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Bay Area Ridge Trail Council

EIN 94-3148503 · Berkeley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To plan, promote and sustain a connected 550-mile hiking, cycling and equestrian trail on the ridge lines above the San Francisco Bay - linking people, parks and open spaces for today and future generations.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
8.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
11
Volunteers
514
Highest pay
$200,748, exec director

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: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.1 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 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (2)
  1. $1.3 million spent. BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL IS A MULTI-USE (HIKING, MOUNTAIN BIKING, AND EQUESTRIAN) TRAIL THAT FOLLOWS ALONG THE RIDGE LINES ENCIRCLING THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA. OVER 400 MILES OF TRAIL ARE READY TO EXPLORE IN OVER 75 PARKS AND OPEN SPACES. IN COLLABORATION WITH OVER 35 REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING PARKS, OPEN SPACE DISTRICTS, LAND TRUSTS, AND OTHER AGENCIES AND LANDOWNERS, THE RIDGE TRAIL COUNCIL CONTINUES TO PLAN, DESIGN, BUILD, AND STEWARD THE TRAIL WITH A GOAL OF 550 CONTIGUOUS MILES UNITING THE 9-COUNTY BAY AREA.
  2. EACH YEAR, THE COUNCIL HOSTS NUMEROUS GUIDED TRAIL OUTINGS, OVERNIGHT TREKS, AND FULLY-SUPPORTED ANNUAL EVENTS FOR HIKERS, RUNNERS, EQUESTRIANS AND MOUNTAIN BIKERS. IN ADDITION, THE COUNCIL HOSTS STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR UTILIZING VOLUNTEERS TO HELP BUILD, MAINTAIN AND RESTORE THE TRAIL AND IN 2025, WE LOGGED OVER 3000 VOLUNTEER SERVICE HOURS.

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 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 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 April 1992.

    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.