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Wild Bear Nature Center

EIN 84-1352764 · Nederland, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOR 27 YEARS, WILD BEAR NATURE CENTER HAS HELPED CHILDREN AND ADULTS FORGE LIFELONG CONNECTIONS TO NATURE THROUGH CREATIVE EXPLORATION OF THE OUTDOORS. SPECIALIZING IN MOUNTAIN ECOLOGY, WILD BEAR WELCOMES VISITORS TO ITS HANDS-ON NATURE CENTER AND PROVIDES YEAR-ROUND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. WILD BEAR NATURE CENTER INSPIRES A LIFELONG CONNECTION TO NATURE AND COMMUNITY THROUGH CREATIVE EXPLORATION OF THE OUTDOORS SINCE 1997. WE ARE KEY PARTNERS IN THE PRESERVATION OF MUD LAKE OPEN SPACE AND IN 2000 WE ORGANIZED THE COMMUNITY TO REMOVE 30 TONS OF TRASH MAKING IT ONE OF THE HEALTHIEST WETLAND HABITATS IN BOULDER COUNTY. WILD BEAR IS NOW IN A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO BUILD ITS PERMANENT HOME ON ITS FIVE ACRES AT MUD LAKE AND CARIBOU RANCH OPEN SPACES AND COMPLETED DEVELOPMENT DESIGN OF THE NATURE CENTER.

Income
$3.6 million
Spending
$840,144
Spent on programs
58%
Reserves
-51.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
28
Volunteers
33
Highest pay
$132,000, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 77% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    58% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 September 30, 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 (1)
  1. $487,959 spent. CHILDREN'S WORKSHOPS: WILD BEAR NATURE CENTER PROVIDES CHILDREN AGES 5-15 WITH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL HOURS; AFTER-SCHOOL, DAYS OFF, AND ALL SUMMER. WILD BEAR IS A CCCAP (COLORADO CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM) PROVIDER AND 49% OF PARTICIPANTS ARE IDENTIFIED AS LOW-INCOME AND ACCESS PROGRAMS THROUGH CCCAP AND DONOR SUPPORTED SCHOLARSHIPS. IN 2021-22, WILD BEAR PROVIDED PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN DURING THE SUMMER AND DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. PROVIDED 240 PROGRAMS TO 1,780 CHILDREN WHO EXPLORED THE INDIAL PEAKS WILDERNESS, MUD LAKE AND CAIBOU RANCH OPEN SPACES, AND OTHER SURROUNDING NATUREAL AREAS. SCHOOL PROGRAMS: WILD BEAR PROVIDES NATURAL SCIENCE PROGRAMS TO SURROUNDIND SCHOOL DISTRICTS AT MUD LAKE OR AT THE NATURE CENTER. PROVIDED 20 SCHOOL GROUP PROGRAMS TO 656 CHILDREN. INTERGENTERATIONAL FAMILTY PROGRAMS AND VISITATION: THE FREE INTERIM NATURE CENTER, LOCATED IN A COMMERCIAL SPACE, IS OPEN WHILE THE OFFICIAL NATURE CENTER IS BEING CONSTRUCTED ENGAGING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES IN HANDS-ON NATURE EXHIBITS. WILD BEAR PROVIDED 59 ADULT/FAMILY PROGRAMS TO 1,541 PARTICIPANTS AND ENJOYED 23,348 GENERAL VISITORS TO THE FREE NATURE CENTER. CHILDREN'S WORKSHOPS: WILD BEAR NATURE CENTER PROVIDES CHILDREN AGES 5-15 WITH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL HOURS; AFTER-SCHOOL, DAYS OFF, AND ALL SUMMER. WILD BEAR IS A CCCAP (COLORADO CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM) PROVIDER AND 49% OF PARTICIPANTS ARE IDENTIFIED AS LOW-INCOME AND ACCESS PROGRAMS THROUGH CCCAP AND DONOR SUPPORTED SCHOLARSHIPS. IN 2021-22, WILD BEAR PROVIDED PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN DURING THE SUMMER AND DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. PROVIDED 240 PROGRAMS TO 1,780 CHILDREN WHO EXPLORED THE INDIAL PEAKS WILDERNESS, MUD LAKE AND CAIBOU RANCH OPEN SPACES, AND OTHER SURROUNDING NATUREAL AREAS. SCHOOL PROGRAMS: WILD BEAR PROVIDES NATURAL SCIENCE PROGRAMS TO SURROUNDIND SCHOOL DISTRICTS AT MUD LAKE OR AT THE NATURE CENTER. PROVIDED 20 SCHOOL GROUP PROGRAMS TO 656 CHILDREN. INTERGENTERATIONAL FAMILTY PROGRAMS AND VISITATION: THE FREE INTERIM NATURE CENTER, LOCATED IN A COMMERCIAL SPACE, IS OPEN WHILE THE OFFICIAL NATURE CENTER IS BEING CONSTRUCTED ENGAGING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES IN HANDS-ON NATURE EXHIBITS. WILD BEAR PROVIDED 59 ADULT/FAMILY PROGRAMS TO 1,541 PARTICIPANTS AND ENJOYED 23,348 GENERAL VISITORS TO THE FREE NATURE CENTER.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1998.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.