Yakona Learning Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
YAKONA LEARNING CENTER IS A LIVING LABORATORY THAT SERVES TO PROTECT, PRESERVE, AND ENHANCE THE NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF OREGON'S CENTRAL COAST SPRUCE HABITAT AND ITS WILDLIFE THROUGH THE ARTS, EDUCATION, AND STEWARDSHIP.
- Income
- $640,759
- Spending
- $547,412
- Spent on programs
- 63%
- Reserves
- 6.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 29
- Highest pay
- $81,667, executive director
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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1563% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $203,404 spent. FOREST & LANDS: YAKONA EXECUTED UPON ITS FOREST MASTER PLAN WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE. WE CLOSED THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT WITH MCKENZIE RIVER TRUST, PROTECTING YAKONA IN PERPETUITY. AN AGREEMENT WITH FOREST CARBON WORKS ENABLES PAYMENTS UNDER THEIR CARBON CREDITS PROGRAM. WE ALSO COMPLETED THE YAKONA LEARNING CENTER COMPLEX CONSTRUCTION.
- $109,286 spent. EDUCATION: IN 2024, WE SERVED 18 PRESCHOOL STUDENTS, 207 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, 394 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND 5 COLLEGE STUDENTS THROUGH CREATING CONNECTIONS. BETWEEN EDUCATOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS AND FIELD TRIPS, 255 EDUCATORS AND CHAPERONES AVAILED THEMSELVES OF YAKONA'S UNIQUE CURRICULAR EXPERIENCE. YAKONA CENTERS "STUDENTS AS SCIENTISTS" - ALL ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING THROUGH NATURE JOURNALING, CLIMATE SCIENCE MONITORING AND DATA COLLECTION.
- $4,690 spent. COMMUNITY ARTS: HEART CONNECTIONS SERVED 157 PEOPLE 16+ YEARS OLD WITH A VARIETY OF ART WORKSHOPS INSPIRING NATURE-BASED CREATIVE EXPRESSION.
- $27,074 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: YAKONA WAS SERVED BY 19 DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS (BOARD MEMBERS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THAT TOTAL) IN 2024. DOCENT PROJECTS INCLUDED TRAIL MAINTENANCE, INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL, TRAIL CAMERA OPERATIONS AND MONITORING, POLLINATOR PLANT CULTIVATION, AND MORE. YAKONA'S BOARD MEMBERS TOTALED 10, ADDING COLLECTIVE WISDOM AND SKILLS TO THE TEAM. WE ALSO HELD THREE VOLUNTEER EVENTS, PROVING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TEAM-BUILDING WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. COLLECTIVELY, YAKONA'S VOLUNTEERS DONATED 1,414 HOURS IN 2024.
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
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 2024.
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 September 2022.
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.