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Watershed Research and Training Center

EIN 94-3116339 · Hayfork, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND SUSTAINABLE FORESTS THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, TRAINING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Income
$21.5 million
Spending
$14.4 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
-4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 57%
Employees
183
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$171,845, coexecutive

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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 80% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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 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 (5)
  1. $2.5 million spent. 458 REGIONAL FOREST AND FIRE CAPACITY II - INCREASE REGIONAL CAPACITY TO PRIORITIZE, DEVELOP, AND IMPLEMENT PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE FOREST HEALTH AND FIRE RESILIENCY, FACILITATE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS, AND INCREASE CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN FORESTS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA.
  2. $1.6 million spent. 507 USFS HEALTHY AND RESILIENT FOREST LANDSCAPE RESTORATION - A STEWARDSHIP AGREEMENT TO EXPAND COOPERATION, CAPACITY, ALIGNMENT, AND EFFICIENCIES IN ALL PAHSES OF LANDSCAPE RESTORATION, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON VEGETATION AND FUELS MANAGEMENT SO THAT BOTH THE SHASTA TRINITY NATIONAL FOREST AND THE WRTC MAY REALIZE INCREASED PACE AND SCALE IN THEIR MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL LANDSCAPE RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE EFFORTS.
  3. $998,415 spent. 564 CALFIRE SOUTHERN TRINITY FIRE RESILIENCY PROJECTS - A STRATEGIC, LANDSCAPE-SCALE FUELS REDUCTION AND PRESCRIBED BURN PROJECT TO CREATE RIDGETOP FUEL BREAKS, AND REDUCE FUEL LOADING IN AND BETWEEN HAYFORK AND HYAMPOM, CALIFORNIA.
  4. $8.0 million spent. VARIOUS OTHER PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND SUSTAINABLE FORESTS THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
  5. VARIOUS OTHER PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND SUSTAINABLE FORESTS THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

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

  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 March 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 June 1995.

    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.