Literacy for Environmental Justice
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
LEJ promotes ecological health, environmental stewardship, and community development in Southeast San Francisco by creating urban greening, eco-literacy, community stewardship and workforce development opportunities that directly engage and support local residents in securing a healthier future.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 77%
- Employees
- 16
- Volunteers
- 800
- Highest pay
- $148,196, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $1.0 million spent. LEJ serves the Bayview-Hunters Point community in Southeast San Francisco.San Francisco is a tale of two cities. On the citys western side, residents enjoy a wealth of parks such as Crissy Field and the new $118 million Presidio Tunnel Tops Park; healthy food options from large grocery stores to boutique markets to countless restaurants; and the peace of mind and freedom that comes with living in a safe, low-crime neighborhood.Across the city in the southeast, lies a different San FranciscoBayview-Hunters Point. For decades, this historically African American community has served as the dumping ground for San Franciscos dirty utilities, heavy industry, and toxic pollution. This three-square-mile industrial neighborhood is bordered by two freeways and home to 700 hazardous waste sites, 325 underground petroleum storage tanks, two Superfund sites, and decades of illegal dumping (SF Department of Public Health -SFDPH).It is also home to 34,000+ residents, 26% of whom are under the age of 18the highest percentage of children of any San Francisco neighborhood (SFDPH). According to CalEnviroScreen, 80% of Bayview-Hunters Point residents are people of color with 33% identifying as African American (the citys largest concentration of African Americans), 34% as Latinx, and 25% as Asian American. Approximately 40% of families in Bayview-Hunters Point are severely low-income, living twice below the federal poverty levela cycle of poverty that will continue without education and workforce development opportunities. Unlike families on the western side of the city, a healthy stroll around the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood is not an option. In addition to air pollution from heavy industry and the neighboring freeways, more than half of Bayview residents report feeling unsafe in their community. Bayview-Hunters Point has double the violent crime rate of San Francisco as a whole (SFDPH).According to the SFDPHs Bayview-Hunters Point Community Resiliency report, Bayview-Hunters Point received Low to Very Low rankings for residents access to healthy food. In addition, that same report noted that unlike other parts of San Francisco, healthy, green parklands and trees are scarce in this heavily industrialized neighborhood.LEJ serves over 1,000 SFUSD youth each year and works closely with community organizations to engage youth and young adult audiences in our environmental education and workforce development programs. We engage Bayview residents in volunteer park stewardship, workshops, and environmental advocacy.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2003.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.