Save Elephant Hill
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of Save Elephant Hill is to preserve and protect Elephant Hill, a 110-acre open space area in El Sereno. Save Elephant Hill organizes and mobilizes residents, builds strategic alliances, and conducts public education to ensure residents have an active and equitable voice in policy and other decision-making processes regarding land use, conservation and parks and green spaces.
- Income
- $148,009
- Spending
- $78,764
- Reserves
- 11 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 100%
- Highest pay
- $15,000, president
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (1)
- $72,375 spent. Save Elephant Hill had a very successful year, securing positive attention from decision makers, the media, and funders. The organization also successfully met a number of challenges inherent in the work of urban conservation with much work remaining to be done.Fund development and other revenue:Successfully secured for a subcontract for $100,000.00 from North East Trees (NET) to undertake community engagement related to nature-based stormwater solutions for Elephant Hill. An advance of $75,000.00 was deposited into our bank account as an advance. No expenditures to date.Successfully secured a contract for $200,000.00 from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (hereafter, the Conservancy) to undertake acquisition planning and design work on Elephant Hill to assist with strategic acquisitions by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA). A contract was signed and an invoice submitted for an advance of 25% of the contract amount. A majority of the funds will be disbursed to subcontractors who will undertake the bulk of the work.Payments were received from the MRCA for ongoing public education work SEH undertook as a subcontractor on MRCAs grant from the State of California, Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (OHMVRD) to prevent off roading on Elephant Hill. Secured an individual donation from Andy Wong an entertainment industry attorney active in open space issues.Invited to apply for a general operating grant from Metabolic Studios for $15,000.00; submitted the application in late December. Programmatic Activities and Other Highlights:Conducted outreach and education to 38 nonprofit organizations and elected officials and ongoing social media activity regarding the OHV project and the impacts of unauthorized off roading on Elephant Hill.Coordinated project partners, consultants, MRCA, residents and other stakeholders focused on effectively achieving the OHV project goals and objectives. Together with our project partners we have held a total of 12 public events or near on Elephant Hill. Developed and printed a large format, double-sided, color Nature Guide document in Spanish and English for use in public education and nature walks on Elephant Hill.Finalized social media educational materials for the OHV (Off Highway Motor Vehicle) project.Remained in regular communications with the Los Angeles County Safe Clean Water Program (SCWP) to encourage the agencys startup of the Technical Resource Program feasibility study on Elephant Hill (non compensated).Negotiated a contract with North East Trees and the Water Foundation for a $100,000 grant to SEH to undertake community outreach and education focused on nature-based stormwater management on Elephant hill.Negotiated a contract with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy for a $200,000 grant to SEH focused on project planning and design for future acquisitions by MRCA on Elephant Hill.Successfully advocated for a $2 million set aside for Elephant Hill acquisitions by the MRCA from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancys Proposition 4 allocations from the State of California (non compensated).Ongoing monitoring of unauthorized off roading and unpermitted development activity on Elephant Hill and communications with relevant agencies about this activity (non compensated).Media Coverage:Elephant Hill was covered positively by media outlets in four news outlets.Curiel, Kamren. A Concrete Eyesore Replaces Native Trees: Landowner Builds Tax-Break Garden on Protected El Sereno Hillside. LA Taco, September 22, 2025. T.A.C.OVanAirsdale, Stu. Hill of Dreams: How a group of neighborhood volunteers, experts, and local officials in Los Angeles joined forces to create a thriving native plant habitat at Elephant Hill Open Space. Flora Magazine, Fall 2025.Cosgrove, Jaclyn. Elephant Hill could be L.A.s next great park. Will residents save it in time? Los Angeles Times, November 13, 2025.Mendez-Padilla, Briana. Un mosaico de organizaciones comunitarias es el mayor defensor de la Colina del Elefante. Impulso Newspaper, December 31, 2025.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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 November 6, 2026.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 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.