Wyland Foundation

What it reported doing in 2024

National mayor's challenge for water conservationsince 2010, more than 1,000 u.s. Cities have participated in the wyland national mayor's challenge for water conservation. In 2025, residents pledged hundreds of thousands of specific water-saving and pollution prevention actions, including reducing single-use plastics, limiting fertilizer and pesticide use, and adopting water-smart landscaping. Related initiatives included myvolunteerwater projects, which engaged households in at-home pollution prevention, and water-wise parks, which demonstrated sustainable landscaping practices to reduce urban runoff. Examples include communities such as dallas, westminster, and san clemente.wyland clean water mobile learning experiencethe wyland foundation's 1,000-square-foot mobile science center visited over 30 communities in 2025, reaching more than 15,000 students, with a focus on title i schools and underserved areas. The program features a theater and hands-on learning stations that demonstrate how stormwater runoff carries pollutants to rivers, lakes, and oceans, providing students with direct lessons in water conservation and pollution prevention.national water is life art challengemore than 25,000 k-12 students from 45 states have participated in the wyland water is life art challenge, creating artwork that reflected the cultural, economic, and ecological value of clean water. In 2025, classrooms received educational resources, art supplies, and large-format canvases, providing students with opportunities to connect creativity and environmental education.streams of hope digital platformthe foundation launched streams of hope, a new educational platform that integrates water quality testing, student storytelling, and digital engagement. In 2025, pilot programs in laguna beach, san clemente, and anaheim enabled students to conduct water testing, upload results, and create digital pages to share findings. The platform aligns with ngss and common core standards and provides measurable outcomes for teachers and students.water's extreme journey mazethe water's extreme journey traveling maze exhibit engaged families at museums and science centers nationwide. The 1,000-square-foot exhibit demonstrated the water cycle and showed how household behaviorssuch as chemical use and water conservationimpact local watersheds.climate, heat + health projectin 2025, the wyland foundation piloted a climate, heat + health outreach initiative in disadvantaged communities of southern California. Working with with local health agencies, businesses, and universities, the program trained 7 undergraduate fellows and 30 bilingual outreach specialists, engaged over 1,250 residents, donated and planted 250 shade trees, reached 500 students through the mobile learning center, conducted community risk assessments, screenings, provided essential information to reduce extreme heat risk, and co-hosted a health and climate fair for 500 residents. The initiative demonstrated the connection between community health and environmental resilience, with a long-term objective of scaling the model for use by other nonprofits in the region.regional and community projectsart lessons in the wild, conducted in partnership with dana wharf whale watching, provided students and families with on-the-water art and science lessons aboard a 63' catamaran, reaching participants with education on gray whale migration and the importance of clean water.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 89%; rating input score 89
• Program expense ratio: 91.2%; rating input score 91
• Fundraising efficiency: $17.87 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 55; 55th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 87.5%; rating input score 88; 3rd 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: -14.6%; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.25; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.52; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3.3% per year; rating input score 100; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 1.8% per year; rating input score 100; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 11.2% per year; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings