS AND PRESERVE THE NATURAL INTEGRITY OF 100 MILES OF UNTAMED RIVERS WITHIN THE UFRW. THIS VISION IS SET TO BE RALIZED BY THE YEAR 2030. THE CORNERSTONE OF THIS INITIATIVE IS THE DESIGNATION OF A NATIONAL MONUMENT.
  2. IN 2022, THE ORGANIZATION HELD A NUMBER OF OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC, PARTNERS AND REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING 5 FIELD TRIPS (200+ PARTICIPANTS), A COMMUNITY OUTREACH SPEAKER EVENT AND SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS TO ORGANIZATIONS, TRIBAL COMMUNITITES, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS REGARDING PROPOSED REGIONAL CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES.
  3. MONITORING ADVOCACY: FOPW ENGAGES IN A VARIETY OF MONITORING AND ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES INCLUDING MAPPING AND INVENTORY OF UNAUTHORIZED OHV ROUTES, MONITORING POST-FIRE IMPACTS IN THE BUCKS LAKE WILDERNESS AND WINTER RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY MONITORING. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED SOLICITED PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING POST DISTURBANCE HAZARDOUS TREE REMOVAL PLANS FOR THE PLUMAS AND LASSEN NATIONAL FORESTS CITING CONCERNS ABOUT NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH POST-FIRE LOGGING.
  4. $92,575 spent. A. BEAR FIRE PHOTO PROJECT 5509: PHOTO-DOCUMENTING FOREST CHANGES FOLLOWING THE 2020 NORTH COMPLEX FIRE FROM PROMINENT VIEWPOINTS AROUND THE MIDDLE FORK FEATHER RIVER, A CHARTER WILD & SCENIC RIVER. B. BUILDING 30X30 CAPACITY IN THE SIERRA-CASCADE REGION 13,015: WORKING WITH LOCAL AND REGIONAL PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY STRATEGIES IN THE NORTHERN SIERRA REGION TO PROTECT 30% OF LANDS AND WATERS FOR NATURE BY 2030. C. PLUMAS NATIONAL FOREST ADVOCACY & EDUCATION PROJECT 15,000: INCREASE ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION FOR THE PLUMAS NATIONAL FOREST. TO ACHIEVE THIS PROJECT GOAL, FRIENDS OF PLUMAS WILDERNESS COLLABORATED WITH OTHER LOCAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTNERS TO STRATEGIZE WAYS TO PROTECT THE PLUMAS NATIONAL FOREST FROM THREATS OF DEVELOPMENT.
  5. A. BEAR FIRE PHOTO PROJECT 5509: PHOTO-DOCUMENTING FOREST CHANGES FOLLOWING THE 2020 NORTH COMPLEX FIRE FROM PROMINENT VIEWPOINTS AROUND THE MIDDLE FORK FEATHER RIVER, A CHARTER WILD & SCENIC RIVER. B. BUILDING 30X30 CAPACITY IN THE SIERRA-CASCADE REGION 13,015: WORKING WITH LOCAL AND REGIONAL PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY STRATEGIES IN THE NORTHERN SIERRA REGION TO PROTECT 30% OF LANDS AND WATERS FOR NATURE BY 2030. C. PLUMAS NATIONAL FOREST ADVOCACY & EDUCATION PROJECT 15,000: INCREASE ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION FOR THE PLUMAS NATIONAL FOREST. TO ACHIEVE THIS PROJECT GOAL, FRIENDS OF PLUMAS WILDERNESS COLLABORATED WITH OTHER LOCAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTNERS TO STRATEGIZE WAYS TO PROTECT THE PLUMAS NATIONAL FOREST FROM THREATS OF DEVELOPMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2010 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on September 15, 2015.

    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 2024.

    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 September 2015.

    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.