SIERRA STATE PARKS FOUNDATION
To interpret, educate and preserve
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
One of our most important goals is to build a strong bridge that can better integrate our communities with the Sierra State Parks we serve.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Sugar Pine Point State Park: Hellman-Ehrman Estate Restoration Project
Restoration projects of the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion (also known as Pine Lodge) include repairs to damaged interior and exterior plaster, repairs to exterior woodwork, implementation of the Historic Landscape Plan, and repairs to the South Boathouse which was damaged during a severe winter storm.
During the winter of 2012, a fierce storm severly damaged the historic marine railing system at the South Boathouse. In addition, damage to the retaining wall and 1903 building has caused closure of the building and the relocation of the vessel, Mercury. We have completed the engineering plans and are now raising funds to support the permitting and construction.
Donner Memorial State Park: Donner Project
This project includes the restoration of the famous Pioneer Monument at Donner Memorial State Park, site improvement landscaping around the monument and construction of an outdoor community pavilion for school groups and park visitors.
Emerald Bay State Park: Vikingsholm Restoration and Preservation
Vikingsholm Castle, the treasure of Emerald Bay State Park, is visited by over 100,000 people each year and admired by boat by tens of thousands more. Needed projects remain extensive and expensive. These include outside wood rehabilitation, repair to damage pointing around the turret, landscaping improvement in the courtyard and lakeside beds, and general ongoing maintenance of the 79 year old structure.
Sugar Pine Point State Park: Olympic Snow Trails
The Sierra State Parks Foundation maintains over 15km of groomed trails through the original 1960 Olympic Trail System at Sugar Pine Point State Park. This project includes maintenance and upkeep of the SSPF owned now grooming equipment and management of the winter snow trail grooming program.
Families To Parks
Funds provide free passes for underserved families to visit the Sierra State Parks we support.
Kings Beach State Recreation Area: Junior Lifeguard Program Scholarship Fund
The goal of the Kings Beach State Recreation Area Junior Lifeguard Program is to educate the community's youth about aquatic safety and lifeguard first response procedures. Three two week sessions will be offered each summer. Our goal is to provide scholarships to 17 underserved youth annually.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
Association of Partners for Public Lands 2014
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of print, radio, or online ads developed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Social Media, newspaper, newsletter, radio, e-blasts utilized to announce fundraising and interpretive events.Our social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and our new blog has increased our outrea
Number of programs documented
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Consists of a variety of interpretive and restoration projects at the eight California State Parks SSPF supports in the Lake Tahoe-Donner region.
Number of community sponsors: 15
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Community sponsors include donations to our 4th of July Pancake Breakfast raffle, wine donations for events, program sponsors and media sponsorships.
Total Membership revenue: $23793
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Membership revenues reported here are unrestricted revenues only.
Total unrestricted donations: $35,365.00
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Included PPP Grants in 2021
Number of Fundraising events: 17 Fundraising revenue: 30,670
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Dollars SSPF granted to California Sierra State Parks in 2021:
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Total restricted contributions: $21,766
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This amount includes operation costs of tour and park visitor center operations at Sugar Pine Point, Emerald Bay, and Donner Memorial State Parks per an agreement with State Parks.
SSPF Board Member donations:
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Our Board of Directors generously donate to the Sierra State Parks Foundation in support of our great cause.
Number of new guiding principles developed: 6
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We believe that the Lake Tahoe and Donner area California State Parks are unique treasures worthy of support. We fund projects and educational programs connect people with our rich cultural heritage.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our 2020 Strategic Goals:
o Goal #1: Strengthen financial sustainability
o Goal #2: Develop and implement a Marketing Plan
o Goal #3: Establish a formal Fundraising Program
o Goal #4: Develop advocacy platforms supporting State Parks
o Goal #5: Partner with State Parks to complete projects
o Goal #6: Collaborate with community stakeholders to support Parks
o Goal #7: Develop programs that better engage park visitors of all ages and diverse backgrounds
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
1. Expand fundraising capacity by sponsoring fundraising events that appeal to a broader age demographic
2. Increase retail revenue with high quality, attractive interpretive products
3. Restructure membership levels to increase and sustain memberships
4. Achieve unrestricted annual contributions of 200,000.00
5. Establish an event marketing committee with clear goals
6. Define a strategy to integrate our local communities with the state parks
7. Re-structure the SSPF website
8. Develop fundraising plans that are aligned with State Park needs to include restricted contributions of $500,000.
9. Develop an annual grant ask plan.
10. Expand the volunteer program.
11. Implement a donor management tracking system.
12. Establish donor cultivation programs.
13. Become visible advocates for parks in our community.
14. Develop strong collaborations and shared advocacy with community partners.
15. Develop a system of regular communication with State Park staff and administrators at all levels of park operations.
16. Develop a system to identify and prioritize underfunded parks projects.
17. Work with State Parks to identify barriers to project completion and work to find solutions.
18. Maintain budgets and reporting requirements.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
1. SSPF has a very active and dedicated Board that works hard as community advocates for the Sierra State Parks. They participate in 5 key focus committees that drive SSPF forward in reaching its goals: The Finance, Retail, Fundraising, Marketing, and Volunteer Recruitment Committees.
2. SSPF has five full time support staff that operate and manage its infrastructure operations under the leadership of an Executive Director who is a former park ranger.
3. SSPF conducts retail operations at eight park kiosks and visitor centers which generate enough revenue to sustain organizational operations on a year round basis.
4. SSPF maintains a strong volunteer base.
5. SSPF enjoys strong support from community partners and stakeholders whose vision is aligned with ours.
6. SSPF has doubled its number of fundraising events in 2017.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
DONNER MEMORIAL STATE PARK
• Provided $40,000 to enable the hiring of the Visitor Center Coordinator.
• Lobbied for State Budget augmentation for support of the Visitor Center-we won!
• Funded the volunteer program start-up resulting in 217 hours donated to welcome 24,500 visitors since June 5th.
• Funded the return of campfire programs and school group tours to the park.
• Funded $33,000.00 for conservation assessment report for the repair of the Pioneer Monument.
KINGS BEACH STATE RECREATION AREA
• Provided a State Park Information Booth for 6 weeks to collect user data and assist the park staff with visitor information and conducted a survey to plan for 2016-2017.
•Currently working with State Parks to implement a Junior Lifeguard program.
•Currently planning installation of the Mark Twain interpretive panel.
•Working to support the North Tahoe Business Association Clean and Safe Beach program at Kings Beach.
SUGAR PINE POINT STATE PARK
• Operated the house museum tours of the Hellman-Ehrman Estate and Visitor Center
• Completed electrical system upgrade to Pine Lodge and completed repairs to porch ceiling.
• Funded groundskeepers and historic building caretakers.
• Funded the permit process and completed stabilization of the South Boathouse.
• Provided mechanical grooming of the Olympic snow trail system.
• Funded Historic Landscape reports for the Hellman-Ehrman Estate, completed in 2016.
DL BLISS STATE PARK
• Supported the State Park volunteer program and Visitor Center.
• Contracted for the production of 14 interpretive panels along the Rubicon Trail which have been completed and installed.
• Supported park campfire and educational programming.
EMERALD BAY STATE PARK
• Operated the house museum tours of Vikingsholm and the Visitor Center.
• Restored the sod/wildflower roof and watering system at Vikingsholm.
• Completed the electrical system upgrade to Vikingsholm/repaired fixtures..
• Funded the stabilization and repair of the Vikingsholm foyer.
• Funded assessment report for Vikingsholm turret repair.
• Provided funding for a seasonal maintenance restoration specialist at Vikingsholm.
WASHOE MEADOWS STATE PARK
• Created a Washoe Meadows SP committee with plans for 2017 interpretive programming.
TAHOE STATE RECREATION AREA
• Supported the State Park Volunteer Program.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
SIERRA STATE PARKS FOUNDATION
Board of directorsas of 09/22/2022
Lolly Kupec
Sierra State Parks Foundation
Term: 2018 - 2020
Lolly Kupec
Sierra State Parks Foundation
Rosalee Smith
Sierra State Parks Foundation
Susan Grove
Sierra State Parks Foundation
Norma Santiago
Sierra State Parks Foundation
Rob Weston
Sierra State Parks Foundation
Kate Shaw
Sierra State Parks Foundation
Greg Palmer
Sierra State Parks Foundation
Barb Hawn
Sierra State Parks Foundation
Barton Trethaway
Sierra State Parks Foundation
Paul Verke
Sierra State Parks Foundation
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data