BRONZE2023

Yosemite Foundation

Providing For Yosemite's Future

aka Yosemite Conservancy   |   San Francisco, CA   |  www.yosemite.org

Mission

Providing for Yosemite's future is our passion. Yosemite Conservancy is the only philanthropic organization dedicated exclusively to the protection and preservation of Yosemite National Park. We inspire people to support projects and programs that preserve and protect Yosemite National Park's resources and enrich the visitor experience. With the support of our donors, we have completed nearly 500 projects providing more than $90 million in support to Yosemite. We are committed to creating unique opportunities for people to connect with the park, through restoring hiking trails and iconic lookouts, providing outdoor education and volunteer programs.

Ruling year info

1993

President

Frank Dean

Main address

101 Montgomery St Suite 2450

San Francisco, CA 94104 USA

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Formerly known as

Yosemite Fund

Yosemite Association

Yosemite Natural History Association

Yosemite Museum Association

EIN

94-3058041

NTEE code info

Natural Resource Conservation and Protection (C30)

Fund Raising and/or Fund Distribution (C12)

Natural Resource Conservation and Protection (C30)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2022, 2021 and 2020.
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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Improving the visitor experience of Yosemite National Park. Assist in improving the visitor flow during the high attendance period in the summer months

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Grants to Yosemite National Park

The Yosemite Conservancy's projects are carefully selected to help preserve and protect Yosemite National Park. Main areas of interest include:
-Habitat Restoration
-Trail Repair and Access
-Scientific Research
-Wildlife Management
-Cultural & Historic Preservation

Population(s) Served
Adults

Yosemite Conservancy Bookstores are your best source for information; whether you are planning your first trip to Yosemite, trying to identify the diverse wildlife of the Sierra Nevada, or investigating the colorful history that shaped this National Park.

Proceeds from Conservancy bookstores are used to fund trail repair & access, habitat restoration, and wildlife protection.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Find your adventure in Yosemite – with guided hikes, backpacking trips, art workshops, theater programs, volunteer opportunities and more.

Or, if part of your Yosemite experience is heading into the wilderness, Yosemite Conservancy is here to help you secure your wilderness permit and bear-proof canister.

Fees collected from permits and canisters are put to work in the park, in projects ranging from wildlife protection to educational programs.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Where we work

Awards

4 Stars 2017

Charity Navigator

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of organizations applying for grants

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Visitor Programs & Services

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Yosemite Conservancy raises funds for the preservation and restoration of Yosemite National Park

Total number of grants awarded

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Grants to Yosemite National Park

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Grants to Yosemite National Park support projects that preserve and protect Yosemite by transforming trails, restoring habitat for plants and animals, creating enriching visitor experiences and more.

Total dollar amount of grants awarded

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Grants to Yosemite National Park

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Grants to Yosemite National Park support projects that preserve and protect Yosemite by transforming trails, restoring habitat for plants and animals, creating enriching visitor experiences and more.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Through the generosity of our donors, Yosemite Conservancy provides grants and support to Yosemite National Park to help preserve and protect Yosemite today and for future generations. Work funded by the Conservancy is visible throughout the park, in trail rehabilitation, wildlife protection and habitat restoration. The Conservancy is also dedicated to enhancing the visitor experience and providing a deeper connection to the park through outdoor programs, volunteering, wilderness services and its bookstores.

Yosemite Conservancy is the park's primary fundraising partner and does not replace congressional funding for Yosemite National Park, but enhances it. The purpose of friends groups like Yosemite Conservancy is to help the National Park Service achieve a margin of excellence by funding programs that are outside routine park maintenance and management. Funding from private supporters enhances the experiences of visitors in parks and the protection of natural and cultural resources in ways that are beyond the financial capacity of the National Park Service.

In Yosemite, each project grant is proposed by the National Park Service then reviewed and vetted with Yosemite Conservancy leadership. The Conservancy's Board approves the grants that will be funded each year.

Yosemite Conservancy has a professional staff of 65 individuals from the executive team, development, marketing, project management, finance, technology, retail, publishing and visitor and volunteer services all working in concert to advance the mission of the organization. The Conservancy has offices in San Francisco and El Portal (just outside the park), strategically placing staff where they will be most successful in fundraising, project management and enhancing the Yosemite visitor experience.

Yosemite National Park project managers submit status reports to the Conservancy in May, August and December each year. Conservancy staff work closely with National Park Service staff to ensure that progress is made toward completing the projects in the proposed time frame and that donors are kept apprised of any milestones or challenges.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.
  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We share the feedback we received with the people we serve, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback

Financials

Yosemite Foundation
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build 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.

Yosemite Foundation

Board of directors
as of 11/01/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

Mr. Matthew Adams


Board co-chair

Ms. Dana Dornsife

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • 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? No

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 11/1/2023

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
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability