Wild Whatcom's mission is to foster lifelong connections with nature and community through outdoor exploration and service.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
90¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 187 volunteers and 31 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 4
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $6K a year · under 1% of revenue · last 4 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 4 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 4 filings
Spent on programs
90%
of spending
Looks good: 90% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$75K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
5 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 5.3 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $15K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$355K
62% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 62% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
3
of 3 voting members
Looks good: 3 of 3 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
+24% vs prior year
Spent
$1.2M
To programs
90%
Net assets
$217K
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$1.2M
FY2025▲ +24%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$851K
FY2023$1.1M
FY2024$930K
FY2025$1.2M
Expenses
$1.2M
FY2025▲ +11%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$626K
FY2023$998K
FY2024$1.1M
FY2025$1.2M
Net assets
$217K
FY2025▼ -29%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$431K
FY2023$490K
FY2024$303K
FY2025$217K

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending August 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Feb 2013.

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

Where the money goes

90 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 90% · $1.1M Management & general 5% · $64K Fundraising 5% · $60K

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

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Who runs it and what they're paid

4 people listed on the 990; $75K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$75,150Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Samantha Jolly’s $75K as Executive Director is at the 16th 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.

See Wild Whatcom executive salaries →

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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 15aYes

Programs and updates

Connects people with nature and community through outdoor exploration and service.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $927K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

School programs offer children the opportunity to explore and connect with the natural world near their school and neighborhoods. The program encourages students to develop a connection to local natural and cultural history through exploration, games, play, art, and nature activities.

$430Kprogram expense
02

Explorers Club is a long-term, outdoor, youth mentoring program based on exploration, service, and connection. Our goals are to awaken and strengthen in youth a profound connection to the natural world; instill a life-long ethic of service to the community; and to reinforce character traits that sustain the capacity for healthy…

$273Kprogram expense
03

Camps are three to five day adventures that utilize mentor-facilitated learning and discovery outdoors in and around Whatcom County. While exploring, we aim to help kids: discover their capabilities through appropriate challenges; better understand themselves and others; and develop their collaborative leadership capacity.

$224Kprogram expense

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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$15K
Grants paid · 1 grant · $81K · 2024–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$81,281

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.2M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$717K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$428K
Investment incomeLn 3$10K
Money outPt IX
$1.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.1M
Managementcol C$64K
Fundraisingcol D$60K
Owns and owesPt X
$217K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$543K
Total assetsLn 16$571K
LiabilitiesLn 26$355K
PeoplePt VI, VII
4
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a3
IndependentVI 1b3
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$428K
Government grantsLn 1e$133K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$10
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Fees for servicesLn 2g$717K
Investment incomeLn 3$10K
Other incomeLn 4–11$75
Total revenueLn 12$1.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$231K
SavingsLn 2$312K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$543K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$16K
Total assetsLn 16$571K
LiabilitiesLn 26$355K
Net assetsLn 32$217K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 531
VolunteersI 6187
Fiscal year endsHeaderAugust
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$643K$543K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$17K$16K
Total assetsLn 16$661K$571K
LiabilitiesLn 26$357K$355K
Net assetsLn 32$303K$217K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$81K$81K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$80K$40K$20K$20K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$835K$776K$29K$30K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$23K$20K$2K$582
Other employee benefitsLn 9$87K$78K$5K$4K
Accounting feesLn 11c$7K$7K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$800$800
Advertising and promotionLn 12$8K$6K$2K
Office expensesLn 13$26K$25K$166$221
Information technologyLn 14$7K$6K$125$717
OccupancyLn 16$32K$30K$1K$1K
TravelLn 17$6K$6K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$429$429
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$2K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$12K$12K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$33K$33K$0$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.2M$1.1M$64K$60K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $1.2M$1.2M−$83K$217K 990 PDF
FY2024 $930K$1.1M−$187K$303K 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.1M$998K$70K$490K 990 PDF
FY2022 Not on file
FY2021 $851K$626K$225K$431K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,155,680 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $277,752$428,321
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $642,213$717,347
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $9,781$9,937
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $528$75
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $930,274$1,155,680
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$81,281
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $963,760$1,024,023
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $153,239$133,783
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,116,999$1,239,087
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$186,725−$83,407
Part VI · Governance 3 of 3 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body3
VI-1b Independent voting members3
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
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 $1,155,680 across 13 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $13,270 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$132,535
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$295,786
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$10
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$428,321
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $704,077 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$704,077
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $9,937$9,937
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $75$75
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $717,347 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $10,012$1,155,680
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,239,087 across 17 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $81,281$81,281
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $40,037 · Management $20,019 · Fundraising $20,019$80,075
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $776,159 · Management $28,730 · Fundraising $29,880$834,769
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $20,169 · Management $1,879 · Fundraising $582$22,630
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $77,613 · Management $4,562 · Fundraising $4,374$86,549
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $7,350$7,350
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $800$800
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $5,927 · Fundraising $2,467$8,394
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $25,316 · Management $166 · Fundraising $221$25,703
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $5,894 · Management $125 · Fundraising $717$6,736
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $29,636 · Management $1,008 · Fundraising $1,440$32,084
IX-17 TravelPrograms $5,954$5,954
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsManagement $429$429
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,583$1,583
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $12,159$12,159
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $32,591 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$32,591
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,115,119 · Management $64,268 · Fundraising $59,700$1,239,087
Part X · Balance sheet $571,334 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $201,426$231,299
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $441,917$311,975
X-4 Accounts receivable$12,226
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $17,417$15,834
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $660,760$571,334
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expenses$74,148
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $267,543$280,541
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $357,440$354,689
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $303,320$152,968
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $0$63,677
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $303,320$216,645
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $660,760$571,334
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $216,645 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,155,680
XI-2 Total expenses$1,239,087
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$83,407
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$303,320
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$0
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments−$3,268
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$216,645

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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