# Wilderness Youth Project Incorporated

Scouting nonprofit in Santa Barbara, California 93103. EIN 77-0526117. Data as of November 8, 2026.

Page: https://backpr.com/find/nonprofit/770526117-wilderness-youth-project-incorporated

## Mission (the organization's own words)

> 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.

Source: Form 990, year ending Dec 2025: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/770526117/202601819349300820/full

## IRS facts

- Type: Scouting (IRS activity code O40)
- Tax status: 501(c)(3), contributions deductible, recognized 1999
- Source: IRS Business Master File, posted October 13, 2026: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/exempt-organizations-business-master-file-extract-eo-bmf

## Finances (IRS Form 990 e-file data)

| Year ending | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Net assets | Employees | Volunteers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 | $5,276,033 | $4,599,801 | $7,028,731 | $6,785,578 | 116 | 94 | [Form 990](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/770526117/202601819349300820/full) |
| Dec 2024 | $6,234,216 | $4,164,229 | $6,503,869 | $6,071,844 | 100 | 100 | [Form 990](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/770526117/202511359349312771/full) |
| Dec 2023 | $3,275,350 | $3,692,732 | $4,321,074 | $3,784,377 | 93 | 40 | [Form 990](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/770526117/202441579349300319/full) |
| Dec 2021 | $2,337,108 | $2,552,065 | $4,833,620 | $4,464,377 | 73 | - | [Form 990](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/770526117/202221679349301512/full) |

Expense split, year ending Dec 2025: programs $3,680,945 (80%), management $492,056 (11%), fundraising $426,800 (9%).

Revenue sources, year ending Dec 2025: gifts and grants $4,129,118, program fees $871,397, investment income $259,201.

Growth label: **Growing** (about +23% a year, Dec 2021 to Dec 2025). Growth label: we compare total revenue on the oldest and the newest return shown above. Growing means revenue rose by more than 10% a year on average, Shrinking means it fell by more than 10% a year, and Steady means a change between -10% and +10% a year. The rate is the compounded yearly average between the two returns, so it hides ups and downs in between (see the table). We only label groups with returns at least a year apart and at least $5,000 of revenue on the oldest one. This is our own calculation, not an IRS rating or a judgment of quality.

## How it compares

- Revenue rank: 1 of 25 youth development nonprofits in Santa Barbara.
- Revenue $5,276,033 is in the top 10% of 1,664 youth development nonprofits in California; median $169,823.
- Source: IRS Business Master File, posted October 13, 2026; BackPR analysis.

## Local context

- Santa Barbara County, California: about 98,571 children under 18 (U.S. Census Bureau, July 1, 2024): https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2024/counties/asrh/cc-est2024-agesex-all.csv
- 183 youth and community nonprofits in this directory in the county: 1.9 per 1,000 children.
- Licensed programs in Santa Barbara: 56 licensed child care centers, 5 school-age programs: https://backpr.com/find/california/santa-barbara
- California rules: https://backpr.com/resources/states/california

## Questions

**What is Wilderness Youth Project Incorporated's EIN?**

Wilderness Youth Project Incorporated's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0526117. It is the nine-digit number the IRS uses to identify the organization. Source: IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File posted October 13, 2026.

**Is Wilderness Youth Project Incorporated a nonprofit?**

Yes. The IRS lists Wilderness Youth Project Incorporated in Santa Barbara, California as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3), recognized since 1999. This is from the IRS Business Master File posted October 13, 2026. Status can change, so check its current status on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search before you donate.

**Are donations to Wilderness Youth Project Incorporated tax-deductible?**

Yes, the IRS lists gifts to Wilderness Youth Project Incorporated as tax-deductible (IRS Business Master File posted October 13, 2026). How much you can deduct depends on your own taxes, and this is not tax advice. Check its current status on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search before you donate.

**What does Wilderness Youth Project Incorporated do?**

In its own words on its Form 990 for the year ending Dec 2025: "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." The IRS classifies it as: Scouting.

**How much money does Wilderness Youth Project Incorporated take in?**

For the year ending Dec 2025, Wilderness Youth Project Incorporated reported total revenue of $5,276,033 and total expenses of $4,599,801 on its Form 990 (IRS Form 990 e-file data).

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Data as of November 8, 2026. Sources: IRS Business Master File, IRS Form 990 series e-file data, U.S. Census Bureau. No officer or staff names are published.