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Friends of Nevada Wilderness

EIN 88-0211763 · Reno, NV

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FRIENDS OF NEVADA WILDERNESS (FNW) WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VOLUNTEERS AND OTHERS TO PROTECT NEVADA'S WILDERNESS AND WILDLIFE. FNW IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING ALL QUALIFIED NEVADA PUBLIC LANDS AS WILDERNESS, PROTECTING THESE WILDLANDS FROM ONGOING THREATS, EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE VALUES OF AND NEED FOR WILDERNESS, AND IMPROVING THE MANAGEMENT AND RESTORATION OF WILD LANDS.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
5.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 50%
Employees
24
Volunteers
521
Highest pay
$86,052, executive di

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

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% 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: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 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 (3)
  1. $996,442 spent. WILDERNESS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AGENCIES, OUR VOLUNTEER STEWARDS CLEAN UP, MONITOR AND HEAL WILDLANDS AND IMPROVE WILDLIFE HABITAT AND RECREATIONAL TRAIL ACCESS. IN 2024 WE COMPLETED 33 VOLUNTEER STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS WITH 353 VOLUNTEERS, GIVING BACK A TOTAL OF 291,125 OF IN-KIND VOLUNTEER SERVICE. VOLUNTEERS MONITORED 112 SPRINGS, PULLED INVASIVE WEEDS, SEEDED NATIVE PLANTS, COLLECTED WHITEBARK PINE SEEDS, REMOVED FENCE, MAINTAINED TRAILS, MONITORED DARK SKIES, AND INSTALLED SIGNS. OUR PROFESSIONAL TRAIL CREWS MAINTAINED ABOUT 67 MILES OF WILDERNESS TRAILS.
  2. $248,265 spent. WILDERNESS LEGISLATION AND PLANNING PROGRAM: WE CONTINUED SUPPORT WORK ON THE TRUCKEE MEADOWS AND PERSHING AND NYE COUNTIES PUBLIC LANDS BILLS. WE ANALYZED AND PROVIDED DETAILED COMMENTS PUBLIC LAND PROPOSALS AFFECTING NEVADA WILDLANDS INCLUDING THE GREENLINK WEST TRANSMISSION LINE AND THE MASSIVE ESMERALDA 7 INDUSTRIAL SOLAR FACILITIES PROPOSED THROUGH OUR ESMERALDA/FISH LAKE AREA OF CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN PROPOSAL. WE ALSO PROVIDED COMMENTS ON THE WEST-WIDE SOLAR PEIS, THE SAGE GROUSE EIS, AND THE WHITE PINE PUMPED STORAGE PROPOSALS. WE ALSO CREATED OUR FIRST LEGAL DEFENSE FUND TO BETTER DEFEND PUBLIC LANDS
  3. $231,439 spent. WILDERNESS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM: WE CELEBRATED OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY AS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WE DESIGNED AND PRINTED TWO NEWSLETTERS, PRODUCED THE 2025 WILD NEVADA CALENDAR, SENT MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTERS AND NUMEROUS ALERTS AND EVENT INVITATIONS TO OUR SUPPORTERS. WE HOSTED TWO ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH; A WILD SPEAKER SERIES, THE WILD AND SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL, THE BLACK ROCK RENDEZVOUS AND NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY EVENTS AND A DARK SKY FESTIVAL, ALONG WITH OUTREACH AT BURNING MAN. WE PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS TABLING EVENTS AND VOLUNTEER FAIRS WITH PATAGONIA AND LOCAL COLLEGES. OUR SAVE STARRY SKIES LICENSE PLATE BECAME AVAILABLE FOR NEVADA DRIVERS. ADDITIONAL STORIES, VIDEOS, AND PHOTOS CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR WEBSITE, INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE. WILDERNESS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM: WE CELEBRATED OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY AS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WE DESIGNED AND PRINTED TWO NEWSLETTERS, PRODUCED THE 2025 WILD NEVADA CALENDAR, SENT MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTERS AND NUMEROUS ALERTS AND EVENT INVITATIONS TO OUR SUPPORTERS. WE HOSTED TWO ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH; A WILD SPEAKER SERIES, THE WILD AND SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL, THE BLACK ROCK RENDEZVOUS AND NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY EVENTS AND A DARK SKY FESTIVAL, ALONG WITH OUTREACH AT BURNING MAN. WE PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS TABLING EVENTS AND VOLUNTEER FAIRS WITH PATAGONIA AND LOCAL COLLEGES. OUR SAVE STARRY SKIES LICENSE PLATE BECAME AVAILABLE FOR NEVADA DRIVERS. ADDITIONAL STORIES, VIDEOS, AND PHOTOS CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR WEBSITE, INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE.

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 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 2024.

    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 August 1986.

    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.