Nonprofit · EIN 77-0526117
WILDERNESS YOUTH PROJECT INCORPORATED
Tax-exempt · SANTA BARBARA, CA 93103
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $5,276,033 | $4,599,801 | $676,232 | $7,028,731 | $243,153 | $6,785,578 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $6,234,216 | $4,164,229 | $2,069,987 | $6,503,869 | $432,025 | $6,071,844 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $3,275,350 | $3,692,732 | -$417,382 | $4,321,074 | $536,697 | $3,784,377 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $4,129,118
- of which government grants
- $731,889
- Program service revenue
- $871,397
- Investment income
- $259,201
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $132,981
- Net income from fundraising events
- $4,624
- Other revenue
- $16,317
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $0
- Other salaries and wages
- $3,074,677
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $3,324,844
- Professional fundraising fees
- $38,835
- Accounting fees
- $39,395
- Occupancy
- $138,288
- Depreciation
- $83,133
- Program services (functional)
- $3,680,945
- Management and general (functional)
- $492,056
- Fundraising (functional)
- $426,800
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $6,503,869
- Total assets, end of year
- $7,028,731
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $243,153
- Net assets, end of year
- $6,785,578
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $363,741
- Publicly traded securities
- $2,597,200
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $4,002,487
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $2,783,091
- Gross receipts
- $5,966,526
- Employees
- 116
- Volunteers
- 94
- Year formed
- 1999
- State of legal domicile
- CA
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raul Aguilera | REACH Executive Di | 40 | $122,670 |
| Ulises Rios | Transportation MGR | 40 | $114,106 |
| Sharon Buczaczer | Program Director | 40 | $113,298 |
| Daniel Fontaine | Executive Director | 40 | $111,644 |
| Erika Lindemann | Associate Director | 40 | $110,206 |
| Carrie Kappel | Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Amy Schneider | Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Laura Russell | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Devon Azzam | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| April Price | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Brook Eiler | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Jeff Kim | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Marlen Limn | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Kristen Sullivan | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Franky Viveros | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
4 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisa Bass | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Raquel Lopez | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Andrew Vesper | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Guadalupe Perez | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 16 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharon Buczaczer | Program Director | 40 | $107,227 |
| Daniel Fontaine | Executive Director | 40 | $104,107 |
| Erika Lindemann | Associate Director | 40 | $104,107 |
| Chris Ragland | SEA LEA DIR/TRU Trustee or director | 40 | $95,874 |
| Carrie Kappel | Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Amy Schneider | Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Laura Russell | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Devon Azzam | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| April Price | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Brook Eiler | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Graciela Cabello | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Marlen Limn | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Kristen Sullivan | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Franky Viveros | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Lisa Bass | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Raquel Lopez | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 15 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharon Buczaczer | Program Director | 40 | $102,865 |
| Erika Lindemann | Associate Director | 40 | $100,535 |
| Daniel Fontaine | Executive Director | 40 | $100,035 |
| Chris Ragland | SEA LEA DIR/TRU Trustee or director | 40 | $91,479 |
| Carrie Kappel | Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Amy Schneider | Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Laura Russell | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Devon Azzam | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| April Price | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Brook Eiler | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Graciela Cabello | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Teresa Romero | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Marlen Limn | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Kristen Sullivan | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Lena Morn-Acereto | Trustee Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 2040 ALAMEDA PADRE SERRA STE 224, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93103-1760
- In care of
- % WILD
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- Carrie Kappel, 2040 Alameda Padre Serra 224, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
- Signed the 990
- Daniel Fontaine, Executive Director
- Phone
- (805) 964-8096
- Website
- wyp.org
- Return prepared by
- Stoltey & Associates
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 77-0526117 or by the name WILDERNESS YOUTH PROJECT INCORPORATED.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
The mission of Wilderness Youth Project (WYP) is to foster confidence, health and a life-long love of learning for young people and families through active outdoor experiences and mentoring. WYP envisions teaching the next generation to be peaceful, respectful and confident stewards of our world.American children spend over 90% of their time indoors. All children need nature. Not just the ones whose families have privilege and easy access to nature. Not only those of a certain race or economic class or culture or gender or sexual identity or language or set of abilities. Partnering with schools and agencies, WYP has increased access to nature connection and outdoor enrichment programs for marginalized youth.
Program accomplishments
- Wilderness Youth Project (WYP) ~ Nature Connection ProgramsNature makes children smarter, healthier, happier, and more likely to care for the planet. In 2025, WYP programs served over 1,300 youth through outdoor enrichment programs: 43 weekly school-year and after-school programs, and 660 summer camp spots serving children ages three through eighteen. Through fundraising, WYP was able to provide scholarships to over 75% of participants.In addition to WYPs youth nature-mentoring programs, Wilderness Youth Project acts as fiscal sponsor to two separate entity programs: REACH and Sea League (SL), described below.Expenses $2,260,457 · revenue $772,821
- REACH (Resilience, Education, Adventure, Community and Health) REACH is a two-and-a-half-year program that provides transformative support and development opportunities for first-generation students as they navigate the transition from high school to postsecondary education and beyond. Through a blend of academic preparation, outdoor experiences, and personal development, REACH helps students build leadership skills, develop meaningful relationships, and engage in formative experiences that prepare them for a successful transition from school to a fulfilling career.REACH serves an average of 173 students annually, beginning in their junior year of high school and continuing through the summer after their first year of college. At any given time, the program supports up to three cohorts simultaneously, providing consistent, multi-year engagement. Even after completing the program, students continue to have access to mentorship, college success resources, and outdoor opportunities as needed.In 2025, REACH was primarily funded by a single donor. While the organization remains primarily supported by one major funder, it has also secured additional support from private foundations and a growing base of individual donors.REACH income for the year ended December 31, 2025 totaled $1,130,777 and expenses totaled $1,003,164 resulting in an increase of net assets of $127,613.Expenses $1,003,167 · revenue $3,203
- Sea League (TSL) - SL is an after-school program dedicated to providing year-round, equitable opportunities for youth to engage in ocean recreations such as surfing, stand up paddling, kayaking, and environmental education. SL offers a sliding scale fee structure, making programs accessible regardless of economic circumstances. This commitment to inclusivity ensures a welcoming and diverse community, where children from all backgrounds can enjoy and benefit from nature-connected activities, fostering a sense of belonging in ocean spaces.Sea Leagues mission is to create immersive opportunities for youth to explore, play and build community in marine habitats.Sea League served 324 youth participants in 2025, an 84% increase from the previous year. SL delivered ocean-based education through surfing, kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, and marine science curriculum led by UCSB student mentors. Over 55% of participants received scholarships. Program highlights included the first Anacapa Island snorkeling expedition, the launch of Pelagixa school-based ocean education programand 384 hours of swim instruction.Sea League income for the year ended December 31, 2025 totaled $329,447 and expenses totaled $418,159 resulting in a decrease of net assets of $88,711.Expenses $417,321 · revenue $95,373
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 77-0526117
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1999
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Youth development (O40)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $7,028,731
- Income (IRS master file)
- $5,966,526
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $5,276,033 | $4,599,801 | $7,028,731 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $6,234,216 | $4,164,229 | $6,503,869 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $3,275,350 | $3,692,732 | $4,321,074 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $3,054,697 | $3,242,912 | $4,569,974 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 77-0526117).
Questions about WILDERNESS YOUTH PROJECT INCORPORATED
- What is the EIN of WILDERNESS YOUTH PROJECT INCORPORATED?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of WILDERNESS YOUTH PROJECT INCORPORATED is 77-0526117.
- Is WILDERNESS YOUTH PROJECT INCORPORATED tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1999.
- Are donations to WILDERNESS YOUTH PROJECT INCORPORATED tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does WILDERNESS YOUTH PROJECT INCORPORATED file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of WILDERNESS YOUTH PROJECT INCORPORATED due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did WILDERNESS YOUTH PROJECT INCORPORATED last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of WILDERNESS YOUTH PROJECT INCORPORATED?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Carrie Kappel.
- Who are the officers and directors of WILDERNESS YOUTH PROJECT INCORPORATED?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 19 people; 5 received compensation from the organization, the highest $122,670 (Raul Aguilera, REACH Executive Di).
- How much revenue does WILDERNESS YOUTH PROJECT INCORPORATED have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $5,276,033, expenses of $4,599,801 and total assets of $7,028,731 at year end.
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