Mountain Lion Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Mountain Lion Foundation's mission is to ensure that mountain lions survive and flourish in the wild. We do this work by championing broad protections for mountain lions and their habitats across the United States, fostering appreciation of mountain lions and the ecological significance, and cultivating proactive, community-based co-existence for people and lions.
- Income
- $725,489
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 20.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 92%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 27
- Highest pay
- $102,292, executive
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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 20.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 68% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 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 June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (4)
- $447,011 spent. PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY The Mountain Lion Foundation champions broad protections for mountain lions across the United States. Working with policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels, we empower our members and partners to advocate for strong protections for mountain lions and their habitats. From supporting measures that reduce human-wildlife conflict to pushing for stronger, science-based regulations on hunting and trapping, we are on the front lines, making sure mountain lions voices are heard. In fiscal year 20242025, the Mountain Lion Foundation, along with its members and partners, continued to advocate for proactive, science-based protections for mountain lions in almost every western state.
- $350,592 spent. OUTREACH AND EDUCATION The Mountain Lion Foundation fosters appreciation of mountain lions and their ecological significance. Mountain lions are an indispensable keystone species. However, like many top carnivores, mountain lions suffer from some widely held, but false and harmful misconceptions. Our educational outreach dispels those myths and misinformation and helps people to see mountain lions as a vital apex species deserving preservation rather than exploitation. In fiscal year 2024-2025, the Mountain Lion Foundation reached more people across the country than ever before through its strategic engagement of audiences via in person presentations, refocused social media, the website, revamped emails, new webinar content, and publications. The publication was the essential guide to recent scientific research on mountain lions.
- $145,925 spent. COEXISTENCE THE - Mountain Lion Foundation cultivates proactive, community-based coexistence for the protection of both people and lions. We work in communities across the United States to highlight the fact that living with lions is not just possible, but simple. The Mountain Lion Foundation provides information, tools, and advice about protecting lions to a range of people families, farmers and ranchers, state agency personnel, journalists, rural decision makers, and more to help communities live peacefully among lions, address cougar encounters as they occur and give mountain lions everything they need to flourish. In fiscal year 2024-2025, the Mountain Lion Foundation responded with protective information and advice to many dozens of incidents across the country such as lion sightings, suspected depredations, and lion mortalities. We also disseminated information to hobby farmers and other members of the producer community that helped them coexist peacefully with their lion neighbors.
- $4,315 spent. LOBBYING - In 20242025, the Mountain Lion Foundation achieved notable advocacy milestones by opposing harmful legislative efforts like Californias SB 818, supporting Colorados Proposition 91 to ban mountain lion trophy hunting, and actively participating in state legislative hearings (e.g., SB 427). They expanded public engagement through their Coexistence Ambassador Program in 11 states and reinforced legal advocacy through efforts such as a lawsuit against Utahs H.B. 469 Wildlife Related Amendments. Their strategies combined grassroots mobilization, expert testimony, educational campaigns, and legal action to influence public policy and protect mountain lions.
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
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 June 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 November 1986.
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.