The organization (a wilderness meditation and retreat center), grounds its life and programs in the power of awareness and mindfulness, a direct experience with the natural world and wilderness, and living sustainably. The organization was closed in 2020 due to the covid pandemic. Our resources shifted to caring for the land and facilities and some online programming.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
84¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 15 volunteers and 4 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
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $54K a year · 7% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
84%
of spending
Looks good: 84% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$213K
to officers and key staff · 20% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 20% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
5 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 5.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
7
named funders · $120K
Looks good: 7 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$311K
17% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 17% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
4
of 6 voting members
Looks good: 4 of 6 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.2M
+21% vs prior year
Spent
$1.1M
To programs
84%
Net assets
$1.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$1.2M
FY2024▲ +21%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$359K
FY2021$428K
FY2022$854K
FY2023$997K
FY2024$1.2M
Expenses
$1.1M
FY2024▲ +9%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$326K
FY2021$374K
FY2022$784K
FY2023$1.0M
FY2024$1.1M
Net assets
$1.5M
FY2024▲ +9%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.3M
FY2021$1.3M
FY2022$1.4M
FY2023$1.4M
FY2024$1.5M

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 Jun 2000.

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

Where the money goes

84 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 84% · $918K Management & general 8% · $89K Fundraising 8% · $84K

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

6 people listed on the 990; $213K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Guiding Teacher
$127,391Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director
$86,103Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Erin Treat’s $127K as Guiding Teacher is at the 51st percentile of top reported officer pay among 3395 $1–10M education 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Erin Treat$127,391$94,061$79,310$52,200$42,350
Jessica Denison$86,103$82,270$74,100$73,838$67,800

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 Vallecitos Mountain Refuge executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

Questions the 990 asks

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

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Offers wilderness meditation and mindfulness retreats, focusing on nature and sustainable living.

Questions for Vallecitos Mountain Refuge

Tap to ask. Vallecitos Mountain Refuge sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Vallecitos Mountain Refuge answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

1 program · $918K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Our programs are rooted in the teachings of the buddha in the theravada tradition. This along with the power of the wild nature setting creates the foundation of our offerings. We offer a wide variety of dharma-based retreats for the general population as well as experienced practitioners.

$918Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
See all 7 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$670K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$532K
Investment incomeLn 3$7K
Money outPt IX
$1.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$918K
Managementcol C$89K
Fundraisingcol D$84K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$453K
Total assetsLn 16$1.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$311K
PeoplePt VI, VII
6
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b4
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$670K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$23K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$532K
Investment incomeLn 3$7K
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Total revenueLn 12$1.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$383K
SavingsLn 2$70K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$453K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.3M
Total assetsLn 16$1.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$311K
Net assetsLn 32$1.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 54
VolunteersI 615
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$458K$453K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.3M$1.3M
Total assetsLn 16$1.8M$1.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$384K$311K
Net assetsLn 32$1.4M$1.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$213K$153K$30K$30K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$167K$166K$68$1K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$11K$11K$120$120
Payroll taxesLn 10$21K$16K$2K$3K
Legal feesLn 11b$275$275
Accounting feesLn 11c$17K$17K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$21K$21K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$83K$76K$7K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$850$850
Office expensesLn 13$33K$29K$277$3K
OccupancyLn 16$12K$11K$531$532
TravelLn 17$61K$61K$353
InterestLn 20$16K$16K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$35K$35K$536
InsuranceLn 23$44K$44K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$288K$288K
All other expensesLn 24e$67K$12K$31K$24K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.1M$918K$89K$84K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $1.2M$1.1M$120K$1.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 $997K$1.0M−$8K$1.4M 990 PDF
FY2022 $854K$784K$70K$1.4M 990 PDF
FY2021 $428K$374K$55K$1.3M 990 PDF
FY2020 $359K$326K$33K$1.3M 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,210,820 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $541,460$670,472
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $431,132$531,808
I-10 Investment income$6,920
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $24,186$1,620
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $996,778$1,210,820
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $303,005$412,791
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $17,947$21,078
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $684,155$656,907
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,005,107$1,090,776
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$8,329$120,044
Part VI · Governance 4 of 6 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
VI-1b Independent voting members4
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,210,820 across 7 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $1,620 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$670,472
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$22,760
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$670,472
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $531,808$531,808
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $6,920$6,920
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $533,428 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $6,920$1,210,820
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,090,776 across 17 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $153,222 · Management $30,136 · Fundraising $30,136$213,494
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $165,837 · Management $68 · Fundraising $1,444$167,349
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $11,153 · Management $120 · Fundraising $120$11,393
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $15,626 · Management $2,405 · Fundraising $2,524$20,555
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $275$275
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $16,554$16,554
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $21,078$21,078
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $76,017 · Management $7,026$83,043
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $850$850
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $29,256 · Management $277 · Fundraising $3,271$32,804
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $11,405 · Management $531 · Fundraising $532$12,468
IX-17 TravelPrograms $60,958 · Fundraising $353$61,311
IX-20 InterestPrograms $15,575$15,575
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $34,533 · Management $536$35,069
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $44,015$44,015
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $287,784$287,784
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $11,536 · Management $31,390 · Fundraising $24,233$67,159
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $917,767 · Management $89,318 · Fundraising $83,691$1,090,776
Part X · Balance sheet $1,798,880 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $387,621$383,313
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $70,000$70,000
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $25,500$60,000
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $1,750$2,501
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $9,731$11,087
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,251,327$1,266,438
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $6,077$5,541
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,752,006$1,798,880
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $9,473$16,623
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $70,719$1,883
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $383,771$310,601
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,288,593$1,352,485
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $79,642$135,794
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,368,235$1,488,279
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,752,006$1,798,880
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,488,279 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,210,820
XI-2 Total expenses$1,090,776
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$120,044
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,368,235
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,488,279

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

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.