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Jack London Park Partners

EIN 94-2412859 · Glen Ellen, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE PRESERVE THE HISTORIC AND NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE PARK WHILE CREATING INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION, EDUCATION AND ENJOYMENT. WE COLLABORATE WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTEERS TO ENSURE A SUSTAINABLE PARK THAT WOULD MAKE JACK LONDON PROUD.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
5.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
12
Volunteers
250
Highest pay
$206,396, executive di

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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, 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 (1)
  1. $1.1 million spent. VALLEY OF THE MOON NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION (VMNHA) WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1977 TO SUPPORT THE INTERPRETIVE NEEDS OF THREE SONOMA COUNTY PARKS: ANNADEL STATE PARK, JACK LONDON STATE HISTORIC PARK (JLSHP) AND SUGARLOAF RIDGE STATE HISTORIC PARK. VMNHA HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN PROVIDING MONETARY SUPPORT FOR TRAINING, COORDINATION AND RECOGNITION OF VOLUNTEERS WHO CARRY OUT THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THESE PARKS. VMNHA HAS ALSO OVERSEEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS, EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS, SIGNAGE AND HISTORICAL DISPLAYS AT JLSHP. AMONG THE ORGANIZATION'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS IS THE AWARD WINNING RESTORATION OF THE COTTAGE THAT JACK LONDON LIVED IN AFTER ACQUIRING BEAUTY RANCH. IN MAY 2012, VMNHA BECAME THE FIRST NON-PROFIT TO ENTER INTO AN OPERATING AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO PREVENT JLSHP FROM CLOSURE. VMNHA DBA JACK LONDON PARK PARTNERS (JLPP) OVERSEES MANAGEMENT OF THE PARK. CURRENTLY OVER 250 VOLUNTEERS, AND A STAFF OF 12 CARRY OUT ESSENTIAL OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITIES AT JLSHP. JLPP RECEIVES NO FUNDS FROM STATE PARKS TO SUBSIDIZE THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF THE PARK AND DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON PRIVATE DONATIONS TO EXECUTE PROGRAMMING, MAINTAIN THE GROUNDS AND ADMINISTER OPERATIONS. SINCE MAY 1, 2012 VMNHA HAS BEEN THE OPERATOR OF JACK LONDON STATE HISTORIC PARK, UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS. OF THE OVER 90,000 VISITORS TO JACK LONDON STATE PARK ANNUALLY, NEARLY 20% ARE FOREIGN VISITORS AND AN ADDITIONAL 40% TRAVEL MORE THAN 50 MILES TO EXPERIENCE THE 1,400 ACRE BEAUTIFUL RANCH WHERE JACK LONDON LIVED, WROTE, FARMED AND DIED. STEWARDSHIP OF THIS NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK PROPERTY REQUIRES THE STAFF OF 12 AND OVER 250 VOLUNTEERS TO CARRY OUT THE ESSENTIAL OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF THE PARK. RAISING FUNDS FOR SERVICES, PROGRAMS, RESTORATION AND OUTREACH IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF VMNHA. PROGRAMS SUCH AS SUMMER THEATRE, SCHOOL AND DOCENT TOURS, PIANO CONCERTS, OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAMS, INTERPRETIVE EDUCATION AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS ARE ALL DEVELOPED AND OVERSEEN BY THE VMNHA. IN ADDITION, THERE IS A RECIPROCAL ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE OPERATOR AND SUGARLOAF RIDGE STATE TO CREATE AN EXCHANGE OF LABOR BETWEEN THE TWO PARKS TO MAXIMIZE EFFICIENCIES. VMNHA HAS A CONTRACT WITH THE PARK OPERATOR OF SUGARLOAF RIDGE STATE PARK TO PROVIDE COORDINATION OF VOLUNTEER SERVICES. MAPS, GUIDES, BOOKS AND INTERPRETIVE PUBLICATIONS ARE DESIGNED AND PRINTED BY VMNHA FOR USE IN JACK LONDON STATE HISTORICAL PARK. EXHIBITS AND OUTDOOR SIGNAGE ENHANCE THE VISTORS EXPIERENCE AND ARE A CONTINUING PROJECT OF VMNHA. VALLEY OF THE MOON NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION (VMNHA) WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1977 TO SUPPORT THE INTERPRETIVE NEEDS OF THREE SONOMA COUNTY PARKS: ANNADEL STATE PARK, JACK LONDON STATE HISTORIC PARK (JLSHP) AND SUGARLOAF RIDGE STATE HISTORIC PARK. VMNHA HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN PROVIDING MONETARY SUPPORT FOR TRAINING, COORDINATION AND RECOGNITION OF VOLUNTEERS WHO CARRY OUT THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THESE PARKS. VMNHA HAS ALSO OVERSEEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS, EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS, SIGNAGE AND HISTORICAL DISPLAYS AT JLSHP. AMONG THE ORGANIZATION'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS IS THE AWARD WINNING RESTORATION OF THE COTTAGE THAT JACK LONDON LIVED IN AFTER ACQUIRING BEAUTY RANCH. IN MAY 2012, VMNHA BECAME THE FIRST NON-PROFIT TO ENTER INTO AN OPERATING AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO PREVENT JLSHP FROM CLOSURE. VMNHA DBA JACK LONDON PARK PARTNERS (JLPP) OVERSEES MANAGEMENT OF THE PARK. CURRENTLY OVER 250 VOLUNTEERS, AND A STAFF OF 12 CARRY OUT ESSENTIAL OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITIES AT JLSHP. JLPP RECEIVES NO FUNDS FROM STATE PARKS TO SUBSIDIZE THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF THE PARK AND DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON PRIVATE DONATIONS TO EXECUTE PROGRAMMING, MAINTAIN THE GROUNDS AND ADMINISTER OPERATIONS. SINCE MAY 1, 2012 VMNHA HAS BEEN THE OPERATOR OF JACK LONDON STATE HISTORIC PARK, UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS. OF THE OVER 90,000 VISITORS TO JACK LONDON STATE PARK ANNUALLY, NEARLY 20% ARE FOREIGN VISITORS AND AN ADDITIONAL 40% TRAVEL MORE THAN 50 MILES TO EXPERIENCE THE 1,400 ACRE BEAUTIFUL RANCH WHERE JACK LONDON LIVED, WROTE, FARMED AND DIED. STEWARDSHIP OF THIS NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK PROPERTY REQUIRES THE STAFF OF 12 AND OVER 250 VOLUNTEERS TO CARRY OUT THE ESSENTIAL OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF THE PARK. RAISING FUNDS FOR SERVICES, PROGRAMS, RESTORATION AND OUTREACH IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF VMNHA. PROGRAMS SUCH AS SUMMER THEATRE, SCHOOL AND DOCENT TOURS, PIANO CONCERTS, OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAMS, INTERPRETIVE EDUCATION AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS ARE ALL DEVELOPED AND OVERSEEN BY THE VMNHA. IN ADDITION, THERE IS A RECIPROCAL ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE OPERATOR AND SUGARLOAF RIDGE STATE TO CREATE AN EXCHANGE OF LABOR BETWEEN THE TWO PARKS TO MAXIMIZE EFFICIENCIES. VMNHA HAS A CONTRACT WITH THE PARK OPERATOR OF SUGARLOAF RIDGE STATE PARK TO PROVIDE COORDINATION OF VOLUNTEER SERVICES. MAPS, GUIDES, BOOKS AND INTERPRETIVE PUBLICATIONS ARE DESIGNED AND PRINTED BY VMNHA FOR USE IN JACK LONDON STATE HISTORICAL PARK. EXHIBITS AND OUTDOOR SIGNAGE ENHANCE THE VISTORS EXPIERENCE AND ARE A CONTINUING PROJECT OF VMNHA.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 December 1977.

    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.