Friends of Stevens Creek Trail
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE TRAIL
- Income
- $98,620
- Spending
- $63,237
- Reserves
- 43.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Highest pay
- $47,162, executive dir.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 86% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 43.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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, 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)
- WE MAINTAIN AND UPDATE OUR WEBSITE REGULARLY TO PROVIDE USEFUL INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON A CRITICAL ASPECT OF OUR MISSION - CLOSING THE GAPS THAT EXIST IN THE TRAIL. THE FRIENDS OF STEVENS CREEK TRAIL TOOK THE LEAD IN IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL ALIGNMENTS WHERE GAPS IN THE TRAIL EXIST TODAY. IN A FEW INSTANCES WHERE THE LAND WAS UNDER PRIVATE OWNERSHIP, THE FRIENDS WORKED WITH THE OWNERS FOR FUTURE EXTENSIONS TO RUN THROUGH THEIR PROPERTY AND EVEN ORGANIZED VOLUNTEER EVENTS TO DEVELOP DIRT TRACKS THERE. THE EXTENSIONS FROM STEVENS CREEK BOULEVARD TO VARIAN PARK AND FROM LINDA VISTA PARK TO THE COUNTY PARK, ALL IN CUPERTINO, ARE TWO EXAMPLES.WE DO NOT COLLECT FUNDS TO DIRECT THEM TO TRAIL MAINTENANCE OR DEVELOPMENT. THAT'S THE DOMAIN OF THE CITIES AND JURISDICTIONS THAT OWN THE CREEKS AND THE TRAILS. WE DO OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY WHICH LEADS TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT, WHICH IN TURN LEADS TO DECISIONS FURTHERING THE CAUSE OF THE WILDLIFE CORRIDOR AND THE TRAILS.THE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS COMPLEMENT THE CLEANUPS AND DE-WEEDING, ALL OF WHICH MAKE OUR VOLUNTEERING PROGRAM EVEN MORE WELL-ROUNDED.UNDER THE SIGNAGE PROGRAM, TREMENDOUS PROGRESS WAS MADE TO UNIFY THE STEVENS CREEK TRAIL WHICH RUNS THROUGH MULTIPLE CITIES AND JURISDICTIONS. THE MEDALLION, DESIGNED, DEVELOPED AND PRODUCED BY THE FRIENDS HAS BEEN INSTALLED IN ALL TRAIL SEGMENTS. THE NEW SIGNAGE HAS NOT REPLACED THE CITY SPECIFIC SIGNS WHICH WILL CONTINUE. THE INSTALLATION WORK, CARRIED OUT BY THE FRIENDS IN MOST LOCATIONS, WAS PRECEDED BY A MULTI-YEAR EFFORT TO FORGE AGREEMENTS WITH ALL PARTIES ALONG THE TRAIL TO HAVE COMMON SIGNAGE.
- THE FISH PASSAGE PROJECT AT DEEP CLIFF GOLF COURSE IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE WILDLIFE CORRIDOR PROGRAM. IT WAS COMPLETED IN 2022. THE FRIENDS HAVE AN AGREEMENT TO CONDUCT 5 YEARLY MONITORING TASKS. THE FIRST ONE WAS COMPLETED IN 2023. VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATION IN THE MONITORING EVENT ENABLED US TO HOLD THE COST TO A SIXTH OF WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WITH PAID SERVICES.
- $26,208 spent. THE TRAILBLAZER RACE, AFTER A BREAK OF TWO YEARS FORCED BY THE PANDEMIC, RETURNED AS AN IN-PERSON EVENT.
- OUTREACH AND VOLUNTEERISM-------------------------THE BOARD MEMBERS INTERACT WITH MAYORS & CITY COUNCILS BESIDES LEADING VOLUNTEERS IN TRAIL CLEANUPS, WEED PULLING, TREE PLANTING, DETERMINING NEW TRAIL ALIGNMENTS, PLANNING AND CONDUCT OF THE TRAILBLAZER RACE, INFO BOOTHS AT PUBLIC EVENTS, FISH PASSAGE MONITORING, COORDINATION WITH CITY AND COUNTY PARKS, REPORTING TO AGENCIES AND PLANNING AND CONDUCT OF SPECIAL SUMMITS/CONVENTIONS. NOT COUNTING THE TIME SPENT ON INTERNAL OPERATIONS, COSE TO 1900 HOURS WERE PUT IN MY OUR VOLUNTEERS AND BOARD MEMBERS.WE DO NOT COLLECT FUNDS TO DIRECT THEM TO TRAIL MAINTENANCE OR DEVELOPMENT. THAT'S THE DOMAIN OF THE CITIES AND JURISDICTIONS THAT OWN THE CREEKS AND THE TRAILS. WE DO OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY WHICH LEADS TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT, WHICH IN TURN LEADS TO DECISIONS FURTHERING THE CAUSE OF THE WILDLIFE CORRIDOR AND THE TRAILS.
- IDENTIFICATION OF GAPS IN TRAIL AND THEIR CLOSURE-------------------------------------------------THE BOARD MEMBERS' DONATIONS INCLUDES NOT JUST THEIR TIME. THEY ACQUIRED LAND AND DONATED IT TO THE CITY ON JUST ONE CONDITION--THAT THE CITY USE THAT TO CLOSE GAPS THAT EXIST IN THE TRAIL. THE 1/3RD MILE EXTENSION TO LINDA VISTA PARK IN CUPERTINO WAS ONE SUCH INSTANCE. PART OF THE STRETCH FROM STEVENS CREEK BLVD TO VARIAN PARK, ALSO IN CUPERTINO, IS INTENDED TO BE THE SECOND.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1993.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.