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Wishtoyo Foundation

EIN 95-4124859 · Ventura, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WISHTOYO IS PLACE, ORGANIZATION, AND MOVEMENT INSPIRING PEOPLE TO LIVE IN HARMONY WITH OUR EARTH AGAIN. WISHTOYO SERVES AS A "RAINBOW BRIDGE" LINKING CHUMASH AND INDIGENOUS LIFEWAYS WITH THE PROTECTION OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES, UTILIZING TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE TO PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION AND JUSTICE, EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND ADVOCACY.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
23
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$179,577, president & executive dire

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 10 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, 2024, 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. $527,384 spent. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: WISHTOYO'S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PROGRAM PROTECTS AND PRESERVES THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE CULTURE OF CHUMASH AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES THROUGH ADVOCACY, LEGAL ACTION, AND PRESERVATION, CONSERVATION, AND RESTORATION PROJECTS. IN 2024 WE CONTINUED TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY AND HEALTH OF WATERBODIES AND CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT LANDS, WHICH ARE VITAL NATURAL RESOURCES FOR ALL INHABITANTS OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE LIFEBLOOD OF CHUMASH CULTURE. TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, CULTURAL RESOURCES, AND SACRED PLACES WE SUCCESSFULLY: UTILIZED LEGAL ACTION BY WAY OF STATE AND FEDERAL LITIGATION UNDER LAWS INCLUDING THE CLEAN WATER ACT AND ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT; ADVOCATED FOR STRONGER LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS, PERMITS AND LEGISLATION; CONDUCTED WATERSHED MONITORING AND HABITAT RESTORATION; MOBILIZED CONTINUED FROM "ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION": COMMUNITIES TO TAKE ACTION, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECTS, INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION, AT OUR NEW FIRST NATIONS ECOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL CONSERVANCY. WISHTOYO ALSO CONTINUED TO UTILIZE ITS VENTURA COASTKEEPER ("VCK") PROGRAM. WISHTOYO FOUNDED VCK IN 2000 AS THE 54TH MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL WATERKEEPER ALLIANCE TO FOCUS ON WATER QUALITY PROTECTION IN VENTURA COUNTY WATERSHEDS.
  2. $432,506 spent. CULTURAL PRESERVATION: WISHTOYO'S CULTURAL PRESERVATION PROGRAM PROTECTS AND PRESERVES THE ANCIENT WISDOM, PRACTICES, AND CULTURE OF CHUMASH AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES THROUGH CULTURAL, SPIRITUAL, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH. OUR ONGOING PROGRAMS PRESERVE, MAINTAIN, AND PROTECT CHUMASH LIFEWAYS, CULTURE, HISTORY, AND INDIGENOUS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, FOR THE CHUMASH COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR PROJECTS AND CAPACITY, FROM OUR POPULAR SMUWIC LANGUAGE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, TRADITIONAL LAND TENDING MENTORSHIP, AND BASKETRY PROGRAMS. IN THIS WAY, KNOWLEDGE AND TRADITIONS CAN CONTINUE TO BE PASSED INTER-GENERATIONALLY, AND NON-NATIVE COMMUNITIES CAN ENGAGE IN CULTURAL APPRECIATION AND DEEPER UNDERSTANDING. IN 2024 WISHTOYO CONTINUED PLANNING, DESIGN, AND CONTINUED FROM "PLANNING, DESIGN, AND": IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR NEW FIRST NATIONS CULTURAL & ECOLOGICAL CONSERVANCY. IN 2024 WE ALSO CONTINUED OUR LONGSTANDING WORK TOWARD THE FULL BUILD OUT OF WISHTOYO'S AUTHENTIC CHUMASH VILLAGE IN PRESENT DAY MALIBU, AND THE THOMAS FIRE AND SUBSEQUENT FLOODING AT THE VILLAGE PRESENTED US WITH BOTH SETBACKS (LOSS OF A TRADITIONAL STRUCTURE AND RESTORATION AREAS) AND OPPORTUNITIES (NEW RESTORATION WORK AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS BASED IN INDIGENOUS FIRE MANAGEMENT).
  3. $202,825 spent. CHUMASH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION: WISHTOYO'S CHUMASH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM PROTECTS AND PRESERVES THE WORLD'S NATURAL RESOURCES THROUGH EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH. GENERALLY, WE PROVIDE CULTURAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS TO OVER 1,200 YOUTH AND MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC PER YEAR, TEACHING AWARENESS OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, ANCIENT CHUMASH VALUES OF SUSTAINABILITY, AND THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF CALIFORNIA'S NATIVE PEOPLES. OUR CHUMASH TRIBAL MARINE PROTECTED AREAS EDUCATION PROGRAM AND FIRST NATIONS SUMMER FIELD STUDIES, AND OTHER EDUCATION INITIATIVES GEARED TOWARDS K-12 STUDENTS, MAINTAIN OUR COMMITMENT TO BUILDING SUPPORTIVE COASTAL PARTNERSHIPS AND CONSTITUENCIES AMONGST DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGH OUTREACH AND EDUCATION. SPECIFICALLY, OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS AIM TO PROVIDE CONTINUED FROM "AIM TO PROVIDE": IMPACTFUL EXPERIENCES FOR YOUTH SO THEY FEEL EMPOWERED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND ENVIRONMENT THROUGH CAREER CHOICES AND BEHAVIOR THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. WE SEEK TO REMEDY INEQUALITIES AND DISADVANTAGES IN MAINSTREAM EDUCATION BY FOCUSING ON UNDERSERVED AND INTERTRIBAL STUDENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1988.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.