The Sierra Fund

Analysis

The Sierra Fund is a registered charity in United States, based in Auburn, CA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in January 2002, 24 years ago. Its declared purposes cover environment, which this site groups under environment and conservation. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, The Sierra Fund reported income of $1.5m and spending of $1.4m, spending 93% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $1.1m to $1.5m (+44%), an average of +9.5% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 94%. Over the whole period it spent 97% of the income it received.

Among 10,430 United States charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, The Sierra Fund sits at the 83rd percentile: it is larger than about 83% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 84th percentile, and in the 84th percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Deb & Jeff Hansen Foundation ($1.5m), Gasp ($1.5m) and Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Incorporated ($1.5m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 97% and program service revenue 2.7% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $133k (9.3% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $461k. It paid $2,000 in professional fundraising fees. At year end it held assets of $611k against liabilities of $353k, net assets of $258k. It reported 8 employees.