Friends of the Wildlife Corridor
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND ENHANCE THE WILDLIFE CORRIDORS THAT ENCOMPASS SANTA ANA AND THE LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES, SO THAT ALL NATIVE ANIMAL AND PLANT LIFE MAINTAIN HEALTHY POPULATIONS, AND SO THE WILDLIFE CORRIDORS ARE PRESERVED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
- Income
- $81,784
- Spending
- $87,537
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 60 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 38%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 50
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
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 60.0 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 57% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $44,264 spent. WE ARE RAISING AWARENESS OF THE CRITICAL ROLE WILDLIFE CORRIDORS PLAY IN MAINTINING THE BIODIVERSITY OF ECOSYSTEMS BY ADVOCATING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE VITAL HABITATS THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATION, AND CONSERVATION INITIATIVES. AS EXAMPLES, THIS YEAR WE HOSTED A RUN AT THE REFUGE WHICH DREW IN ABOUT 200 RUNNERS AND 30 WALKERS. WE OPERATED OUR NATURE STORE WHERE OUR VOLUNTEERS CAN ANSWER THE PUBLICS QUESTIONS. WE SEND OUT A QUARTERLY NEWLETTER THAT INCLUDES A REPORT ON THE REFUGE, INFORMATION ON CONSERVATION ISSUES, AND NATURE RELATED ARTICLES. WE STARTED A MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM THIS YEAR TO RAISE AWARENESS AND INVOLVE MORE PEOPLE IN OUR EFFORTS.
- $29,442 spent. TO CREATE HEALTHY NATIVE HABITATS, WE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN A REVEGETATION PROGRAM WHICH PLANTS BETWEEN 50,000 AND 250,000 SEEDLINGS A YEAR. IN ADDITION, WE ARE A PARTNER ORGANIZATION AND PARTICIPATED IN RIO REFORESTATION, A YEARLY PLANTING EVENT THAT DRAWS UP TO TWELVE HUNDRED PARTICIPANTS A YEAR. DURING THE CURRENT YEAR, AMERICAN FORESTS IS MANAGING THE REFUGE REVEGITATION PROGRAM. FUNDS RAISED PRIOR TO THIS CHANGE, REMAIN WITH THE FRIENDS FOR FUTURE REVEGITATION RELATED USES.
- $605 spent. WHEN POSSIBLE, WE PURCHASE SMALL TRACTS OF LAND FOR SUBSEQUENT INCORPORATION INTO THE LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. LAST YEAR, WE MADE AN INVESTMENT IN A 220 ACRE PIECE OF LAND WITH OUR SISTER REFUGE, THE LAGUNA ATASOCSA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, TO BE ADDED TO THEIR REFUGE SYSTEM. WE STILL HAVE AN INVESTMENT IN THIS PIECE OF LAND. WE RECEIVED A PIECE OF LAND AS A DONATION THIS YEAR. WE HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE LAND TRANSFERED TO OUR NAME AND PAID MINOR EXPENSES FOR UPKEEP. WE ACTIVELY LOOK FOR GRANTS TO HELP US IN OUR GOALS. THIS YEAR, WE RECEIVED ONE GRANT THAT TOTALLED $26,700 TO PURCHASE AND PLANT SEEDLINGS ON TWO REFUGE REVEGITATION SITES.
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
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1998.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.