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Shelterwood Collective

EIN 85-3979419 · Cazadero, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SHELTERWOOD COLLECTIVE IS A 900-ACRE COMMUNITY FOREST, RETREAT CENTER, AND COLLECTIVE OF LAND PROTECTORS ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO ADVANCE ACCESSIBILITY TO NATURE AND TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE LAND STEWARDSHIP. WE ARE BASED ON UNCEDED SOUTHERN POMO AND KASHAYA TERRITORY, ABOVE WHAT IS NOW CALLED THE RUSSIAN RIVER IN SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. SHELTERWOOD WAS ESTABLISHED ON THE PREMISE THAT ECOSYSTEM HEALTH CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED BYCOMMUNITIES WHO ARE IN DEEP RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EARTH AND WITH ONEANOTHER. THROUGH LAND STEWARDSHIP, FOREST RESTORATION, ANDCOMMUNITY AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS, WE HEAL INTERCONNECTED ECOSYSTEMS AND HELP INCREASE ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS FOR HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.

Income
$4.5 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
6.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 52%
Employees
8
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$130,332, executive director

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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 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 (3)
  1. $2.0 million spent. ADVANCED FOREST RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES. PILOT CRITICAL FOREST HEALTH ACTIVITIES AND BEGAN SPENDING A CALIFORNIA STATE GRANT FOCUSED ON LONG-TERM FOREST HEALTH AND VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES.
  2. $262,412 spent. COMPLETED INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. UPDATED TWO STUDIO/CABIN TO PROVIDE SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE SPACES FOR THE STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CARRY OUT THE ORGANIZATION'S CORE MISSION. REPAIRED CIVIL SYSTEMS.
  3. $393,617 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND WORKSHOPS. WELCOMED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT GROUPS TO THE LAND TO DEVELOP DEEPER CONNECTIONS WITH NATURE, WITH THEIR OWN ORGANIZATIONAL MISSIONS, AND WITH THE STAFF. HOSTED SMALL SCALE RETREATS.

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. 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 December 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 July 2021.

    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.

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