Form 990 for tax year 2023

Totals

Total revenue

$10,963,707

Total expenses

$6,678,078

Contributions and grants received

$10,553,307

Grants paid

$0

Program service revenue

$0

Investment income

$382,957

Other revenue

$27,443

Total assets, end of year

$43,044,840

Total liabilities, end of year

$2,891,130

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$40,153,710

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$3,836,983

Management and general expenses

$938,698

Fundraising expenses

$1,902,397

Program service expenses (Part III)

$3,836,983

Program services were 57.5% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Mission and programs · 2023

• LAND STEWARDSHIP SEMPERVIRENS FUND OWNS DIRECTLY OR THROUGH CONSERVATION EASEMENT MORE THAN 12,000 ACRES OF LAND. PERMANENTLY PROTECTING REDWOOD FORESTS ENSURES THAT THE PROPERTIES WHERE REDWOODS THRIVE ARE SET ASIDE TO KEEP FORESTS INTACT AND PRESERVED FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. WE WORK ACROSS SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPES, AND IN COLLABORATION WITH NEIGHBORS AND REGIONAL PARTNERS, TO SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH OF TREES, HABITATS, WATERWAYS, AND WILDLIFE.PLEASE CONTINUE TO SCHEDULE O FOR FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF THIS WORK.FOR EACH PROPERTY IN OUR CARE, WE GENERATE A STEWARDSHIP PLAN WHICH GIVES US, OUR PARTNERS, AND OUR NEIGHBORS CLARITY AND GUIDANCE ABOUT THE RESOURCES WE ARE PRESERVING AND THE NATURAL FEATURES WE ARE RESTORING. ACTIVE LAND MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE WILDFIRE RESILIENCY PROJECTS SUCH AS ESTABLISHING SHADED FUEL BREAKS AND PRESCRIBED BURNING PROGRAMS; FOREST HEALTH PROJECTS, INCLUDING REMOVING DEBRIS, MAINTAINING TRAILS, CLEARING INVASIVE PLANTS, AND PLANTING NEW SEEDLINGS; AND RESEARCH PROJECTS SUCH AS WILDLIFE MONITORING, ENDANGERED SPECIES RECLAMATION, TRADITIONAL INDIGENOUS CULTURAL SURVEYS, AND MUCH MORE. AFTER SIGNIFICANT DISTURBANCES, SUCH AS WILDFIRE OR FLOODING, RESTORATION EFFORTS INCLUDE DEBRIS CLEAN UP, CULVERT REPLACEMENT, HAZARD TREE REMOVAL, WATERWAY RESTORATION, AND FUEL REDUCTION. IN RECENT YEARS, OUR STEWARDSHIP WORK HAS INCLUDED MILESTONE PROJECTS LIKE THE REMOVAL OF A DAM ON MILL CREEK IN SAN VICENTE REDWOODS RESTORING STREAM FLOW, WHICH LED TO THE RETURN OF COHO SALMON TO THE WATERSHED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN GENERATIONS; TO FOREST RESTORATION PROJECTS ON MULTIPLE PROPERTIES THAT PRIORITIZE SUPPORTING SECOND-GROWTH REDWOODS WITH THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW LARGER, MORE QUICKLY, AND TO ESTABLISH OLD-GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS THAT ENSURE REDWOOD RESILIENCY. NOW MORE THAN EVER WE DEPEND ON FUNDING FROM OUR DONORS TO HELP US CARE FOR REDWOOD FORESTS, TO MONITOR THEIR HEALTH, CONSERVE WILDLIFE, AND IMPROVE WATERWAYS, KEEPING THEM HEALTHY, THRIVING, AND RESILIENT, FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. LEARN MORE: SEMPERVIRENS.ORG/STEWARDSHIP

  Expenses $1,562,935

• EDUCATION AND OUTREACH SEMPERVIRENS FUND REGULARLY COMMUNICATES GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT ITS WORK, THE VITAL ROLE REDWOODS PLAY IN A HEALTHY, THRIVING, AND RICH REGIONAL ECOSYSTEM, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND RECREATION IN THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS. SEMPERVIRENS FUND'S COMMUNITY IS INVITED TO LEARN, VOLUNTEER, TAKE ACTION, AND DONATE TO OUR WORK THROUGH DIGITAL, PRINT, AND IN-PERSON COMMUNICATIONS AND EVENTS, INCLUDING THROUGH PUBLICATIONS AND OTHER PRINTED MATERIALS, A WEBSITE SEMPERVIRENS.ORG, SOCIAL MEDIA, EMAIL NEWSLETTERS; OUTREACH ACTIVITIES SUCH AS WEBINARS, EVENTS, SPEAKERS, AND HIKING AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES. PLEASE CONTINUE TO SCHEDULE O FOR FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF THIS WORK.THE FOCUS OF SEMPERVIRENS FUND'S OUTREACH IS TO INTRODUCE NEW GROUPS OF PEOPLE ABOUT IT'S WORK; INTRODUCE THEM TO OUTDOOR RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES; LEARN TOGETHER ABOUT THE MARVELS OF REDWOODS, AND CULTIVATE THEIR INTEREST TO BECOME NEW STEWARDS OF THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS HABITAT. AT SEMPERVIRENS FUND, WE BELIEVE THAT CELEBRATING DIVERSITY, FOSTERING INCLUSION, ADVANCING EQUITY, AND REALIZING JUSTICE IS NOT ONLY ESSENTIAL TO OUR MISSION, BUT VITAL TO OUR HUMANITY, AS PEOPLE WORKING FOR AND SERVING ON THE BOARD FOR SEMPERVIRENS FUND AND AS PART OF A COMMUNITY DEDICATED TO PROTECTING, CARING FOR, AND EXPLORING REDWOOD FORESTS IN THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS. IN RECENT YEARS, SEMPERVIRENS FUND HAS PRODUCED A SERIES OF WEBINARS UNDER THE REDWOODS IN WHICH WE HOST EXPERTS AND THINKERS TO EXPLORE OUR MAGNIFICENT REDWOOD FORESTS, WHAT MAKES REDWOODS SO SPECIAL, WHY THEY THRIVE HERE AND NOWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD, AND WHAT THEY MEAN TO US IN OUR LIVES. WE ALSO REGULARLY ENGAGE IN CALIFORNIA AND LOCAL POLICY TO ENSURE RESOURCES ARE BEING DIRECTED TO CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP OF REDWOODS AND OTHER HABITATS IN THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS, AND INVITE OUR COMMUNITY TO TAKE ACTION WITH US. LEARN MORE: SEMPERVIRENS.ORG/TAKE-ACTION

  Expenses $1,292,002

• PROTECTING LAND THROUGH ACQUISITION AND TRANSFER IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, SEMPERVIRENS FUND SECURED A CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $680,235 FOR ISABEL UPANI, 120-ACRES OF REDWOOD FORESTS, WOODLANDS, AND RARE MARITIME CHAPARRAL AND THE LARGEST CRITICAL RIPARIAN HABITAT IN THE REGION - THE SAN LORENZO RIVER - WHERE THREATENED STEELHEAD TROUT AND ENDANGERED COHO SALMON RE-ENTER THE FRESHWATERS TO RETURN TO THE FOREST WHERE THEY WERE BORN IN HOPES OF SPAWNING THE NEXT GENERATION. PLEASE CONTINUE TO SCHEDULE O FOR FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF THIS WORK.SEMPERVIRENS FUND ACQUIRED TWO LAND PARCELS TOTALING 15.6 ACRES NEAR BIG BASIN REDWOODS STATE PARK STRENGTHENING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE PARK AND THE GATEWAY PROPERTY ACQUIRED IN FISCAL YEAR 2022. SEMPERVIRENS FUND ALSO ACQUIRED A 51-ACRE PARCEL SURROUNDED ON THREE SIDES BY CASTLE ROCK STATE PARK ALONG THE SKYLINE-TO-THE-SEA TRAIL.IN AUGUST 2023 SEMPERVIRENS FUND SOLD, AT A LOSS, 6 PROPERTIES TO STATE PARKS, INCLUDING THE ROBERT C. KIRKWOOD ENTRANCE. THIS ADDED 222 ACRES TO CASTLE ROCK STATE PARK INCLUDING THE STATE-OF-THE-ART ENTRANCE, ENHANCING ACCESS TO THE PARK FOR ALL.ACRE BY PROTECTED ACRE, AND WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE PURCHASE, RESTORE, AND SAFEGUARD REDWOOD FORESTS IN THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS, ENSURING THEY WILL NEVER BE DEVELOPED, DEGRADED, OR DESTROYED. MUCH OF THE REMAINING REDWOOD FORESTS TO PROTECT IS PRIVATELY OWNED. WE WORK WITH WILLING SELLERS TO PURCHASE LAND AT FAIR MARKET VALUE, OFTEN TRANSFERRING THE LAND TO CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS OR OTHER LOCAL PUBLIC AGENCIES. WHEN TRANSFERING LAND TO CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS WE MAY RECEIVE PAYMENT FOR THE LAND WHICH IS BELOW ITS BOOK VALUE, WHICH RESULTS IN A WRITE-OFF FOR THE IMPAIRED BOOK VALUE OF THAT LAND. WE ALSO OWN SIGNIFICANT CONSERVATION PROPERTIES, ON WHICH WE WORK TO RESTORE HEALTHY FORESTS AND HEAL LANDSCAPES. WE ALSO WORK WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO ESTABLISH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THAT PROTECT THE NATURAL AND SCENIC RESOURCES ON THEIR FOREST LANDS, WHILE KEEPING THE PROPERTIES IN PRIVATE OWNERSHIP. THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROTECTS THE LAND'S RESOURCES WITHOUT BUYING FEE TITLE TO THE PROPERTY ITSELF.

  Expenses $848,895

• GIVING IN HONOR OR MEMORY SEMPERVIRENS FUND PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ITS SUPPORTERS TO DEDICATE A TREE OR GROVE LOCATED WITHIN ONE OF THE STATE PARKS OF THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS. MAKING A LASTING TRIBUTE OR CELEBRATING A SPECIAL OCCASION CAN ALSO MAKE AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO PROTECTING THE REDWOODS FOREST.SEMPERVIRENS FUND HAS ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS WHEREBY SEMPERVIRENS IS PERMITTED TO OFFER THE NAMING RIGHTS TO THE TREES. WE TAKE CARE OF ALL THE DETAILS AND CAN SEND A GIFT CARD TO THE PERSON YOU ARE HONORING.

  Expenses $133,151

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2023

Filed

16 December 2024

IRS schema version

2023v5.1

Source object

202403529349301800

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

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