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Ventana Wilderness Alliance a Non Profit California Corporation

EIN 77-0532467 · Monterey, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The mission of the Ventana Wilderness Alliance is to protect, preserve, and restore the wilderness qualities and biodiversity of the public lands within California's northern Santa Lucia Mountains and Big Sur coast.

Income
$743,171
Spending
$747,733
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
-0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
11
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$117,011, executive 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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. $177,446 spent. YOUTH: VWA'S YOUTH IN WILDERNESS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED BY CENTRAL COAST YOUTH. MONTEREY COUNTY RANKS AT OR NEAR THE TOP STATEWIDE IN YOUTH AND TEEN VIOLENCEAND REMAINS A COUNTY OF CONCERN FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENCY RATES. YOUNG PEOPLE IN URBAN AREAS OFTEN HAVE MINIMAL RESOURCES OR OPPORTUNITIES FOR A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. IN 2024, THE VWA'S YOUTH IN WILDERNESS PROGRAM CONTINUED TO FILL THIS NEED AND INSPIRE FUTURE WILDERNESS STEWARDS BY PROVIDING CAREFULLY PLANNED, PROFESSIONALLY-LED BACKPACKING ADVENTURES TO 322 YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE REGION. LEADERSHIP, GEAR, AND MEALS FOR THESE EXPERIENCES WAS PROVIDED AT NO COST TO PARTICIPANTS AND OUR EDUCATION PARTNERS.
  2. $144,126 spent. TRAIL PROGRAM: MAINTAINING PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE 300-MILE NETWORK OF TRAILS IN THE RUGGED VENTANA REGION HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE. LANDSCAPE LEVEL WILDFIRES IN RECENT YEARS INCLUDE THE 2016 SOBERANES FIRE AND THE 2020 DOLAN FIRE. EACH OF THESE CONFLAGRATIONS TORCHED OVER 100,000 ACRES OF THE VENTANA WILDENESS AND DAMAGED OVER 100 MILES OF TRAILS. POST-FIRE WINTER STORMS DECIMATE ROADS LEADING TOTRAILHEADS LIMITING THE ABILITY OF VOLUNTEER AND CONTRACT CREWS TO RESTORE TRAILS EQUALLY DAMAGED BY EROSION, DEBRIS FLOWS, AND DEADFALLS. DESPITE THESE MAJOR SETBACKS, THE VWA TRAIL PROGRAM CONTINUED TO CONTRIBUTE THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEER CREW HOURS IN 2024 TO MAINTAIN AND RECONSTRUCT PRIORITIZED SECTIONS OF TRAIL IN THE VENTANA AND SILVER PEAK WILDERNESS AREAS.
  3. $139,717 spent. ADVOCACY: VWA ADVOCATES FOR WILDERNESS VALUES AND THE ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC LANDS IN THE VENTANA AND BIG SUR REGIONS. POLICY EXPERTS ANALYZE AND RESPOND TO THE US FOREST SERVICE SCHEDULE OF PROPOSED ACTIONS (SOPA) BY ATTENDING PLANNING AND SCOPING MEETINGS, PROVIDING COMMENTS, AND ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION BY THE PUBLIC AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. THE VWA'S ADVOCACY PROGRAMS INCLUDED EFFORTS TO EXPAND WILDERNESS AND WILD AND SCENIC RIVER DESIGNATIONS, MONITORING GRAZING ALLOTMENTS TO ENSURE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE, PROMOTING APPROPRATE FUELS AND WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, IDENTIFYING AND ENCOURAGING THE MITIGATION OF WILDERNESS INCURSIONS, EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT WILDERNESS, AND ADVOCATING FOR THE RESTORATION OF FEDERAL FUNDING TO CRITICAL PUBLIC LAND AGENCIES.
  4. $25,115 spent. VOLUNTEER WILDERNESS RANGER PROGRAM: SINCE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT PRIORITIZE OR PROPERLY FUND THE US FOREST SERVICE TO MANAGE WILDNERNESS, VWA STEPS TO THE CHALLENGE WITH A PROGRAM THAT PUTS VOLUNTEER WILDERNESS RANGERS IN THE BACK COUNTRY. VOLUNTEERS PATROL TRAILS AND CAMPS AND PERFORM CAMPSITE MAINTENANCE WHILE IMPARTING FIRE SAFETY AND LEAVE NO TRACE INFORMATION TO THE VISITING PUBLIC. IN 2024 RANGERS DONATED THOUSANDS OF SERVICE HOURS BY CLEANING CAMP SITES, REMOVING TRASH, AND IMPARTING LEAVE NO TRACE PRINCIPLES THROUGH DIRECT CONTACT WITH VISITORS. EACH YEAR, VOLUNTEER WILDERNESS RANGERS MAKE AN IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION TO PUBLIC LANDS WORTH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO THE COMMUNITY.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2000.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.