Wild Arizona

What it reported doing in 2024

January 1 December 31, 2024 Program Service AccomplishmentsWILDERNESS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM Wild Stew: Wild Stew is dedicated to restoring and protecting wilderness areas and other wild lands across Arizona to preserve ecological integrity. Arizona has 90 designated wilderness areas and agency resources are insufficient to address needs such as habitat restoration, trail maintenance, erosion control, removal of invasive species, installation of signage and wilderness stewardship activities. Wild Arizonas Wild Stew program employs a professional field crew to address these needs, while connecting volunteers to outdoor experiences in the wild. In concert with stewardship activities, we provide ecological and socio-cultural education to inform and inspire conservation advocacy.In 2024, Wild Stew completed projects located in the Grand Canyon National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino, Gila and Coronado, and Tonto National Forests. Project partners included: Tonto and Coronado National Forest District Offices, National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, Friends of the Verde River, Friends of Cave Creek, and Chiricahua Regional Council. In 2024, 245 Wild Stew volunteers provided 3,388 hours of service.Grand Canyon National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation AreaParia Beach Restoration: Wild Arizona completed the final stages of a multi-year project at the Colorado River to restore native woody vegetation across the lower and upper riparian terraces of Paria Beach. Many bird, reptile, and small mammal species have begun to use the habitat. Apache-Sitgreaves National ForestWild Arizonas crew improved more than 15 miles of trail, placed 134 cairns, built or repaired more than 100of drainage outlets, and removed hundreds of logs. Volunteers provided 1,640 hours of service to improve 12.05 miles of trail and remove 161 logs. Coronado National Forest2024 Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program: Wild Arizona led a team of ten high school students from Arizona, New Mexico, Georgia, and Alaska to live and work in Rucker Canyon on the southwest side of the Chiricahua Mountains. Projects included brush removal and corridor clearing along the Turtle Mountain Trail, Rucker Trail and around Cima cabin. Specifically, the group improved more than 2 miles of trail, installed bear-proof food boxes in a campground, improved a creek crossing, built a retaining wall/ramp, constructed multiple cairns for way finding, and constructed a 200 foot trail reroute.Sky Island Trail Maintenance and Improvement: In the Santa Rita, Dragoon and Santa Catalina wilderness areas, Wild Arizonas crew maintained more than 4 miles of trail, repaired some downward sloping sections of trail, installed multiple retaining walls, 58 steps and 22 drains, and constructed mile of new trail. Volunteers contributed more than 180 hours, improving erosion control, constructing 500 ft of tread, and installing multiple steps.Dry Blue Creek: Wild Arizona conducted a youth restoration field camp in the Dry Blue watershed, with the Chiricahua, Warm Springs, and Fort Sill Apache peoples. Youth and chaperones camped out in the Dry Blue watershed and took part in restoration efforts including willow pole planting, trail maintenance, springs assessment and monitoring. Seven volunteers attended for a total of 400 volunteer hours. Additionally, Wild Arizona crews completed meadow thinning over a 10.24 acre area. Approximately 3,356 trees were felled, two thirds of which were less than 6 in diameter. Such work reduces the risk of intense fire and erosion that can add sediment to streams.Tonto National ForestSierra Ancha and Salome Wilderness Areas: Wild Arizonas crew built a line of drainage structures, cairns, cut in more visible tread, and installed several wilderness signs. Wild Arizona also drafted a solitude monitoring plan for the Salome Wilderness area. Volunteers contributed 270 hours in gat

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 77.3%; rating input score 77
• Program expense ratio: 81%; rating input score 81
• Fundraising efficiency: $12.1 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 71
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 7%; rating input score 55; 55th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.26; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.08; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 6.1%; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 16.9% per year; rating input score 100; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 14.3% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 12.1% per year; rating input score 100; 65th percentile among comparable filings