Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Yosemite Foundation

EIN 94-3058041 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY INSPIRES PEOPLE TO SUPPORT PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT PRESERVE YOSEMITE AND ENRICH THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE.

Income
$25.0 million
Spending
$23.7 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
14 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
105
Volunteers
362
Highest pay
$404,834, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 15 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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. $10.1 million spent. PARK ENHANCEMENTS-EVERY YEAR, THE CONSERVANCY PROVIDES GRANTS TO YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK BASED ON THE HIGHEST PRIORITY NEEDS OF THE PARK. THESE GRANTS PROVIDE ESSENTIAL FUNDING FOR TRAIL REPAIR, HABITAT RESTORATION, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, VISITOR SERVICES, AND MORE.
  2. $4.5 million spent. PARK PROGRAMS: THE CONSERVANCY SUPPORTS THE PRESERVATION AND EDUCATION RELATED ROLES OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MISSION THROUGH A VARIED PORTFOLIO OF PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE CONSERVANCY'S OUTDOOR ADVENTURES ENHANCE THE YOSEMITE EXPERIENCE FOR PARK VISITORS THROUGH DOZENS OF INTERPRETIVE AND EDUCATIONAL DAY HIKES, BACKPACKING TRIPS AND OTHER PROGRAMS IN GEOLOGY, BOTANY, NATURAL AND SOCIAL HISTORY, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND THE ARTS. THE CONSERVANCY ALSO CONDUCTS EDUCATIONAL FIELD PROGRAMS ON A CUSTOM BASIS AND BY CONTRACT WITH TRAVEL PROVIDERS. IN ADDITION, THE CONSERVANCY SUPPORTS ART PROGRAMS AND THE PARSON'S MEMORIAL LODGE SUMMER SERIES. THE CONSERVANCY ALSO HELPS INSPIRE AND TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF STEWARDS BY SUPPORTING INTERNSHIPS, (CONT. ON SCH. O) JUNIOR RANGER ACTIVITIES, AND OTHER YOUTH PROGRAMS IN THE PARK, AND HELPS SUSTAIN YOSEMITE-FOCUSED LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMING AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH WITH UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, MERCED.THE CONSERVANCY'S WILDERNESS OPERATIONS PROGRAM ASSISTS THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IN ENSURING THAT YOSEMITE BACKCOUNTRY VISITORS ARE EDUCATED ABOUT AND PREPARED FOR WILDERNESS TRAVEL. CONSERVANCY WILDERNESS STAFF MANAGE THE WILDERNESS RESERVATION SYSTEM, ISSUE PERMITS, SPONSOR THE BEAR-PROOF FOOD CANISTER RENTAL PROGRAM, OPERATE THE OSTRANDER SKI HUT, SELL INTERPRETIVE AND ORIENTATION MATERIALS, AND PROVIDE VISITORS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN ENJOYABLE AND RESPECTFUL WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE.THE CONSERVANCY'S VOLUNTEER PROGRAM RECRUITS, TRAINS AND MANAGES VOLUNTEERS WHO SUPPORT YOSEMITE THROUGH NUMEROUS WEEK-LONG NATURAL RESOURCE RESTORATION PROJECTS AND THROUGH A MONTH-LONG "VISITOR INFORMATION ASSISTANT" PROGRAM THAT IMPROVES THE EXPERIENCE OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PARK VISITORS ANNUALLY.
  3. $2.1 million spent. RETAIL & PUBLISHING: THIS PROGRAM COMPRISES SALES CONDUCTED AT VISITOR CENTER BOOKSTORES, INFORMATION CENTERS AND WILDERNESS CENTERS, THROUGH AN ONLINE STORE, AND TO WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS. IN ADDITION TO SELLING MAPS, GUIDES, NATIVE AMERICAN HANDCRAFTS, APPAREL AND OTHER ITEMS RELATED TO YOSEMITE AND THE SIERRA NEVADA, THE CONSERVANCY PUBLISHES AND SELLS BOOKS THAT EDUCATE PEOPLE AND INSPIRE THEM TO CONNECT WITH AND CARE FOR NATIONAL PARKS AND PUBLIC LANDS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 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 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.