Verde
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
VERDE ESTABLISHES ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESSES TO EMPLOY AND TRAIN LOW-INCOME ADULTS, CREATE CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINORITY-OWNED AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES, AND BRING ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS, FOSTERING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ECONOMIC VITALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND RESTORATION.
- Income
- $4.1 million
- Spending
- $3.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 10.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 73%
- Employees
- 38
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $129,119, past exec 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
Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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 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 (5)
- $1.4 million spent. VERDE BUILDS: VERDE BUILDS IS A LICENSED AND BONDED COMMERCIAL GENERAL CONTRACTOR LEVEL 2 IN THE STATE OF OREGON. VERDE BUILDS WAS ESTABLISHED TO CREATE CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES WITH MINORITY-OWNED AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES AND TO PROVIDE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO COME FROM LOW-INCOME, PEOPLE-OF-COLOR COMMUNITIES WHO ARE OFTEN LEFT OUT OF PORTLANDS GREEN ECONOMY.
- $840,877 spent. ADVOCACY: THE ADVOCACY PROGRAM BUILDS THE POWER OF LOW-INCOME PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR THROUGH EDUCATION, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING, AND POLICY ADVOCACY TO CREATE POLICY AND INVESTMENTS TO BENEFIT LOW-INCOME AND PEOPLE OF COLOR COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON REDUCING ENERGY COST BURDEN, REDUCING CARBON, AND MAKING MOBILITY A UNIVERSAL RIGHT.
- $473,914 spent. EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT: THE PROGRAM ENGAGES RESIDENTS, PEER ORGANIZATIONS AND POLICYMAKERS ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND MAKING A GOOD LIVING, EMPOWERING LOW-INCOME PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR TO DRIVE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES INTO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS IN RESPONSE TO EXISTING NEEDS. THE PROGRAM DELIVERS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH OF COLOR AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOR ADULTS (LIDERES VERDES).
- $148,298 spent. LIVING CULLY: VERDE SERVES AS THE BACKBONE ORGANIZATION AND LEADS LIVING CULLY, A COLLABORATION OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS OPERATING IN THE CULLY NEIGHBORHOOD IN NORTHEAST PORTLAND. THE PROGRAM DELIVERS DIRECT SERVICES TO RESIDENTS, GENERATES POLICY AND INVESTMENTS TO BENEFIT LOW-INCOME AND PEOPLE OF COLOR RESIDENTS AND BUILDS COMMUNITY POWER THROUGH EDUCATION AND ORGANIZING.
- SUMA:VERDE SERVED AS SUMAS FISCAL SPONSOR PER A WRITTEN FISCAL SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT. IN SUPPORT OF ITS CHARITABLE PURPOSE, SUMA PERFORMED DIGITAL ORGANIZING. SUMA WORKED WITH VERDE AND OTHER PARTNERS TO BUILD TECHNOLOGY CAPACITY IN FRONTLINE COMMUNITIES; DIGITAL ENTERPRISE. SUMA WORKED WITH VERDE AND OTHER PARTNERS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A DIGITAL PLATFORM THAT INCREASES ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES FOR FRONTLINE COMMUNITIES; DIGITAL JUSTICE. SUMA WORKED WITH VERDE AND OTHER PARTNERS TO INCREASE FRONTLINE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP OF TECHNOLOGY POLICYMAKING, INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES. SUMA NO LONGER REQUIRED A FISCAL SPONSOR AS OF JUNE 30, 2025.
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 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 June 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 October 2006.
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.