Sierra Madre Search & Rescue Team
Anywhere in the wilderness that someone needs help…
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team provides wilderness search and rescue services via team members who are highly trained volunteers. In addition, the Team provides preventative search and rescue training programs to children, youth, and adults in the community on how to recreate safely in the mountains. All services are provided at no cost and without regard to race, gender, economic status, or religious affiliation.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Search and Rescue Services
Mountain and wilderness search and rescue services in Los Angeles County, CA. Services provided in other locations based on mutual aid requests through official, government/law enforcement jurisdictional authorities. Services are public safety focus and are provided at no charge and are available to any/all people regardless of age, ethnicity or socio-economic status.
Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR) - Community Education
The Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team provides public education services and awareness programs related to safe recreation in mountain and wilderness areas. Most programs are geared towards children ages 6-18, community groups as well as organized hiking and outdoor recreation groups for children and adults. Programs cover a variety of topics including hiking safety, Hug-A-Tree programs, and how to volunteer for search and rescue.
Programs are provided at no cost, are open to all groups and are part of the Team's core mission.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Saving lives through providing search and rescue services for those injured or lost in wilderness areas within California. In addition, the Team provides services for educating the public on safe recreational practices in the mountains.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Ensuring the Team is staffed with highly trained volunteers able to respond to SAR calls as needed.
All Team members are trained and engage in support both active SAR and PSAR (preventative search and rescue) activities.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The Team trains members in all requisite skills to accomplish the Team's mission. In addition, the Team owns specialized equipment and vehicles necessary to support the mission.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
The Team has been in continuous existence since 1951 and has provided SAR services throughout CA during that time. Typically Team members donate over 10,000 hours a year in support of the Team's mission. Sierra Madre is recognized as one of the premier mountain SAR organizations in the state of CA and is a member of the CA Region of the Mountain Rescue Association (MRA).
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, Feedback is often limited due to perceptions from having needed SAR assistance.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Sierra Madre Search & Rescue Team
Board of directorsas of 01/25/2024
Robert Klusman
Jon Pedder
Liza Scheidemantle
Billy Abel
David Johnson
Kellie Torio
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Not applicable -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Not applicable -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
No data
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 01/25/2024GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.