Welcome

Who We Are

Based in Auburn, California with a support base worldwide, the Western States Trail Foundation was established to keep in-repair the famous Western States Trail from Lake Tahoe to Auburn, and to keep alive its historical associations more than a century since the Gold Rush days of California. In addition to our primary Mission to preserve the Trail, we stage the annual Tevis Cup 100-Mile, One-Day Endurance Ride and sponsor veterinary-led studies of equine health and fitness.

Governance

The WSTF is recognized by the California Secretary of State as a Public-Benefit Non-Profit Corporation (#320499), incorporated on 10 May 1956. The WSTF Articles of Incorporation (Revised 1995) are publicly available through the Secretary of State. We are recognized by the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit, (#68-0009816). Our home office is at 150 Gum Lane, Suite 103, Auburn CA, 95603. Our overall governance approach is defined in the following internal documents – all available upon request:

• Bylaws of the WSTF (amended 2012)
• WSTF Whistleblower Policy
• WSTF Conflict of Interest Policy
• WSTF Document Retention Policy
• WSTF Code of Conduct

Management

The WSTF is managed by a 30-member Board of Governors, who serve 2-year terms. The Governors elect an Executive Leadership Team to serve a 1-year term. The Board of Governors conduct quarterly meetings – open to the public – in Auburn, CA. Meeting minutes are available upon request. The fulfillment of our Mission requires year-round engagement with activity that includes fundraising, merchandise sales, publications and communications, staging the Annual Tevis Cup Ride, maintaining the trail, financial operations, and educational and historic outreach.

Finances

The WSTF is a growing organization with an annual balance sheet that now exceeds $400k per year. Our principal sources of income are entry fees for the annual ride, income from a “Virtual Ride”, and contributions from our donor base. (We have very little grant income but are working to build this up.) Our principal expenses are annual investments to preserve and maintain the trail, and expenses associated with staging the annual ride. Further financial insight can be gained by accessing our annual tax filings (IRS form 990) available for every year since 2000 at Pro Publica: IRS Form 990 Annual Tax Filings.

External Communications

To promote a robust public support for our Mission to preserve and protect the historic Western States Trail, the WSTF maintains communications via print media, direct mail, e-mail, social media, and this website:

• Annual Impact Report mailed to our donor base and available on this website.
• Annual Tevis Forum magazine, mailed to 4,000 equestrians nationwide, and available on this website.
• The e-Blast – a newsletter e-mailed to our community of interest periodically during the year.
• Facebook groups that we sponsor include:
  • Tevis Cup 100 Mile One Day Ride – Western States Trail Foundation.
  • Tevis: The Trail to the Trail
  • Tevis Cup OFFICIAL Education Ride Group, and
  • Tevis Cup Virtual Ride

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