Sempervirens Fund
Sempervirens Fund reported $12.6 million in revenue and $8.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $66.89 went to program services, $11.44 to management and general costs and $21.67 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 93.8% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $315,031 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 11 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 60% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $8.9MFor context, the median across 371 covered environment charities: $85.82 programs, $10.80 management, $3.38 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $13MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 66.9% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 11.4% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 21.7% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.16 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 93.8% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.1% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.4% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $315,031 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.55% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 11 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 59.5 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 13 of 13 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseLand stewardship Sempervirens Fund owns directly or through conservation easement more than 12,000 acres of land. Permanently protecting redwood forests ensures that the properties where redwoods thrive are set aside to keep forests intact and preserved for generations to come. We work across santa cruz mountain landscapes, and in collaboration with neighbors and regional partners, to safeguard the health of trees, habitats, waterways, and wildlife. Please continue to schedule o for further description of this work. For each property in our care, we generate a stewardship plan which gives US…
Education and outreach Sempervirens Fund regularly communicates general information about its work, the vital role redwoods play in a healthy, thriving, and rich regional ecosystem, and opportunities to volunteer or find recreation in the santa cruz mountains. Sempervirens Fund's community is invited to learn, volunteer, take action, and donate to our work through digital, print, and in-person communications and events, including outreach activities such as webinars, community events, and hiking and volunteer opportunities. Visit sempervirens.org to learn more please continue to schedule o…
Protecting land through acquisition and transfer in fiscal year 2025, sempervirens acquired one land parcel: ano nuevo vista, 41 acres between butano and big basin redwoods state park. The property includes a mosaic of habitat types from redwood forest to quickly disappearing maritime chaparral.this diversity of habitat types supports many plants and wildlife within its borders and throughout the watershed. To learn more, visit: sempervirens.org/protect/redwood-forests/ano-nuevo-vista/ please continue to schedule o for further description of this work. Acre by protected acre, and with your…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $290,186 | $0 | $24,845 | $315,031 |
| DEPUTY DIRECTOR Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $228,759 | $0 | $19,976 | $248,735 |
| CHIEF OF PHILANTHROPY Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $203,283 | $0 | $29,767 | $233,050 |
| CHIEF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $201,254 | $0 | $19,120 | $220,374 |
| DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION PLANNING Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $150,620 | $0 | $21,602 | $172,222 |
| DIRECTOR OF TRIBUTE & LEGACY GIVING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $131,723 | $0 | $20,763 | $152,486 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $135,713 | $0 | $15,732 | $151,445 |
| DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $128,004 | $0 | $16,682 | $144,686 |
11 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Sempervirens Fund (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.4M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b13 · 13 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 530
- Volunteers Part I, line 645
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| MAL WARWICK & ASSOCIATES Fundraising consulting | $205,746 |
| RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICT OF SANTA Forest restoration | $133,881 |
| EMC COMMUNICATIONS Public relations | $113,000 |
| RANDAZZO ENTERPRISES INC Demolition services | $108,138 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
25 private foundations reported grants to Sempervirens Fund totaling $1.4M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Sempervirens Fund's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Sempervirens Fund, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Sempervirens Fund spent in FY2025, $66.89 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Rose Foundation for Communities the EnvironmentOakland, CA · revenue $13M · programs 90.0% · 2024
- The Natomas Basin Conservancy a Calif Non-Profit Public Benefit CorpSacramento, CA · revenue $13M · programs 93.4% · 2025
- Cardinal Land ConservancyLoveland, OH · revenue $13M · programs 61.5% · 2024
- Lowcountry Land TrustCharleston, SC · revenue $13M · programs 91.8% · FY2025
- Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries ProgramCorpus Christi, TX · revenue $13M · programs 91.2% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Sempervirens Fund's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Sempervirens Fund reported that 66.9% of its $8.9 million in expenses went to program services, 11.4% to management and general and 21.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Sempervirens Fund pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Sempervirens Fund reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $315,031, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Sempervirens Fund get its money?
Of $12.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 93.8% came from contributions and grants (including 0.1% from government grants) and 0.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Sempervirens Fund a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 94-2155097 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202601049349301430 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202403529349301800 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202343119349303764 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202203079349303560 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202113189349301261 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202003179349308840 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 94-2155097: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.