SOUTHERN SIERRA RESEARCH STATION

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

2000

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

WENDY WALWYN

Phone

7603783345

Tax Period

2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31

SOUTHERN SIERRA RESEARCH STATION, founded in 2000, is a small nonprofit in the Environment sector that reported $505K in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue fell 31% from the prior year — a significant decline worth monitoring. Expenses of $766K exceeded revenue, resulting in a 52% operating deficit.

Mission

THE SOUTHERN SIERRA RESEARCH STATION (SSRS) IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT AIMS TO UNDERSTAND THE BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES THAT CONTROL POPULATION SIZES AND SPECIES DIVERSITY. THE SOUTHERN SIERRA RESEARCH STATION (SSRS) IS LOCATED IN THE(CONTINUED ON SCH. O.) FOOTHILLS OF CALIFORNIA'S SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS. WE AIM TO UNDERSTND THE BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES THAT CONTROL POPULATION SIZES AND SPECIES DIVERSITY BY CONDUCTING BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH. IN COLLABORATION WITH GOVERNMENT, ACADEMIC, AND CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS, WE CREATE AND INTERPRET SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE TO INFORM ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND ENCOURAGE PUBLIC APPRECIATION OF THE REGION.THE SOUTHERN SIERRA RESEARCH STATION (SSRS) IS ORGANIZED UNDER THE NON-PROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION LAW FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES. THE SPECIFIC PURPOSES FOR WHICH THIS CORPORATION IS ORGANIZED ARE CONDUCTING RESEARCH TO PROVIDE SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE POPULATIONS OF RARE AND THREATENED SPECIES AND BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $556,488 Revenue: $491,800

FOUNDED IN 2000, THE SOUTHERN SIERRA RESEARCH STATION (SSRS) IS A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION HEADQUARTERED AT OUR RESEARCH FACILITY IN THE FOOTHILLS OF CALIFORNIA'S SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVEDA, AN AREA UNIQUE FOR ITS CONVERGENCE OF 5 BIOLOGICAL REGIONS AND IS AN AREA OF HIGH DIVERSITY INCLUDING OVER 300 BIRD SPECIES. SSRS CONDUCTS, PROMOTES, FACILITATES, AND DISSEMINATES BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH THAT INFORMS CONSERVATION DECISIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, AND CONTRIBUTES TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING, SUSTAINING, AND CONSERVING NATURAL RESOURCES, BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY CHALLENGED, RARE, THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES. WITH A FOCUS ON RESEARCH IN THE PACIFIC SOUTHWEST THROUGH LATIN AMERICA, IN COLLABORATION WITH GOVERNMENT, ACADEMIC, AND CONSERVATION (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.) ORGANIZATIONS, WE INCREASE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE OF SPECIES IN SUPPORT OF OUR MISSION, AID AND OR ENGAGE IN PROJECTS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE ENDANGERED SPECIES AND THEIR HABITATS, ENCOURAGE PUBLIC SUPPORT AND APPRECIATION FOR CONSERVATION OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY THROUGH EDUCATION, INFORMATION AND RESEARCH DISSEMINATION, OUTREACH, AND OTHER PROGRAMS.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $472

Program Service Revenue $491,800

Investment Income $12,689

Other Revenue $0

TOTAL REVENUE $504,961

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0

Salaries & Benefits $507,417

Fundraising Expenses $0

Program Expenses $556,488

Other Expenses $258,216

TOTAL EXPENSES $765,633

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2024	2023	Change
Revenue	$504,961	$736,235	-0.3%
Expenses	$765,633	$843,608	-0.1%
Net Income	$-260,672	$-107,373	+1.4%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✗ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

Volunteers

N/A

Governance Policies

✓ Conflict of Interest Policy

✓ Whistleblower Policy

✓ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

✗ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✗ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✗ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

Total Directors

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
REED TOLLEFSON	DIRECTOR, SECRETARY	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
MELANIE BRANSON	DIRECTOR, TREASURER	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
BOB BARNES	DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
CHRIS SPURGEON	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MARY WHITFIELD	RESEARCH DIRECTOR	40.00		$82,795	$0	$82,795
KATHARINE BATDORF	FORMER CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER	25.00		$11,869	$0	$11,869

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2024	$504,961	$765,633	$277,348	$-260,672
2023	$736,235	$843,608	$529,510	$-107,373
2022	$1,328,157	$1,378,350	$637,906	$-50,193
2021	$903,730	$886,985	$683,720	$16,745
2020	$757,623	$646,463	$652,257	$111,160
2019	$770,583	$678,216	$530,717	$92,367
2018	$586,865	$602,929	$441,336	$-16,064