Yosemite Foundation
Also known as Yosemite Conservancy
Yosemite Foundation reported $25.0 million in revenue and $23.7 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $70.40 went to program services, $8.24 to management and general costs and $21.36 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 81.4% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $404,834 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 17 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 32% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $24MFor context, the median across 237 covered recreation & sports charities: $88.05 programs, $10.89 management, $1.06 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $25MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 70.4% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.2% | 10.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 21.4% | 1.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.25 | $0.05 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 81.4% | 25.2% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 3.4% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 6.1% | 61.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $404,834 | $365,322 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.71% | 2.14% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 17 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 24.9 | 14.9 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 14 of 15 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expensePark enhancements-every year, the conservancy provides grants to yosemite national park based on the highest priority needs of the park. These grants provide essential funding for trail repair, habitat restoration, historic preservation, wildlife management, scientific research, visitor services, and more
Park programs: the conservancy supports the preservation and education related roles of the national park service mission through a varied portfolio of public educational programs. The conservancy's outdoor adventures enhance the yosemite experience for park visitors through dozens of interpretive and educational day hikes, backpacking trips and other programs in geology, botany, natural and social history, photography, and the arts. The conservancy also conducts educational field programs on a custom basis and by contract with travel providers. In addition, the conservancy supports art…
Retail & publishing: this program comprises sales conducted at visitor center bookstores, information centers and wilderness centers, through an online store, and to wholesale customers. In addition to selling maps, guides, native american handcrafts, apparel and other items related to yosemite and the sierra nevada, the conservancy publishes and sells books that educate people and inspire them to connect with and care for national parks and public lands
Highest reported compensation
2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $389,611 | $0 | $15,223 | $404,834 |
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $234,361 | $0 | $27,459 | $261,820 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $231,361 | $0 | $26,120 | $257,481 |
| CHIEF MARKETING & COMMS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $197,175 | $0 | $21,960 | $219,135 |
| PHILANTHROPY OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $160,062 | $0 | $22,220 | $182,282 |
| HR DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $154,787 | $0 | $25,389 | $180,176 |
| CHIEF OF YOSEMITE OPS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $154,957 | $0 | $21,863 | $176,820 |
| PRESIDENT/CEO (THRU 1/2025) Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $162,929 | $0 | $11,429 | $174,358 |
17 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Yosemite Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.1M (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · 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–1b15 · 14 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 4No
- 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 5105
- Volunteers Part I, line 6362
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| GREAT BASIN INSTITUTE Project work in ynp | $563,425 |
| ANCIENT FOREST SOCIETY Project work in ynp | $351,611 |
| NEWPORT ONE INC Professional fundraising | $299,837 |
| XANTRION It contract services | $227,020 |
| STANTEC CONSULTING SERVICES INC Project work in ynp | $209,297 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 9 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
24 private foundations reported grants to Yosemite Foundation totaling $362K 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 Yosemite Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Yosemite Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Yosemite Foundation spent in 2025, $70.40 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Hole in the Wall Gang FundNew Haven, CT · revenue $25M · programs 68.9% · FY2025
- United States Center for SafesportDenver, CO · revenue $25M · programs 72.7% · 2024
- South Florida Fair & Palm Beach County ExpositionsWest Palm Beach, FL · revenue $25M · programs 78.6% · FY2025
- Sugar BowlNew Orleans, LA · revenue $25M · programs 93.1% · FY2025
- Ohio High School Athletic AssociationColumbus, OH · revenue $24M · programs 91.8% · FY2025
All recreation & sports charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Yosemite Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Yosemite Foundation reported that 70.4% of its $23.7 million in expenses went to program services, 8.2% to management and general and 21.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Yosemite Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Yosemite Foundation reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $404,834, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Yosemite Foundation get its money?
Of $25.0 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 81.4% came from contributions and grants (including 3.4% from government grants) and 6.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Yosemite Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 94-3058041 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, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202611669349301031 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202511689349300806 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202401809349301315 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202341609349300724 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202231589349301183 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202141539349300404 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202021839349301867 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 94-3058041: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.