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Nonprofit · EIN 68-0009186

WESTERN STATES TRAIL FOUNDATION

Tax-exempt · AUBURN, CA 95603

Financials

$401K$416K2022$425K$438K2023$530K$377K2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of WESTERN STATES TRAIL FOUNDATION by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
September 30, 2025990$529,890$376,568$153,322$425,110$6,997$418,113
September 30, 2024990$425,204$438,122-$12,918$277,401$12,610$264,791
September 30, 2023990$400,731$416,056-$15,325$301,238$17,916$283,322
Financial details: 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$330,967
Program service revenue
$215,212
Investment income
$86
Net income from fundraising events
-$2,267
Net income from sales of inventory
-$15,608
Other revenue
-$16,375

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$0
Other salaries and wages
$38,245
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$41,342
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$1,250
Accounting fees
$15,370
Occupancy
$24,567
Travel
$5,807
Depreciation
$6,325
Program services (functional)
$316,964
Management and general (functional)
$33,611
Fundraising (functional)
$25,993

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$277,401
Total assets, end of year
$425,110
Total liabilities, end of year
$6,997
Net assets, end of year
$418,113
Land, buildings and equipment
$141,978
Net assets without donor restrictions
$355,462
Net assets with donor restrictions
$62,651
Gross receipts
$591,051
Employees
5
Volunteers
790
Year formed
1956
State of legal domicile
CA

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Jerry WittenauerVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
15$0
Nicole WertzVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0
TONY BENEDETTIPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0
Crysta TurnageTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
3$0
Lucy TrumbullDirector
Trustee or director
3$0
Jenni BenedettiSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Frank CrumDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Mike PickettDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Kathie PerryDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended September 30, 2024: 9 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Debby LyonSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Jerry WittenauerVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
15$0
Nicole WertzDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
TONY BENEDETTIDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Crysta TurnageTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
3$0
Lucy TrumbullDirector
Trustee or director
3$0
BARBARA WHITEPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
15$0
Mike PickettDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Kathie PerryVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0
990 for the year ended September 30, 2023: 9 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Debby LyonSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Jerry WittenauerVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0
Cortney BloomerDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
TONY BENEDETTIDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
Crysta TurnageTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
3$0
JEFF HERTENDirector
Trustee or director
1$0
BARBARA WHITEPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
15$0
Mike PickettDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Kathie PerryVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
150A GUM LANE STE 103, AUBURN, CA 95603-0000
Signed the 990
Jerry Wittenauer, Vice President
Phone
(530) 823-7282
Return prepared by
Suzanne H Peterson CPA

California records

California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 68-0009186 or by the name WESTERN STATES TRAIL FOUNDATION.

Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)

Mission

TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE THE HISTORIC WESTERN STATES PONY EXPRESS TRAIL

990 for the year ended September 30, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • RIDE: ORGANIZE AND ADMINISTER THE WORLD-WIDE RECOGNISED TEVIS CUP EVENT OF A 100 MILE, ONE DAY EQUESTRIAN RIDE ON THE WESTERN STATES PONY EXPRESS HISTORICAL TRAIL. There were 105 riders who participated in the 2025 Ride. Over 1300 total participantas as riders, rider support teams, volunteers, and vendors. A "Virtual" Ride was also held, which had over 1200 participants world-wide who logged in their 100 miles ridden locally during a 100 day period.
    Expenses $232,740 · revenue $197,898
  • MAINTENANCE: PRESERVE TRAIL BY BRUSH AND TREE CLEARING AND IMPROVE WITH SIGNAGE, WELLS, AND ALTERNATE OR IMPROVED ROUTES. MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE TWO STAGING AREAS. Preserve and protect access and use of the trail by negotiating easements from property owners along trail, when necessary. A 160-acre Equestrian Park was purchased for a cost of $101,759 in 2025.
    Expenses $51,437 · grants $54,627
  • EDUCATION & Outreach to Promote the Legacy of the Western States Trail. A Ride Clinic is held to teach skills in riding the trail. There were 21 participants in the 2025 Educational Ride. PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF KIOSKS,(GLASS INCASED GEOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL MAPS AND INFORMATION AT THE TRAIL); PUBLISH ANNUAL NEWSLETTER (4100 recipents in 2025), AND TRAIL GUIDES; EQUINE RESEARCH; DOCUMENT HISTORY AND CURRENT EVENTS OF THE TRAIL IN BOTH WRITTEN AND VIDEO FORMATS.
    Expenses $32,787 · revenue $7,910

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025September 30, 2026February 16, 2027Not due yet
2024September 30, 2025February 17, 2026990 on file
2023September 30, 2024February 18, 2025990 on file

IRS record

EIN
68-0009186
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1991
Accounting year ends
September
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$425,110
Income (IRS master file)
$591,051

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990September 2025$529,890$376,568$425,110XML
990September 2024$425,204$438,122$277,401XML
990September 2023$400,731$416,056$301,238XML
990September 2022$340,735$328,419$272,818IRS
990September 2021–––IRS
990-EZSeptember 2020–––IRS
990September 2019–––IRS
990September 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 68-0009186).

Questions about WESTERN STATES TRAIL FOUNDATION

What is the EIN of WESTERN STATES TRAIL FOUNDATION?
The employer identification number (EIN) of WESTERN STATES TRAIL FOUNDATION is 68-0009186.
Is WESTERN STATES TRAIL FOUNDATION tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1991.
Are donations to WESTERN STATES TRAIL FOUNDATION tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does WESTERN STATES TRAIL FOUNDATION file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of WESTERN STATES TRAIL FOUNDATION due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 16, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did WESTERN STATES TRAIL FOUNDATION last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.
Who are the officers and directors of WESTERN STATES TRAIL FOUNDATION?
The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 9 people; 0 received compensation from the organization.
How much revenue does WESTERN STATES TRAIL FOUNDATION have?
On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $529,890, expenses of $376,568 and total assets of $425,110 at year end.

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