The Watershed Research & Training Center is a public charity based in Hayfork, California. It provides land and watershed management services, leads partnerships focused on biomass and fire resilience, and works with communities, organizations, and public agencies to steward landscapes, support quality jobs, and connect people to the land.
Key facts about The Watershed Research & Training Center
In short: The Watershed Research & Training Center gave $1.4M across 35 grants in 2025 (avg $40K), mostly in California. 37% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 94-3116339
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,389,578
- Grants made (2025)
- 35
- Average grant
- $39,702
- Median grant
- $33,357
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (13 of 35, 2025)
- Total assets
- $12,150,946
- Primary geography
- California (64% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$12.2M
+79.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+16.8% YoY
Grant Count
35
+20.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$40K
-3.3% YoY
Is The Watershed Research & Training Center open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 35 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $40K; repeat grants $40K. How we count
Medians: $28K first-time, $35K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2022–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to promote healthy communities and sustainable forests through research, education, training, and economic development.
Its programs include local forestry and fuels management, fire management, watershed stewardship, and youth development; statewide wood energy and forest and fire management capacity-building; and national work on fire adaptation and community access to federal grants. Its 2023 filing also describes work to build capacity for forest health and fire resilience, including landscape restoration with the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
The 2025 grants included organizations whose own missions describe a range of related work. Conservation Corps North Bay says it develops youth and conserves natural resources; Civicorps says it re-engages young adults through education, job skills, and career support; and the Forest Stewards Guild says it promotes forest stewardship through its network, outreach, training, and policy work. Watershed-focused recipients included the Salmon River Restoration Council, which says it works to protect and maintain the Salmon River ecosystem with local participation, and the Scott River Watershed Council, which says it facilitates communication and science-based collaborative solutions on natural resource issues.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the organization reported 35 grants totaling $1,389,578. Grants ranged from $5,500 to $97,858, with a median of $33,357.
Review Cycle
, or policy on unsolicited requests are stated in the available information.
How to Apply
, materials, restrictions, deadline, or policy on unsolicited requests are stated in the available information.
Ready to take the next step with The Watershed Research & Training Center?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization’s local programs focus on Trinity County, and its statewide programs operate across California. Its national programs include the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network and the Community Navigators Project.
In 2025, 64% of grant dollars went to California recipients. Other leading recipient states were Minnesota (7%), New Mexico (6%), Washington (6%), and North Carolina (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 35 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $279K (2022) to $1.4M (2025). In 2025 it made 35 grants totaling $1.4M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Conservation Corps North Bay ($98K). Together the top 10 received $753K.
Grant Size Distribution
98 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 77 grants of 98 (79%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Conservation Corps North Bay Cotati, CA | — | $97,858 |
| Civicorps Oakland, CA | — | $91,919 |
| Dovetail Partners Minneapolis, MN | — | $90,796 |
| The Forest Stewards Guild Santa Fe, NM | — | $83,364 |
| Washington RC & Development Council Yakima, WA | — | $80,000 |
| Golden Gate National Park Conservan San Francisco, CA | — | $76,382 |
| Shasta Valley RCD Yreka, CA | — | $63,953 |
| Southern CA Mountain Foundation San Bernadino, CA | — | $59,227 |
| North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC | — | $57,356 |
| University of CA Davis Los Angeles, CA | — | $52,118 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $12,150,946 | $21,520,990 | $14,432,652 | $1,389,578 |
| 2024 | $6,760,801 | $11,969,472 | $11,532,041 | $1,190,147 |
| 2023 | $4,535,410 | $9,017,965 | $8,773,109 | $431,567 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,150,946 | $6,760,801 | $4,535,410 |
| Revenue | $21,520,990 | $11,969,472 | $9,017,965 |
| Expenses | $14,432,652 | $11,532,041 | $8,773,109 |
| Net Investment Income | $9,369 | $3,021 | $6,632 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 17, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 16, 2026)
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing include Dr. Yvonne Everett, chairman; Arnold Whitridge, secretary; Russell Henly, treasurer; Sarah Aldinger, Sherry Chilcott, Dr. Cecilia Danks, Donna Harmon, Kyle De Julio, and Nick Goulette, coexecutive; and Michelle Medley-Daniel, coexecutive.
The Watershed Research & Training Center's 2025 filing lists 13 officers; 5 of 13 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Heather Jones
Administrator Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$113K (2025)
Josh Smith
Program Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$118K (2025)
Nick Goulette
Coexecutive
Executive Di → Coexecutive, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$104K (2021) → $157K (2025)
Michelle Medley-Daniel
Coexecutive
Deputy Director → Coexecutive, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$119K (2022) → $172K (2025)
Rachel Evans
Operations D
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$101K (2024) → $114K (2025)
Arnold Whitridge
Secretary
Chairman → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cecilia Danks
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Donna Harmon
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Russell Henly
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Aldinger
Board Member
Treasurer → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sherry Chilcott
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Yvonne Everett
Chariman
Board Member → Chariman, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kyle De Julio
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Allison Jolley (2023–2024) — Rfcc Program
- Former: Summer Bashore (2020–2023) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $172K, to Michelle Medley-Daniel (Coexecutive). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 356, Hayfork, CA 96041-0356
Phone: (530) 628-4206
Website: https://thewatershedcenter.com
Frequently asked questions about The Watershed Research & Training Center
How much does The Watershed Research & Training Center give each year?
The Watershed Research & Training Center gave $1.4M across 35 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.2M across 29 grants.
What is The Watershed Research & Training Center's typical grant size?
The Watershed Research & Training Center's median grant in 2025 was $33,357, and its average grant was $39,702, across 35 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Watershed Research & Training Center that year got $40K on average.
Where does The Watershed Research & Training Center give grants?
The Watershed Research & Training Center gives mostly in California: 64% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Minnesota (7%) and New Mexico (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (3 grants), Quincy, CA (2 grants) and Chico, CA (2 grants).
Who are The Watershed Research & Training Center's largest grantees?
The Watershed Research & Training Center's largest 2025 grantees include Conservation Corps North Bay ($97,858), Civicorps ($91,919) and Dovetail Partners ($90,796), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Watershed Research & Training Center?
The Watershed Research & Training Center reported $12.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $21.5M.
What does The Watershed Research & Training Center fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to promote healthy communities and sustainable forests through research, education, training, and economic development. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Watershed Research & Training Center?
The Watershed Research & Training Center has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check thewatershedcenter.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Watershed Research & Training Center's EIN?
The Watershed Research & Training Center's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3116339. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The Watershed Research & Training Center by hand.
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