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Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships

EIN 91-1848359 · Tahoe City, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceFair66 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships (SWEP) promotes environmental stewardship by connecting students to their community and local environment through comprehensive watershed education and service learning projects.

Income
$651,455
Spending
$592,960
Spent on programs
52%
Reserves
10.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
8
Volunteers
141
Highest pay
$104,487, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes -0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    52% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 12 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 June 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 (3)
  1. $250,072 spent. SWEP sponsors various fieldwork programs during the year with students eligible to participate in various programs based on their grade levels. The Wonders of Watershed fieldwork program for 4th grade students is a hands-on watershed education program that combines environmental science and community service.The Sagehen Field Station program for 5th grade students engages students in hands-on field study activities about the Sagehen forest, watershed and the plants and animals that exist in these environments.Environment Detectives is a field trip where 8th grade students learn skills used by environmental scientists to be detectives working as a group to solve the Mystery of the Dying Fish.The Tahoe Basin Watershed Education Summit allows high school students work along side scientific professionals to do hands-on field data collection.Various native fish education programs, field days and other events are sponsored for students of all grades.Forest Health and Defensible Space field programming has been expanding in Elementary, middle and high school, with some career pathway programming with older students.Winter Ecology programming involves getting the students outside to learn about snow science and winter survival skills in primarily elementary and middle school.Science Festival programming at the elementary level which revolves around experimentation and problem solving; particularly in the area of Environmental sciences.
  2. $57,935 spent. SWEP promotes Sustainability and Advocacy Clubs applicable to various groups based on school levels. For kindergarten to 5th grade the Green Team program is utilized, with the Eco-Action program applicable to 6th, 7th and 8th grades and via the Envirolution Club for high school students 9th grade and above.These sustainability and advocacy clubs utilize interactive educational projects to empower students and teachers to be good global citizens working to ensure adequate resources for a clean and healthy environment. SWEP educators, along with high school student mentors, facilitate weekly club meetings with student participants to explore green service learning projects including waste reduction, reuse, recycling, gardening, composting, energy and water conservation, and pollution prevention. Through these meetings students work together to develop their knowledge, create a sense of civic responsibility, foster a school environment that emphasizes sustainability while practicing data, monitoring and other important language arts, math and science skills.
  3. $2,186 spent. SWEP sponsors a nature, art and adventure summer camp for children aged 6 through 12 in addition to science festivals and science family nights, with the science programs open to students kindergarten through 8th grade. SWEP also sponsors snow science programs that include a Winter Discover Program for 3rd through 5th grade students along with a Winter Trek program for 5th graders. SWEP has also established native fish education, waste management and fire ecology programs for various grade levels.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 November 6, 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 June 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 February 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 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.