Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve
Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve consistently operates at a deficit, drawing down substantial assets to cover expenses.
EIN: 10699262 · Dubois, WY · NTEE: D30 · Updated: 2026-03-27
Is Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve directs 70% of its spending to programs. This meets the industry benchmark of 65% for efficient nonprofits.
About Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve
Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve (EIN: 10699262) is a nonprofit organization based in Dubois, WY, classified under NTEE code D30. The organization reported total revenue of $70K and total assets of $1.8M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve with a Mission Score of 65 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 20%
- programs: 70%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 20%, programs: 70%, fundraising: 10%. Approximately 70% goes to programs, indicating moderate mission focus.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers or key employees are receiving salaries, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size and asset base and suggests a volunteer-led executive structure.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent operational deficits (e.g., $44,122 revenue vs. $135,585 expenses in 202406).
- Declining asset base over time, indicating reliance on reserves to cover expenses.
- Highly volatile revenue streams, making financial forecasting difficult.
- Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown in provided data, limiting full spending efficiency analysis.
- Unusually low liabilities ($1 in recent years) which could indicate minimal operational debt but also potentially limited financial activity beyond asset drawdowns.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve:
- Substantial asset base ($1,780,174 latest reported) provides a buffer for operations.
- Consistent filing history over ten periods demonstrates transparency.
- 0% officer compensation reported across all filings, indicating a volunteer-driven leadership or very low executive overhead.
- Minimal liabilities ($1 in recent years) suggests a debt-free operational approach.
Frequently Asked Questions about Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve
Is Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve (EIN: 10699262) some concerns. Mission Score: 65/100. 5 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve spend its money?
Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve directs 70% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve tax-deductible?
Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 10699262). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve a good charity?
Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve exhibits dedication to its mission, maintaining significant assets for its cause and reporting no officer compensation. However, its consistent operational deficits (e.g., $44,122 revenue vs. $135,585 expenses in 202406) raise concerns about long-term financial sustainability, despite its substantial asset base.
How does the organization fund its operations given the deficits?
The organization appears to be funding its operations by drawing down its substantial asset base. For example, assets decreased from $2,051,752 in 202006 to $1,809,491 in 202406, while expenses frequently exceeded revenue.
What is the trend in the organization's assets?
The organization's assets have shown a declining trend over the past decade, from $2,133,153 in 201206 to $1,809,491 in 202406, indicating a gradual depletion of its financial reserves.
Why is officer compensation 0%?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation suggests that the organization's leadership may be entirely volunteer-based, or that compensation is structured in a way not reported as officer compensation on the 990, which would be unusual.
Is the organization's revenue stable?
No, the organization's revenue is highly unstable and fluctuating, ranging from a low of $44,122 in 202406 to a high of $209,755 in 201906 over the past decade, making financial planning challenging.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2012–2024), Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve's revenue has declined by 71.5%, moving from $155K to $44K. Total assets decreased by 15.2% over the same period, from $2.1M to $1.8M. Total functional expenses rose by 48.1%, from $92K to $136K. In its most recent filing year (2024), Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve reported a deficit of $91K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $1.8M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $1.8M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $44K | $136K | $1.8M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2023 | $83K | $115K | $1.9M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $56K | $135K | $1.9M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $78K | $118K | $2.0M | $579 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $85K | $118K | $2.1M | $323 | — | — |
| 2019 | $210K | $145K | $2.1M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $132K | $168K | $2.1M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $170K | $119K | $2.2M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $119K | $123K | $2.1M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $155K | $92K | $2.1M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2024: Revenue of $44K, expenses of $136K, and assets of $1.8M (revenue -46.8% year-over-year).
- 2023: Revenue of $83K, expenses of $115K, and assets of $1.9M (revenue +47.4% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $56K, expenses of $135K, and assets of $1.9M (revenue -28.2% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $78K, expenses of $118K, and assets of $2.0M (revenue -7.1% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $85K, expenses of $118K, and assets of $2.1M (revenue -59.7% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $210K, expenses of $145K, and assets of $2.1M (revenue +58.3% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $132K, expenses of $168K, and assets of $2.1M (revenue -22.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $170K, expenses of $119K, and assets of $2.2M (revenue +42.9% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $119K, expenses of $123K, and assets of $2.1M (revenue -23.3% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $155K, expenses of $92K, and assets of $2.1M.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Willow Creek Refuge & Preserve is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.