Marin Trail Stewards

What it says it does

TO MOTIVATE AND EMPOWER MARIN MOUNTAIN BIKERS TO ACT IN THEIR OWN SELF INTEREST TO GET FAIR AND REASONABLE ACCESS TO OUR PUBLIC TRAILS AND PRESERVE THE EXPERIENCE OF TRAIL RIDING.

Income

$354,954

Spending

$363,282

Spent on programs

97%

Reserves

3.7 months of spending

Largest source of income

donations and private grants, 74%

Employees

1

Volunteers

50

Highest pay

$60,000, executive di

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

• Reserves

  20 of 35

  Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

• Debt

  20 of 20

  It owes 0% of what it owns.

• Living within its means

  8 of 15

  Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

• Income trend

  15 of 15

  Income rose 32% on the year before.

• Spending floor

  15 of 15

  97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

• Independent board

  25 of 25

  8 of 9 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, 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.

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

1. check_circle

   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. check_circle

   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. check_circle

   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. check_circle

   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 September 7, 2026.

5. check_circle

   How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

   Recognized by the IRS since June 2017.

   Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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   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.