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San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society

EIN 94-3039253 · Newark, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Nurture in the public an understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex, its natural and cultural history, and to conserve, preserve, and restore bay lands as essential wildlife habitat. Environmental Education supports conservation awareness and builds stewardship in local communities. Biology programs support habitat preservation and restoration. Long term partnerships with Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program and local corporations provide major funding for these efforts. Efforts also support public access and conservation education.

Income
$201,401
Spending
$233,417
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
8.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 88%
Employees
9
Volunteers
40

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (8)
  1. $126,922 spent. Environmental Education and Interpretation for Watershed Watchers program, funded by a contract from Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program. From Oct 2024 to Sep 2025: Reached over 3,344 people with public, group, outreach, and stewardship programs and activities. Programs: public, group and outreach programs (62); stewardship, volunteer coordination, and special events (24), summer camp (1). All public, group, and outreach programs included education on mercury pollution and impacts. 87 total programs offered. At least 1,441 K-12 students and 1,903 adults, with over 3,344 people in total attended these programs, with at least 7,472 people learning via social media platforms about programs. More details available upon request.
  2. $18,819 spent. Warm Springs Vernal Pool Monitoring and Habitat Restoration, funded by Wildlife Heritage Foundation. For Warm Springs, Wildlife Heritage Foundation description: Warm Springs is a unit of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The income from the Wildlife Heritage Foundation funds a Wildlife Biologist Associate position to help monitor and protect endangered and threatened species in this unique vernal pool habitat. Primary responsibilities: conduct invasive weed management including hand pulling and herbicide application, assist with surveys including hydrological monitoring of vernal pools, aquatic surveys for vernal pool biota including tadpole shrimp and California tiger salamanders; vernal pool vegetation surveys; summer vegetation surveys; and invasive weed surveys. Other responsibilities include seed collection and processing, data management, cross support with other Refuges, data entry, report preparation, and supply and equipment inventories.
  3. $23,392 spent. Summer Camp Support 2025 - tee-shirts, materials, payroll, part-time coordinator. Long-standing joint USFWS-SFBWS program for K-12 students from lower-income areas; high school students attend training and then lead camp activities. 66 attendees, funded by Cargill and Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program, with more than 30 volunteers and staff.
  4. $9,960 spent. Restoration associate and Peninsula Programs Coordinator (funded partially by Cargill) provided restoration education and activities primarily on the east and west sides of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Used income left over from the prior fiscal year to support this year's activities.
  5. $4,011 spent. CSU East Bay Monitoring Project with CSU Foundation grant, Farallon Islands Refuge Support, supported by donations; Bechtel support for Refuge Cleanup activities
  6. $1,013 spent. Sub-contract services to conduct specific STEM-related environmental education programs with Marshmallow Minds
  7. Transportation support for buses and other transport for K-12 students to visit Refuge, providing opportunities for environmental education and outreach to occur with program onsite. Support provided to under-represented and lower socioeconomic students/schools. Income for this fund raised in prior years; not used during COVID. Funded by donations. No bus trips expensed directly here this fiscal year, busses were funded from this account for Summer Camp transportation and is shown as a Summer Camp expense.
  8. $912 spent. Volunteer event support for VA Alameda Tern unit. Supported by operating funds.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 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 October 13, 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 September 2025.

    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 May 1993.

    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 October 21, 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.