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.
88¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX

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FY2023 · 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
88%
of spending
Looks good: 88% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
10 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 9.5 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
$303K
38% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 38% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 5 voting members
Looks good: 5 of 5 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.1M
+25% vs prior year
Spent
$998K
To programs
88%
Net assets
$490K
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$1.1M
FY2023▲ +25%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$851K
FY2023$1.1M
FY2024$930K
FY2025$1.2M
Expenses
$998K
FY2023▲ +59%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$626K
FY2023$998K
FY2024$1.1M
FY2025$1.2M
Net assets
$490K
FY2023▲ +14%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$431K
FY2023$490K
FY2024$303K
FY2025$217K

From the FY2023 Form 990 (year ending August 2023) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

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

88 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 88% · $875K Management & general 6% · $62K Fundraising 6% · $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

5 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$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 · $705K · in their own filed words · FY2022
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.

$385Kprogram 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; to instill a life-long ethic of service to the community; and to reinforce character traits that sustain the capacity for healthy…

$215Kprogram 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.

$104Kprogram 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 FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.1M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$553K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$508K
Investment incomeLn 3$6K
Money outPt IX
$998K
Ln 25
Programscol B$875K
Managementcol C$62K
Fundraisingcol D$60K
Owns and owesPt X
$490K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$788K
Total assetsLn 16$793K
LiabilitiesLn 26$303K
PeoplePt VI, VII
5
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$508K
Government grantsLn 1e$148K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$906
Fees for servicesLn 2g$553K
Investment incomeLn 3$6K
Other incomeLn 4–11$533
Total revenueLn 12$1.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$351K
SavingsLn 2$438K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$788K
Total assetsLn 16$793K
LiabilitiesLn 26$303K
Net assetsLn 32$490K
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$696K$788K
Total assetsLn 16$718K$793K
LiabilitiesLn 26$298K$303K
Net assetsLn 32$420K$490K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$777K$681K$46K$50K
Payroll taxesLn 10$75K$66K$4K$5K
Accounting feesLn 11c$7K$7K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$12K$12K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$8K$7K$1K$438
Office expensesLn 13$7K$4K$48$3K
Information technologyLn 14$5K$4K$272$684
OccupancyLn 16$28K$25K$1K$1K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$6K$5K$519$85
InsuranceLn 23$8K$8K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$63K$63K$153$17
All other expensesLn 24e$2K$364$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$998K$875K$62K$60K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $1.2M$1.2M−$83K$217K 990 PDF
FY2024 $930K$1.1M−$187K$303K 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $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 FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,067,496 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $223,751$508,322
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $483,603$552,833
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $967$5,808
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $6,893$533
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $715,214$1,067,496
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $625,801$852,038
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $100,608$145,462
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $726,409$997,500
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$11,195$69,996
Part VI · Governance 5 of 5 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members5
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 $1,067,496 across 9 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $7,010 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$906
VIII-1e Government grants$147,817
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$359,599
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$508,322
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $545,823$545,823
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $5,808$5,808
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $91$91
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $442$442
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $559,174$1,067,496
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $997,500 across 12 lines filed
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $681,355 · Management $45,847 · Fundraising $49,700$776,902
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $65,915 · Management $4,451 · Fundraising $4,770$75,136
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $6,560$6,560
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $12,040$12,040
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $6,539 · Management $1,150 · Fundraising $438$8,127
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $3,569 · Management $48 · Fundraising $3,222$6,839
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $3,586 · Management $272 · Fundraising $684$4,542
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $25,134 · Management $1,008 · Fundraising $1,440$27,582
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $5,497 · Management $519 · Fundraising $85$6,101
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $8,349$8,349
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $63,064 · Management $153 · Fundraising $17$63,234
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $364 · Management $1,724$2,088
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $875,412 · Management $61,732 · Fundraising $60,356$997,500
Part X · Balance sheet $792,951 assets, 11 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $21,070$350,643
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $674,508$437,700
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $22,224$3,569
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$1,039
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $717,802$792,951
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $231,599$227,299
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $66,154$75,607
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $297,753$302,906
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $420,049$490,045
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $420,049$490,045
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $717,802$792,951
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $490,045 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,067,496
XI-2 Total expenses$997,500
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$69,996
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$420,049
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$490,045

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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