Children and Nature Network
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O.TO INCREASE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO NATURE SO THAT CHILDREN AND THE NATURAL WORLD CAN THRIVE. WE DO THAT BY: 1) FOSTERING BELIEF THAT A CONNECTION TO NATURE IS CRITICAL TO CHILDREN'S HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT; 2) CHANGING CORE SYSTEMS THAT IMPACT CHILDREN'S DAILY ACCESS TO NATURE, SUCH AS MUNCIPAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ETC.; 3) GROWING THE MOVEMENT TO RECONNECT CHILDREN WITH NATURE.
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $4.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 9.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 50%
- Employees
- 25
- Volunteers
- 31
- Highest pay
- $182,411, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 76% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 37% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 43 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 December 31, 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 (3)
- $703,438 spent. FOSTER BELIEFOVER 65,000 USERS HAVE VISITED OUR ONLINE RESEARCH LIBRARY WHICH HOLDS 1,400 PEER-REVIEWED STUDIES ON THE BENEFITS OF NATURE AND PROVIDES FREE ACCESS TO THE LATEST SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE FOR NATURE CONNECTION. FINDING NATURE NEWS, OUR BIWEEKLY NEWSLETTER, ILLUMINATED 39 ARTICLES, SPOTLIGHTING ON-THE-GROUND LEADERS, ADVOCATES AND BELIEVERS IN THE CHILDREN AND NATURE MOVEMENT. OUR RESOURCE HUB OF 700 PUBLICATIONS, MATERIALS AND TOOLS WAS ACCESSED BY 29,000 USERS.
- $1.9 million spent. SYSTEMS CHANGECHILDREN & NATURE NETWORK HAS PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TOOLS & RESOURCES TO OVER 80 COMMUNITIES THROUGH NATURE EVERYWHERE, OUR STRATEGIC INITIATIVE TO ADVANCE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO NATURE EVERYWHERE CHILDREN LIVE, LEARN AND PLAY IN 100 COMMUNITIES BY 2025. OUR YOUTH OUTDOOR EQUITY LEADERSHIP FUND DISTRIBUTED $8,000 IN MICRO GRANTS TO 18 LEADERS ENGAGED IN NATURE-BASED PROJECTS IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. CHILDREN & NATURE NETWORK DISBURSED $960,000 TO TRANSFORM SCHOOLYARDS AND SUPPORT LOCAL EFFORTS TO ADVANCE ACCESS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
- $446,630 spent. GROW THE MOVEMENTOVER 600 LEADERS, CAREGIVERS AND NATURE ADVOCATES FROM 10 COUNTRIES ATTENDED THE 2024 NATURE EVERYWHERE CONFERENCE. C&NN PROVIDED SCHOLARSHIPS TO 30 YOUNG LEADERS AND NATURE ADVOCATES TO SUPPORT THEIR PARTICIPATION. OUR MEMBERSHIP BASE UNITES 600 INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS. FAMILIES TOGETHER IN NATURE WEBINARS AND VIRTUAL EVENTS PROVIDED CONTENT AND INSPIRATION TO PARENTS, CAREGIVERS AND FAMILY SERVICE PROVIDERS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2007.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.