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Friends of Silver Falls State Park Inc

EIN 93-0921093 · Sublimity, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FRIENDS OF SILVER FALLS MISSION IS TO FURTHER THE EDUCATIONAL AND INTERPRETIVE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO PARK VISITORS, TO PROMOTE, PRESERVE, AND ENHANCE THE HISTORICAL, NATURAL, AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES WITHIN THE PARK, AND TO ASSIST WITH PARK IMPROVEMENTS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS COMPATIBLE WITH THE NATURE OF SILVER FALLS STATE PARK.

Income
$665,161
Spending
$402,649
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
33.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 82%
Employees
4
Volunteers
70
Highest pay
$93,585, 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: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 33.8 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 39% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 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

Good: 83 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 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

    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 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 (5)
  1. $171,944 spent. SOUTH FALLS NATURE STORE & ANNUAL PARKING PASSES: THE STORE SERVES AS A CENTRAL HUB FOR 1.5 MILLION DAY-USE VISITORS EACH YEAR, OFFERING AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE AND A CHANCE FOR VOLUNTEERS AND GUESTS TO ENGAGE AND LEARN ABOUT THE PARK. IT GENERATES FINANCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH THE SALE OF EDUCATIONAL MERCHANDISE THAT FOLLOWS OREGON PARKS AND RECREATION GUIDELINES AND SUPPORTS THE FRIENDS OF SILVER FALLS MISSION. IN ADDITION, 1,516 PARKING PASSES WERE SOLD AT THE NATURE STORE IN 2025 CONTRIBUTING OVER $49K TO PARKS.
  2. $88,577 spent. PARK INTERPRETER, CAMPGROUND, JR. RANGER, GUIDED HIKES, FIELD TRIPS, DISCOVERY TABLES, AND SEASONAL FESTIVALS: THE PARK INTERPRETER SUPPORTS THE OREGON PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT'S INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS AT SILVER FALLS. RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE LEADING CAMPGROUND AND JR. RANGER PROGRAMS, GUIDED HIKES, FIELD TRIPS, DISCOVERY TABLES, AND HISTORIC TOURS. INTERPRETIVE FESTIVALS EDUCATE THOUSANDS OF VISITORS ABOUT THE ECOLOGY OF SILVER FALLS, OFFERING FREE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS GUIDED HIKES, A NATIVE PLANT SALE, PLANT DISPLAYS, PROPAGATION CLASSES, TELESCOPES, AND NATURE CRAFTS.
  3. $30,956 spent. GRANTS AWARDED: THE GRANTS AWARDED TO SILVER FALLS STATE PARK AIM TO ENHANCE VISITOR EDUCATION INITIATIVES, IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY TO INTERPRETIVE FACILITIES, AND PRESERVE HISTORIC STRUCTURES. THIS YEAR'S PROJECTS INCLUDED FUNDING THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND INSTALLATION OF TWO ENTRANCE MONUMENTS,
  4. $6,139 spent. VOLUNTEER PROGRAM: VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED THE EQUIVALENT OF $97,714 IN TIME THROUGHOUT 2025. THEY ENGAGED DIRECTLY WITH VISITORS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS, INCLUDING THE NATURE STORE, DISCOVERY TABLES, STONE KITCHEN SHELTER, FIELD TRIPS, GUIDED HIKES, AND SPECIAL PROJECTS.
  5. $2,112 spent. VISITOR SERVICES: CONTRIBUTIONS TO VISITOR EXPERIENCE INCLUDE PROVIDING PUBLIC WI-FI ACCESS, FRIENDS APP WITH A FULL DATABASE OF THE PARK'S FLORA AND FAUNA, AND MUSIC AT THE SOUTH FALLS LODGE.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1987.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.