Save the Redwoods League
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SAVE THE REDWOODS LEAGUE PROTECTS AND RESTORES REDWOOD FORESTS AND CONNECTS PEOPLE WITH THEIR PEACE AND BEAUTY SO THESE WONDERS OF THE NATURAL WORLD FLOURISH.
- Income
- $68.1 million
- Spending
- $50.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 14.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 46%
- Employees
- 73
- Volunteers
- 59
- Highest pay
- $419,368, president/ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 March 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 (3)
- $7.4 million spent. LAND PROTECTION - SAVE THE REDWOODS LEAGUE PURCHASES LAND TO SAFEGUARD AT-RISK REDWOOD ECOSYSTEMS AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SUPPORT. OUR STRATEGIC ACQUISITIONS ARE GUIDED BY OUR NEW CONSERVATION PLANNING TOOL, WHICH HELPS US ANALYZE DATA AND IDENTIFY PRIORITY AREAS WHERE WE CAN BEST RESTORE DAMAGED FORESTS, CONSERVE OLD GROWTH AND WILDLIFE, AND EXPAND EQUITABLE ACCESS. IN 2024, WE PURCHASED THE 1,624-ACRE SONOMA COAST REDWOODS PROPERTY, WHICH WILL HELP FIRE-IMPACTED REDWOOD FORESTS RECOVER TOWARD OLD GROWTH, RECONNECT WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND OFFER OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL TRAIL. WE ALSO ACQUIRED 360 ACRES ADJOINING ARMSTRONG REDWOODS STATE NATURAL RESERVE. THE LAND WILL BE MANAGED TO BOOST FIRE RESILIENCE, PROTECT OLD-GROWTH REDWOODS, AND PRESERVE THE HEADWATERS OF TWO SALMON-BEARING CREEKS. ADDITIONALLY, WE TRANSFERRED OUR RUSSIAN RIVER REDWOODS PROPERTY TO SONOMA COUNTY, SECURING PERMANENT PROTECTION FOR 394 ACRES OF VIBRANT REDWOODS AND CRUCIAL WILDLIFE HABITAT.
- $29.2 million spent. FOREST RESTORATION - SAVE THE REDWOODS LEAGUE REVITALIZES REDWOOD ECOSYSTEMS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA, LEVERAGING SCIENTIFIC EXPERTISE TO ENSURE THESE FORESTS THRIVE INTO THE FUTURE. REDWOODS RISING, OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS AND THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, IS RESTORING 70,000 ACRES OF PREVIOUSLY LOGGED FOREST WITHIN REDWOOD NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS. IN 2024, WORKING WITH OUR REDWOOD RISING PARTNERS, WE COMPLETED 871 ACRES OF FORESTRY TREATMENTS TO CREATE SPACE FOR YOUNG TREES AND IMPROVE FIRE RESILIENCY, REMOVED 7 MILES OF OLD LOGGING ROADS, AND BROUGHT OVER A MILE OF STREAMS BACK TO LIFE. ON CALIFORNIA'S NORTH COAST, OUR RESTORATION WORK HAS GENERATED $31 MILLION IN ECONOMIC OUTPUT IN DEL NORTE AND HUMBOLDT COUNTIES IN 2024 ALONE. IN THE SIERRA NEVADA, THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP IN THE GIANT SEQUOIA LANDS COALITION, WE RESTORED FIRE-DAMAGED SEQUOIA ECOSYSTEMS, PLANTING 8,500 SEEDLINGS AT ALDER CREEK AND PACKSADDLE GROVES. WE ALSO CONTINUED EFFORTS TO BOOST THE RESILIENCE OF THESE GROVES AGAINST FUTURE WILDFIRES THROUGH STRATEGIC VEGETATION THINNING.ADDITIONALLY, OUR REDWOODS RISING APPRENTICE PROGRAM CONTINUED IN 2024, PROVIDING FORESTRY EXPERIENCE AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS-BUILDING TO LOCAL COLLEGE STUDENTS. FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE ALSO BEGAN A GIANT SEQUOIA APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IN THE SIERRA NEVADA, RECRUITING COLLEGE STUDENTS FROM THE NEARBY SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.
- $3.0 million spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - THE LEAGUE PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS TO MAKE REDWOOD PARK VISITS POSSIBLE IN WAYS THAT REFLECT EACH COMMUNITY'S NEEDS. IN 2024, OUR REDWOOD RIDES PROGRAM PROVIDED FREE TRANSPORTATION FOR 415 UNDER-RESOURCED YOUTH, AND 17 REDWOOD CONNECT GRANTS SUPPORTED ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CANOEING, HIKING, STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS, AND BANANA SLUG-SPOTTING. THESE COMMUNITY-DRIVEN EFFORTS ENSURE THAT THE REDWOODS ARE WELCOMING AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. WE ALSO LAUNCHED SEASON 4 OF OUR PODCAST, I'LL GO IF YOU GO, WHICH FEATURES VOICES FROM ACROSS THE REDWOOD - ECOSYSTEM FROM FIREFIGHTERS TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS - HIGHLIGHTING DIVERSE, COMMUNITY-ROOTED PATHS IN FOREST STEWARDSHIP. FINALLY, WE CONTINUED WORK WITH THE YUROK TRIBE AND OTHER LOCAL PARTNERS AT THE 'O REW REDWOODS GATEWAY, WHICH WILL SERVE AS THE SOUTHERN ENTRANCE TO REDWOOD NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS. WITH INTERPRETIVE EXHIBITS, NEW TRAILS, AND A LINK TO THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL TRAIL, THIS GATEWAY INVITES VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE THE REDWOODS THROUGH A LENS OF INDIGENOUS HERITAGE AND CULTURAL RESILIENCE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 March 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 December 1921.
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.