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WILDERNESS YOUTH PROJECT INCORPORATED

EIN 77-0526117 SANTA BARBARA, CA

Revenue 2025
$5,276,033
Expenses 2025
$4,599,801

Program services were 80.0% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
O40
Classification
1200
Street
2040 ALAMEDA PADRE SERRA STE 224

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2025

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.

Activities or mission (Part I)

The mission of 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.

  • 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

As filed on the 2025 return.

Officers and directors · 2025

As listed in Part VII of the 2025 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • Raul Aguilera

    REACH Executive Di

    Total calculated
    $122,670
    From this org
    $122,670
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Ulises Rios

    Transportation MGR

    Total calculated
    $114,106
    From this org
    $114,106
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Sharon Buczaczer

    Program Director

    Total calculated
    $113,298
    From this org
    $113,298
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Daniel Fontaine

    Executive Director

    Total calculated
    $111,644
    From this org
    $111,644
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Erika Lindemann

    Associate Director

    Total calculated
    $110,206
    From this org
    $110,206
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Carrie Kappel

    Chairman

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Amy Schneider

    Vice Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Laura Russell

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Devon Azzam

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • April Price

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Brook Eiler

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jeff Kim

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Marlen Limn

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kristen Sullivan

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Franky Viveros

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Lisa Bass

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Raquel Lopez

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Andrew Vesper

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Guadalupe Perez

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2025
    Revenue
    $5,276,033
    Expenses
    $4,599,801
    Contributions
    $4,129,118
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2024
    Revenue
    $6,234,216
    Expenses
    $4,164,229
    Contributions
    $5,199,661
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $3,275,350
    Expenses
    $3,692,732
    Contributions
    $2,508,720
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $3,054,697
    Expenses
    $3,242,912
    Contributions
    $2,251,864
    Grants paid
    $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,337,108
    Expenses
    $2,552,065
    Assets (EOY)
    $4,833,620

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,359,436
    Expenses
    $1,853,639
    Assets (EOY)
    $4,999,631

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,193,745
    Expenses
    $1,884,249
    Assets (EOY)
    $3,251,522

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,189,944
    Expenses
    $1,879,418
    Assets (EOY)
    $3,183,952

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,272,565
    Expenses
    $1,656,239
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,839,813

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,359,551
    Expenses
    $1,549,195
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,266,479

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,171,551
    Expenses
    $1,417,654
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,307,530

  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,263,046
    Expenses
    $1,018,450
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,602,719

  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $862,034
    Expenses
    $845,200
    Assets (EOY)
    $297,552

  • 2013 · 990

    Revenue
    $829,246
    Expenses
    $756,314
    Assets (EOY)
    $284,619

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2025, the newest we have parsed for this organization.