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The Mono Lake Foundation

EIN 77-0051124 · Lee Vining, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MONO LAKE FOUNDATION (KNOWN AS THE MONO LAKE COMMITTEE) IS A NON-PROFIT CITIZEN'S GROUP DEDICATED TO PROTECTING AND RESTORING MONO LAKE, ITS TRIBUTARY STREAMS, AND SURROUNDING LANDS, EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT MONO LAKE AND THE IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT OF EXCESSIVE WATER USE, AND PROMOTING COOPERATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT PROTECT MONO LAKE AND MEET REAL WATER NEEDS WITHOUT TRANSFERRING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS TO OTHER AREAS.

Income
$5.2 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
35.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
37
Volunteers
110
Highest pay
$154,128, excutive director

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 35.3 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 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (3)
  1. $3.6 million spent. PROTECTION & RESTORATION: THE MONO LAKE COMMITTEE PROTECTS THE ECOLOGICAL HEALTH AND SCENIC QUALITIES OF MONO LAKE, ITS TRIBUTARY STREAMS, AND SURROUNDING LANDS. THE COMMITTEE ADVOCATES AND IMPLEMENTS RESTORATION PROGRAMS THAT HEAL THE DAMAGE DONE BY EXCESSIVE WATER DIVERSIONS TO LOS ANGELES IN PAST DECADES INCLUDING RAISING MONO LAKE TO THE STATE-MANDATED ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE LEVEL AND RESTORING THE HEALTH OF MONO'S TRIBUTARY STREAMS AND WATERFOWL HABITAT. WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND STATE, FEDERAL, AND REGIONAL GROUPS, THE MONO LAKE COMMITTEE SEEKS TO DEMONSTRATE THE INTERCONNECTION BETWEEN A HEALTHY ECOSYSTEM AND A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY. THE MONO LAKE COMMITTEE'S STATEWIDE WATER POLICY WORK FOCUSES ON USING THE LESSONS LEARNED AT MONO LAKE AS A TOOL TO ADVOCATE FOR CONSERVATION, RECLAMATION, AND WISE WATER USE. THE MONO LAKE COMMITTEE ALSO MAINTAINS AN ACTIVE PRESENCE IN LOS ANGELES, REFLECTING THE LONG-TERM INTERTWINED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND MONO LAKE.
  2. EDUCATION: THE MONO LAKE COMMITTEE SEEKS TO SHARE THE MONO LAKE STORY WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND A DIVERSE RANGE OF SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS. EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE INTERPRETIVE WALKS AND CANOE TOURS AT MONO LAKE, BIRD WALKS, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOR SCHOOL GROUPS, WEEKEND FIELD SEMINARS, A PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTER WITH EXHIBITS AND A FILM, AND THE OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER THAT CONNECTS LOS ANGELES YOUTH TO THE SOURCE OF THEIR WATER. THESE PROGRAMS, WHICH REACH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ANNUALLY, EMPHASIZE PERSONAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH UNDERSTANDING THE BALANCE BETWEEN MONO LAKE'S UNIQUE ECOSYSTEM AND HUMANS' NEED FOR WATER.MONO LAKE COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS PROVIDE VALUABLE EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC. THE QUARTERLY MONO LAKE NEWSLETTER CONTAINS DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT PUBLIC POLICY, NATURAL HISTORY, AND OTHER ITEMS RELEVANT TO MONO LAKE AND IS MAILED TO THE MONO LAKE COMMITTEE'S 16,000 MEMBERS AND GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR FREE. THE MONO LAKE COMMITTEE'S WEBSITE, MONOLAKE.ORG PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF CURRENT NEWS AND INFORMATION ABOUT MONO LAKE.
  3. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH: THE MONO LAKE COMMITTEE RUNS THE MONO BASIN FIELD STATION TO SUPPORT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN THE MONO BASIN BY PROVIDING HOUSING AND BASIC RESOURCES NEEDED FOR RESEARCH. THE INFORMATION GATHERED AT THE FIELD STATION IS INSTRUMENTAL IN UNDERSTANDING MONO LAKE AND IN SHAPING THE MONO LAKE COMMITTEE'S POLICIES AND SCIENCE-BASED LAND MANAGEMENT BY AGENCIES. THE MONO LAKE COMMITTEE ALSO RUNS THE VORSTER CENTER FOR MONO BASIN HYDROLOGY, A SCIENCE AND RESEARCH HUB FOR DATA COLLECTION, MODELING, ANALYSIS, FORECASTING, AND REAL-WORLD APPLICATION OF MONO LAKE AND MONO BASIN HYDROLOGY. THE MONO LAKE COMMITTEE ALSO MAINTAINS AN ONLINE LIBRARY FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, AND HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS AT MONOBASINRESEARCH.ORG.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1985.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: The Foundation (Houston, TX), EIN 92-0742101. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.