Save Mount Diablo
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SAVE MOUNT DIABLO'S MISSION IS TO PRESERVE MOUNT DIABLO'S PEAKS, SURROUNDING FOOTHILLS, AND WATERSHEDS; AND ITS SUSTAINING DIABLO RANGE, THROUGH LAND ACQUISITION AND PRESERVATION STRATEGIES DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE MOUNTAIN'S NATURAL BEAUTY, BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, AND HISTORIC AND AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE; ENHANCE OUR AREA'S QUALITY OF LIFE; AND PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES CONSISTENT WITH PROTECTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES.
- Income
- $6.0 million
- Spending
- $4.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 64%
- Reserves
- 73.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 75%
- Employees
- 26
- Volunteers
- 685
- Highest pay
- $209,824, executive director
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
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 73.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1564% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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)
- $1.0 million spent. LAND ACQUISITION & LAND USE: SAVE MOUNT DIABLO CONTINUES LONG-TERM NEGOTIATIONS TO PROTECT IMPORTANT PROPERTIES.- CLOSED ESCROW AND ACQUIRED THE 98-ACRE GINOCHIO SCHWENDEL PROPERTY FOR $1,370,000 PLUS CLOSING COSTS IN MARCH 2025. IT IS ADJACENT TO SMD'S MARSH CREEK 5 PROPERTY. IT INCLUDES AN UNDERCROSSING OF MARSH CREEK ROAD FOR WILDLIFE AND A SEGMENT OF MARSH CREEK, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY'S SECOND LONGEST AND MOST UNDISTURBED CREEK. IT IS A STRATEGIC PIECE OF THE MARSH CREEK WATERSHED CONTAINING RARE VOLCANIC HABITAT WITH VERY HIGH CONSERVATION VALUE.- LAND USE: SAVE MOUNT DIABLO REGULARLY MONITORS THE AGENDAS OF 70 DIFFERENT PLANNING COMMITTEES AND PUBLIC AGENCIES. THIS WORK CAN TAKE TIME AS WE RESEARCH, WRITE LETTERS, TESTIFY, AND COLLABORATE ON SOLUTIONS. WE RESPONDED TO MORE THAN A DOZEN LAND USE PROJECTS IN THE 2024 - 2025 FISCAL YEAR.- FURTHERED OUR DIABLO RANGE EXPANSION WORK DEVELOPING NEW PARTNERS AND ADVANCING ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO PROTECT IMPORTANT LANDS LIKE TESLA AND DEL PUERTO CANYON.- PREPARED FOR THE FIRST EVER DIABLO RANGE CONVENING TO BE HELD IN JUNE 2025. WE ANTICIPATE OVER 150 INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING OVER 60 GROUPS DISCUSSING CONSERVATION THROUGHOUT THE DIABLO RANGE. - WE SUPPORTED OR LED THREE BALLOT MEASURE CAMPAIGNS: STATEWIDE PROP 4 CLIMATE BOND, A SAN BENITO COUNTY GROWTH CONTROL MEASURE A, AND NO ON MEASURE II IN DUBLIN TO DEFEND A TEN-YEAR-OLD URBAN LIMIT LINE WE HELPED CREATE THERE.
- $869,002 spent. STEWARDSHIP: SAVE MOUNT DIABLO CURRENTLY OWNS AND/OR MANAGES 21 PROPERTIES TOTALING 2190-ACRES. SAVE MOUNT DIABLO ALSO HOLDS PERPETUAL CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON 3 PROPERTIES, TOTALING 176-ACRES.- SUCCESSFULLY STEWARDED THE THOUSANDS OF ACRES UNDER OUR CARE (PLANTING NATIVE SPECIES, REMOVING INVASIVE SPECIES, REGULAR PROPERTY MONITORING, ETC.).- MORE THAN 685 VOLUNTEERS COMPLETED OVER 5,996 HOURS OF SERVICE IN THE 2024 - 2025 FISCAL YEAR. THEY HAVE SUPPORTED ALL OUR ACTIVITIES ACROSS DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. RECURRENT STEWARDSHIP VOLUNTEERS INCLUDE 28 PROPERTY MONITORS AND 34 VOLUNTEER STEWARDS.- VOLUNTEERS: OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE THE HEROES AND HEROINES OF LAND PRESERVATION. THEY HELP MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE, WHETHER IT BE BY HELPING RESTORE ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS, BECOMING A HIKE LEADER, ASSISTING WITH EVENT REGISTRATION, STAFFING AID STATIONS, TAKING PHOTOS, OR SETTING UP EQUIPMENT. THEIR HARD WORK AND GENEROSITY ARE WHAT HELP MAKE THIS ORGANIZATION'S EFFORTS SO SUCCESSFUL.- STEWARDS ALSO CONTINUED MONTHLY PROPERTY OUTINGS, AND ORGANIZED SMALL WORKDAYS FOR RESTORATION PLANTINGS, WEEDING, MULCHING, WATERING NATIVE PLANTINGS AND CLEAN UP OF OUR PROPERTIES.- STAFF CONTINUED MONITORING IMPACTS TO VEGETATION IN THE JACKASS CANYON AREA, WITH CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS AND CAL FIRE, WORKING TOGETHER TO THIN, CHIP AND MANAGE HAZARDOUS FUEL LOAD IN THE AREA.- WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE LINDSAY WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE, WE CONTINUED TO RELEASE REHABILITATED AMERICAN KESTRELS INTO THE MOUNT DIABLO FOOTHILLS, STRENGTHENING WILDLIFE CORRIDORS.- ADVANCED OUR 10,000 TREES AND NATIVE PLANTS PROJECT, PLANTING AND CARING FOR MORE THAN 3,000 PLANTS AT OUR RESTORATION SITES, MANY OF THOSE PLANTS BEING CALIFORNIA MILKWEED AND OTHER POLLINATOR PLANTS FOR MONARCH FORAGING, BUILDING AND STRENGTHENING HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE.- WE MONITOR AND REMEDIATE STORM DAMAGE ON ALL OUR PROPERTIES. WE INSTALLED A SOLAR WELL AND A WILDLIFE TROUGH AT MC7 TO MAINTAIN AND STRENGTHEN WILDLIFE HABITAT AND WATER QUALITY IN MARSH CREEK. - STAFF WORKED WITH STUDENTS AND VOLUNTEERS TO CREATE A POLLINATOR GARDEN AT MC7, AND FENCED IT WITH CEDAR SPLIT-RAIL FENCING, TO PROTECT THE AREA FROM CATTLE THAT GRAZE FOR FIRE ABATEMENT. THIS IS ALL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A GRANT FROM CDFW TO STRENGTHEN WILDLIFE HABITAT FOR LISTED SPECIES AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN MARSH CREEK.- STAFF LED THE 4TH ANNUAL PINE CANYON CLEAN-UP WITH THE MOUNT DIABLO STATE PARK, THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT, THE AMERICAN ALPINE CLUB, AND THE BAY AREA CLIMBERS COALITION, WHERE WE REMOVED INVASIVE SPECIES, GRAFFITI, AND TRASH FROM THE PINE CANYON AREA, AS WELL AS HAZARDOUS FUEL LOAD FROM THE ASPARA DRIVE AREA WITH A CHIPPER.- WE HOSTED MAJOR CLEAN-UP WORKDAYS, INCLUDING A COASTAL CLEAN-UP WORKDAY IN KIRKER CREEK, WITH THE HELP OF A SMALL GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS TO REMOVE 10 GARBAGE BAGS OF TRASH. - ON OUR COASTAL CLEANUP DAY, WE REMOVED 3,000 LBS OF DEBRIS.- IN 2025, SAVE MOUNT DIABLO FINISHED CREATING AND OPENING MORE PUBLIC TRAILS AT OUR CURRY CANYON RANCH PRESERVE WHICH MEANS OUR ORGANIZATION HAS NOW CREATED AND OPENED OVER 7 MILES OF NEW PUBLIC TRAILS, AT OUR CURRY CANYON RANCH AND MANGINI RANCH EDUCATIONAL PRESERVE, IN JUST THE LAST FEW YEARS.- STEWARDSHIP STAFF LED 4 ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION DAYS AT CURRY CANYON RANCH FOR MDUSD STUDENTS IN THE BACR CARES PROGRAM, EFFECTIVELY CREATING AN INSPIRING WORKDAY IN THE HILLS.
- $638,403 spent. EDUCATION & OUTREACH AND RECREATION: SAVE MOUNT DIABLO OFFERS NUMEROUS EDUCATIONAL, OUTREACH, AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS TO HELP DIRECTLY CONNECT OUR COMMUNITIES TO NATURE AND EDUCATE THEM ABOUT IT, TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO SERVICE PROJECTS FOR OUR NATURAL WORLD, AND TO DIVERSIFY THE TYPES OF PEOPLE SERVED AND INVOLVED WITH OUR LAND CONSERVATION WORK. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING:- OUR DISCOVER DIABLO FREE PUBLIC OUTINGS SERIES.- OUR DIABLO CONSERVATION EXPERIENCE, FOR LOCAL MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOLS.- OUR YOUNG DIABLO EXPLORERS PROGRAM FOR 3RD TO 5TH GRADERS.- OUR SMD CARES PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION WITH MOUNT DIABLO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.- OUR DR. MARY BOWERMAN SCIENCE AND RESEARCH PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES SMALL GRANTS TO ENCOURAGE MORE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN THE NORTHERN DIABLO RANGE, BIOBLITZ, ETC.- CONTINUE TO ENABLE THE PUBLIC TO ENJOY OUR NEW MANGINI RANCH EDUCATIONAL PRESERVE, RUN WITH A FREE ONLINE RESERVATION SYSTEM WITH OVER 4 MILES OF TRAILS BUILT THERE WITH THE HELP OF VOLUNTEERS AND LOCAL STUDENTS.- STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS LED 14 TABLING EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY TO EDUCATE, INSPIRE AND CONNECT THE PUBLIC TO DIABLO RANGE AND SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE LEAD TO PROTECT IT.- AS WE REFLECT ON THE COMPLETED APRIL 1, 2024, TO MARCH 31, 2025 FISCAL YEAR, WE FEEL IMMENSE GRATITUDE FOR OUR SUPPORTERS BECAUSE THEY HELPED US COMPLETE ANOTHER HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL YEAR FROM A PROGRAMMATIC, FINANCIAL, AND OVERALL ORGANIZATIONAL PERSPECTIVE.
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 October 13, 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 October 1980.
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 October 21, 2026.
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