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Sierra Stem

EIN 99-2794285 · June Lake, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SIERRA STEM IS DEDICATED TO COLLABORATING CLOSELY WITH EDUCATORS AND SCHOOLS TO FOSTER THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOL-AGED INDIVIDUALS WHO EMBODY CRITICAL THINKING, RESILIENCE, AND EMPATHY.ORGANIZATION AIMS TO CULTIVATE A BROAD COMMUNITY OF SCIENTISTS AND CITIZENS WHO ARE EQUIPPED TO NAVIGATE CHALLENGES WITH INTELLIGENCE, ADAPTABILITY, AND COMPASSION THROUGH ITS FOCUS ON OUTDOOR EDUCATION, STEM ENRICHMENT, AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING.

Income
$120,511
Spending
$87,305
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
4.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 74%
Employees
3
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$21,812, education director

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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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.

  • 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. $38,158 spent. VISITING SCHOOL PROGRAMS: EXPERIENTIAL STEM & OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VISITING SCHOOLS OFFERED 1 PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A VISITING SCHOOL DURING 2024. IN TOTAL, 33 STUDENTS SERVED OVER A 5-DAY PROGRAM.
  2. $12,720 spent. LOCAL SCHOOL PROGRAMS: EXPERIENTIAL STEM EDUCATION PROGRAMS OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS OFFERED 3 PROGRAMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS DURING 2024. IN TOTAL, 122 STUDENTS SERVED. PROGRAM 1 SERVED 7 STUDENTS DURING 1, 1-DAY SESSION; PROGRAM 2 SERVED 110 STUDENTS DURING 2 SESSIONS IN 1 DAY; PROGRAM 3 SERVED 5 STUDENTS DURING 2 SESSIONS ACROSS 2 DAYS.
  3. $12,720 spent. DAY CAMPS AND WORKSHOPS: EXPERIENTIAL STEM & OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS OFFERED DIRECTLY TO PARTICIPANTS WITH EACH CAMP RUNNING FIVE DAYS. IN TOTAL, 78 STUDENTS SERVED OVER 25 DAYS OF CAMPS.

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 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 2024.

    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 2024.

    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.