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Nonprofiteer
← PEPPERWOOD FOUNDATION

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by PEPPERWOOD FOUNDATION.

Totals

Total revenue
$5,265,566
Total expenses
$4,580,897
Contributions and grants received
$4,881,875
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$196,206
Investment income
$54,368
Other revenue
$133,117
Total assets, end of year
$35,606,985
Total liabilities, end of year
$440,705
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$35,166,280
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$3,509,113
Management and general expenses
$614,076
Fundraising expenses
$457,708
Program service expenses (Part III)
$3,509,113

Program services were 76.6% 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.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $320,310

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $1,198,376

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $3,363,189

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $2,622

  • 2a · Program service revenue: USER AND PROGRAM FEES

    total $196,206 · related or exempt $196,206

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $66,723 · excluded $66,723

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $193,021

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $0

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $193,021

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $193,021 · excluded $193,021

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    other assets $41,889

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    other assets $54,244

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    other assets -$12,355

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total -$12,355 · excluded -$12,355

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $22,750

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $320,310

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $83,612

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$60,862 · excluded -$60,862

  • 11a · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS INCOME

    total $958 · excluded $958

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $958

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $396,790 · program services $132,290 · management and general $132,250 · fundraising $132,250

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,677,542 · program services $1,395,618 · management and general $150,687 · fundraising $131,237

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $244,603 · program services $203,979 · management and general $21,736 · fundraising $18,888

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $165,637 · program services $117,986 · management and general $28,414 · fundraising $19,237

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $10,484 · management and general $10,484

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $120,245 · management and general $120,245

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $7,000 · fundraising $7,000

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $719,773 · program services $683,403 · management and general $10,390 · fundraising $25,980

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $2,346 · program services $1,350 · management and general $360 · fundraising $636

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $151,284 · program services $119,920 · management and general $16,652 · fundraising $14,712

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $83,892 · program services $61,395 · management and general $12,884 · fundraising $9,613

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $55,130 · program services $34,150 · management and general $15,719 · fundraising $5,261

  • 17 · Travel

    total $16,109 · program services $13,910 · management and general $187 · fundraising $2,012

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $616,885 · program services $527,651 · management and general $34,078 · fundraising $55,156

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $116,591 · program services $87,076 · management and general $15,318 · fundraising $14,197

  • 24a · Other expenses: SITE DEV. & MAINTENANCE

    total $135,760 · program services $106,366 · management and general $15,250 · fundraising $14,144

  • 24b · Other expenses: TAXES, FEES, & LICENSES

    total $25,530 · program services $14,590 · management and general $7,860 · fundraising $3,080

  • 24c · Other expenses: STAFF DEV. & TRAINING

    total $11,423 · program services $8,060 · management and general $25 · fundraising $3,338

  • 24d · Other expenses: BAD DEBT

    total $8,875 · management and general $8,875

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $14,998 · program services $1,369 · management and general $12,662 · fundraising $967

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $491,168 · end of year $434,759

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $1,622,255 · end of year $1,110,691

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $135,775 · end of year $35,765

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $281,498 · end of year $417,419

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $64,864 · end of year $105,066

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $29,305,135

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $5,944,363

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $23,862,374 · end of year $23,360,772

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $6,757,681 · end of year $10,142,513

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $12,565 · end of year $0

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $299,080 · end of year $419,463

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $21,242

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $12,565 · end of year $0

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $32,781,831 · end of year $35,166,280

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $134,704 · end of year $0

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

PEPPERWOOD FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE CONSERVATION THROUGH SCIENCE.

Activities or mission (Part I)

PEPPERWOOD FOUNDATION'S ("PEPPERWOOD") MISSION IS TO INSPIRE CONSERVATION THROUGH SCIENCE. WE PROVIDE UNIQUE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES, VOLUNTEERS, STUDENTS AND SCIENTISTS TO PROMOTE OUR MISSION.

  • RESEARCH, CITIZEN SCIENCE, AND CONSERVATION: PEPPERWOOD IS A PERMANENTLY PROTECTED 3,200 ACRE NATURE PRESERVE LOCATED IN SONOMA COUNTY. THE PRESERVE SERVES AS A FIELD SITE FOR CUTTING EDGE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND LEADS GROUND-BASED HABITAT AND WATERSHED RESTORATION PROGRAMS IN CONCERT WITH DEDICATED CITIZEN SCIENTISTS. WE SYSTEMATICALLY MONITOR WEATHER, WATER, AND THE HEALTH OF LOCAL PLANT AND ANIMAL POPULATIONS AND PURSUE ONSITE RESTORATION AIMED AT INCREASING THE HEALTH AND RESILIENCE OF THE MANY SPECIES THAT CALL THIS REGION HOME. THESE APPLIED RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION PROJECTS SERVE AS LEARNING MODELS FOR LAND AND WATER MANAGERS THROUGHOUT THE BAY AREA AND BEYOND. IN 2016, OUR SCIENCE PROGRAMS WERE HONORED BY INCLUSION IN A NEW WHITE HOUSE CLIMATE ADAPTATION INITIATIVE AND BY A NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATION AWARD.

    Expenses $3,098,813 · Revenue $72,616

  • ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: PEPPERWOOD'S 3,200 ACRE NATURE PRESERVE SERVES OVER 10,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY VIA A COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR ADULTS, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE SANTA ROSA JUNIOR COLLEGE. WE IGNITE A PASSION FOR CONSERVATION AT EVERY EDUCATIONAL LEVEL, TEACH OUR CITIZENS HOW TO BETTER STEWARD OUR WILD LANDS, AND INSPIRE AN INCREASINGLY DIVERSE POPULATION TO JOIN THE PROFESSIONAL CONSERVATION COMMUNITY. WE STRENGTHEN THE ECO LITERACY OF OUR COMMUNITY AS A FOUNDATION FOR CONSERVATION ACTION. IN 2016, OUR ELEMENTARY EDUCATION PROGRAM WAS AWARDED CERTIFICATION AS AN OFFICIAL SONOMA COUNTY "UPSTREAM INVESTMENTS" PORTFOLIO SELECTION AND WE TRIPLED THE NUMBER OF CONSERVATION SCIENCE INTERNSHIPS FOR SANTA ROSA JUNIOR COLLEGE STUDENTS.

    Expenses $410,300 · Revenue $123,590

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

Listed in Part VII

  • Herbert M Dwight Jr

    CO-FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • William Dwight

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Lorez Bailey

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Shannon Bennett

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Lisa Carreno

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Rob Das

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Paul Downey

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Mark Dwight

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Angelica Garcia

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Julianna Graham

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Julie Kawahara

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Roger Nelson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Elisabeth Micheli PhD

    PRESIDENT & CEO THROUGH 3/2024

    Total calculated
    $234,566
    From this org
    $204,566
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $30,000
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $204,566
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $30,000
    Filer's total
    $234,566

  • Margaret Boeger

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AS OF 3/2024

    Total calculated
    $104,875
    From this org
    $88,902
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,973
    Hours/week
    40

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

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

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.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
14 May 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202501349349312525

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