The Mono Lake Foundation

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Preserve and protect Mono Lake.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
88¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 80 volunteers and 22 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $954K a year · 23% of revenue · last 5 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 5 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
88%
of spending
Looks good: 88% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$150K
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $13.7M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 2.6 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
13
named funders · $415K
Looks good: 13 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$267K
2% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 2% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
9
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 9 of 9 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$5.2M
+41% vs prior year
Spent
$4.1M
To programs
88%
Net assets
$17.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$5.2M
FY2024▲ +41%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$3.8M
FY2021$4.6M
FY2022$3.8M
FY2023$3.7M
FY2024$5.2M
Expenses
$4.1M
FY2024▲ +11%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.5M
FY2021$2.8M
FY2022$3.3M
FY2023$3.7M
FY2024$4.1M
Net assets
$17.5M
FY2024▲ +15%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$13.5M
FY2021$16.0M
FY2022$14.0M
FY2023$15.1M
FY2024$17.5M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Sep 1985.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

88 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 88% · $3.6M Management & general 5% · $199K Fundraising 8% · $310K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

10 people listed on the 990; $150K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Excutive Director
$149,639Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Chairperson
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Geoffrey McQuilkin’s $150K as Excutive Director is at the 63rd percentile of top reported officer pay among 1690 $1–10M philanthropy & grantmaking nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Geoffrey McQuilkin$149,639$123,000$112,334$103,389$96,948

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See The Mono Lake Foundation executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Protecting and preserving Mono Lake's unique ecosystem for future generations.

Questions for The Mono Lake Foundation

Tap to ask. The Mono Lake Foundation sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. The Mono Lake Foundation answers here, for everyone.

3 programs · $3.6M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Protection & Restoration

The mono lake committee protects the ecological health and scenic qualities of mono lake, its tributary streams, and surrounding lands. The committee advocates and implements restoration programs that heal the damage done by excessive water diversions to los angeles in past decades including raising mono lake to the state-mandated…

$3.6Mprogram expense
02

Education

The mono lake committee seeks to share the mono lake story with the general public and a diverse range of schools and community groups. Education programs include interpretive walks and canoe tours at mono lake, bird walks, environmental education for school groups, weekend field seminars, a public information center with exhibits and a…

Pt IX · col B
03

Scientific Research

The mono lake committee runs the mono basin field station to support scientific research in the mono basin by providing housing and basic resources needed for research. The information gathered at the field station is instrumental in understanding mono lake and in shaping the mono lake committee's policies and science-based land…

Pt IX · col B

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 13 funders →
Grants paid · 12 grants · $211K · 2020–2024
Point Reyes Bird ObservatoryCA · FY2024$16,000
Oikonos-Ecosystem KnowledgeHI · FY2024$10,000
Point Reyes Bird ObservatoryCA · FY2023$16,000
Oikonos-Ecosystem KnowledgeHI · FY2023$13,500
Lee Vining Fire Protection DistrictFY2023$6,000
Point Reyes Bird ObservatoryCA · FY2022$12,000
Wilderness Land TrustMT · FY2022$10,000
Friends of the InyoCA · FY2021$68,718
Prbo Conservation ScienceCA · FY2021$12,000
Friends of the InyoCA · FY2020$25,000
Prbo Conservation ScienceCA · FY2020$12,000
Mammoth Lakes RecreationCA · FY2020$9,410

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$5.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$350K
Other incomeLn 4–11$208K
Money outPt IX
$4.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.6M
Managementcol C$199K
Fundraisingcol D$310K
Owns and owesPt X
$17.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$906K
Total assetsLn 16$17.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$267K
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b9
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.6M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$1.3M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$98K
Investment incomeLn 3$350K
Other incomeLn 4–11$208K
Gains on assetsLn 7$4K
Total revenueLn 12$5.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$638K
SavingsLn 2$268K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$906K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$13.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2.9M
Total assetsLn 16$17.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$267K
Net assetsLn 32$17.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 522
VolunteersI 680
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$1.3M
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
LineFY24FY23FY22FY21FY20
End of yearLn 1g$958K$864K$774K$962K$847K
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$506K$906K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$12.1M$13.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2.3M$2.9M
Total assetsLn 16$15.3M$17.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$156K$267K
Net assetsLn 32$15.1M$17.5M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$36K$36K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$2K$2K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$154K$142K$12K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.3M$1.2M$97K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$27K$25K$456$2K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$129K$120K$10K
Payroll taxesLn 10$109K$101K$8K
Legal feesLn 11b$51K$43K$8K
Accounting feesLn 11c$178K$157K$21K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$103K$103K
Investment management feesLn 11f$117K$100K$18K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$859K$729K$130K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$54K$53K$317$575
Office expensesLn 13$534K$476K$5K$52K
OccupancyLn 16$116K$115K$42$1K
TravelLn 17$74K$69K$4K$948
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$82K$79K$3K
InsuranceLn 23$79K$77K$243$1K
All other expensesLn 24e$125K$93K$13K$19K
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.1M$3.6M$199K$310K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Oct 24, 2025 $5.2M$4.1M$1.1M$17.5M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Sep 11, 2024 $3.7M$3.7M$698$15.1M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Oct 2, 2023 $3.8M$3.3M$504K$14.0M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Sep 15, 2022 $4.6M$2.8M$1.8M$16.0M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Nov 2, 2021 $3.8M$2.5M$1.3M$13.5M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $5,226,688 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,909,510$4,569,755
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $79,033$98,474
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $388,898$350,324
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $318,284$208,135
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $3,695,725$5,226,688
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $41,750$37,910
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,602,741$1,704,467
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $128,053$102,767
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,922,483$2,268,689
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,695,027$4,113,833
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $698$1,112,855
Part VI · Governance 9 of 9 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members9
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $5,226,688 across 8 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $136,808 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$4,569,755
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$1,267,306
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$4,569,755
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $98,474$98,474
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $346,516$346,516
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $71,327$71,327
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $3,808$3,808
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $174,841 · Unrelated business $60,441 · Excluded from tax $421,651$5,226,688
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $4,113,833 across 19 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $35,910$35,910
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $2,000$2,000
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $142,496 · Fundraising $11,632$154,128
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,187,876 · Fundraising $96,976$1,284,852
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $24,931 · Management $456 · Fundraising $2,073$27,460
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $119,528 · Fundraising $9,758$129,286
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $100,534 · Fundraising $8,207$108,741
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $42,974 · Management $7,648$50,622
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $157,115 · Management $20,969$178,084
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $102,767$102,767
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $99,607 · Management $17,727$117,334
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $728,962 · Management $129,733$858,695
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $53,234 · Management $317 · Fundraising $575$54,126
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $476,318 · Management $5,322 · Fundraising $52,087$533,727
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $114,706 · Management $42 · Fundraising $1,494$116,242
IX-17 TravelPrograms $69,195 · Management $3,804 · Fundraising $948$73,947
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $79,115 · Fundraising $3,237$82,352
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $77,087 · Management $243 · Fundraising $1,249$78,579
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $92,759 · Management $13,189 · Fundraising $19,033$124,981
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,604,347 · Management $199,450 · Fundraising $310,036$4,113,833
Part X · Balance sheet $17,747,859 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $257,723$638,300
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $247,952$267,785
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $131,312$36,051
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $83,982$113,573
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $120,146$105,971
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $2,327,003$2,850,786
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $12,125,281$13,735,393
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $15,293,399$17,747,859
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $155,685$266,820
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $155,685$266,820
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $12,838,369$14,965,658
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $2,299,345$2,515,381
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $15,137,714$17,481,039
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $15,293,399$17,747,859
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $17,481,039 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$5,226,688
XI-2 Total expenses$4,113,833
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,112,855
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$15,137,714
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$1,230,470
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$17,481,039

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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