Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Southern Sierra Research Station

EIN 77-0536154 · Weldon, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SOUTHERN SIERRA RESEARCH STATION (SSRS) IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT AIMS TO UNDERSTAND THE BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES THAT CONTROL POPULATION SIZES AND SPECIES DIVERSITY. THE SOUTHERN SIERRA RESEARCH STATION (SSRS) IS LOCATED IN THE(CONTINUED ON SCH. O.) FOOTHILLS OF CALIFORNIA'S SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS. WE AIM TO UNDERSTND THE BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES THAT CONTROL POPULATION SIZES AND SPECIES DIVERSITY BY CONDUCTING BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH. IN COLLABORATION WITH GOVERNMENT, ACADEMIC, AND CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS, WE CREATE AND INTERPRET SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE TO INFORM ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND ENCOURAGE PUBLIC APPRECIATION OF THE REGION.THE SOUTHERN SIERRA RESEARCH STATION (SSRS) IS ORGANIZED UNDER THE NON-PROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION LAW FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES. THE SPECIFIC PURPOSES FOR WHICH THIS CORPORATION IS ORGANIZED ARE CONDUCTING RESEARCH TO PROVIDE SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE POPULATIONS OF RARE AND THREATENED SPECIES AND BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY.

Income
$504,961
Spending
$765,633
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 97%
Employees
14
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$82,795, research 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

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 52% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

    5 of 5 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 (1)
  1. $556,488 spent. FOUNDED IN 2000, THE SOUTHERN SIERRA RESEARCH STATION (SSRS) IS A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION HEADQUARTERED AT OUR RESEARCH FACILITY IN THE FOOTHILLS OF CALIFORNIA'S SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVEDA, AN AREA UNIQUE FOR ITS CONVERGENCE OF 5 BIOLOGICAL REGIONS AND IS AN AREA OF HIGH DIVERSITY INCLUDING OVER 300 BIRD SPECIES. SSRS CONDUCTS, PROMOTES, FACILITATES, AND DISSEMINATES BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH THAT INFORMS CONSERVATION DECISIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, AND CONTRIBUTES TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING, SUSTAINING, AND CONSERVING NATURAL RESOURCES, BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY CHALLENGED, RARE, THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES. WITH A FOCUS ON RESEARCH IN THE PACIFIC SOUTHWEST THROUGH LATIN AMERICA, IN COLLABORATION WITH GOVERNMENT, ACADEMIC, AND CONSERVATION (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.) ORGANIZATIONS, WE INCREASE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE OF SPECIES IN SUPPORT OF OUR MISSION, AID AND OR ENGAGE IN PROJECTS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE ENDANGERED SPECIES AND THEIR HABITATS, ENCOURAGE PUBLIC SUPPORT AND APPRECIATION FOR CONSERVATION OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY THROUGH EDUCATION, INFORMATION AND RESEARCH DISSEMINATION, OUTREACH, AND OTHER PROGRAMS.

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 July 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.