Friends of the Eastern California Museum
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Friends of the Eastern California Museum FECM is a nonprofit organization that provides short and long term financial and volunteer support to the Eastern California Museum ECM. Working in collaboration with ECM FECM supports ECMs mission to preserve and interpret the natural and cultural history of Inyo County and the Eastern Sierra from Death Valley to Mono Lake California. Contributions to FECM are used to aid in increasing ECMs value as a public educational institution to sponsor educational programs that encourage public awareness of Inyo Countys rich and diverse heritage and to provide monetary in-kind and volunteer help for ECM operations and programs.
- Income
- $77,823
- Spending
- $17,802
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (4)
- $250 spent. Cerro Gordo: Ghost Town Living: Mining for Purpose and Chasing Dreams at the Edge of Death Valley. Brent Underwood owner of Cerro Gordo Mines and author of the book named in the heading above was our presenter at the FECMs Annual Members Meeting Dinner. Brent shared his exciting and unique experiences including his research into the towns history his plans for reviving the once booming ghost town and how Cerro Gordo can be explored and visited by others.
- $200 spent. Patsiata Its past present and future: A Driving Tour at Owens Lake. Inyo County educator naturalist and conservationist Mike Prather led a driving tour along the shore of Patsiata the indigenous name for Owens Lake. Mike an advocate since the 1980s for the protection and management of birds at Patsiata discussed the massive return of birds to the lake the lakes geology and natural history the results of human impact on the lake and its environs and the future of the Patsiata habitat.
- $500 spent. A Journey Through Nevadas Past: Guided Tours of Stewart Indian School Cultural Center and Museum and the Marjorie Russell Clothing & Textile Research Center. Chris Ann Gibbons Collections Curator and Melanie Smokey Education Curator of the Stewart Indian School Cultural Center and Museum lead tours respectively of the school itself its landscaped grounds and unique stone architecture and of the Museum and Cultural Center including its gallery and Research Room which houses archival documents photographs and publications about Stewarts history. Curator Jan Loverin shared valuable knowledge of the outstanding collection of historic costumes and textiles stored in the Marjorie Russell Clothing & Textile Research Center of the Nevada State Museum. Jan also shared her collection management and best practices expertise.
- $650 spent. Oral History Workshop. Eastern California Museum has revitalized the Oral History Program and FECM provided funds for a collaborative effort between the Museum the Friends and a consultant to train volunteers in interviewing techniques and well as the purchase of recorders for the Oral History program use. The 2025 Workshop was the first of many that will be held as needed to train more interviewers.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 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 December 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 October 1986.
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.