Friends of the Inyo
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Friends of the Inyos mission is to protect, and care for, the lands and waters of Californias Eastern Sierra.
- Income
- $890,026
- Spending
- $1.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 300
- Highest pay
- $105,749, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 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 (2)
- $525,559 spent. Policy: Friends of the Inyo's largest program is its policy engagement program. In 2025, FOI continued to advocate for and protect California's Eastern Sierra from inappropriate projects aimed at extracting water and minerals from ecologically and culturally sensitive areas. FOI continued to advance campaigns to permanently protect 160,000 acres in southern Inyo County, and to designate a new Area of Critical Environmental Concern in northern Mono County. Additionally, Friends of the Inyo worked to protect the public lands of its working area, and throughout the United States, by opposing the selloff of public lands and budget and staffing cuts to the National Park Service, Forest Service and BLM. Additionally, we organized opposition to the appointment of anti-public lands agency leadership, and the weakening of laws and regulations that protect our environment.
- $219,386 spent. Stewardship: Friends of the Inyo effectively cared for the lands of the Eastern Sierra in 2025 through its stewardship program. This includes physical programs for protection and restoration of public lands through habitat monitoring and improvement, removal of invasive species, removal of human debris, and maintenance with the intent to limit the expansion of human disturbance in natural environments. Typical seasonal stewardship activities include trail and campground maintenance, restoration of disturbed sites, and public outreach and education. Our organization partners with local schools, college groups, donors, as well as local and federal agencies to care for the public lands of the Eastern Sierra.
Source: Form 990 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 March 1997.
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.