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Passes our checks

Verde

EIN 20-3685723 · Portland, OR

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

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 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% 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 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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. $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.
  2. $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.
  3. $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).
  4. $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.
  5. 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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.