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Explore Ecology

EIN 20-4944165 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EXPLORE ECOLOGY EMPOWERS OUR COMMUNITY TO PROECT AND PRESERVE THE PLANET WITH INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND NATURE-BASED LEARNING.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 57%
Employees
52
Volunteers
1,492
Highest pay
$100,322, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 55% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $273,957 spent. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION:OVER 800 ENVIRONMENTAL LESSONS WERE CONDUCTED BY EXPLORE ECOLOGY STAFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 20,000 STUDENTS THROUGHOUT SANTA BARBARA COUNTY. LESSONS FOCUS ON WATER QUALITY, WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP AND WASTE MANAGEMENT - REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE AND COMPOST. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION LESSONS TAKE PLACE IN CLASSROOMS, ON FIELD TRIPS INCLUDING THE WATERSHED RESOURCE CENTER, TAJIGUAS LANDFILL, AND BEACH CLEANUPS. THROUGH THIS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, EXPLORE ECOLOGY HELPS LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS REACH THEIR GOALS OF EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. OVER 800 ENVIRONMENTAL LESSONS WERE CONDUCTED BY EXPLORE ECOLOGY STAFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 20,000 PEOPLE, NEARLY ALL STUDENTS. AN ADDITIONAL 10,000 ELEMENTARY AGE STUDENTS WERE EDUCATED THROUGH EXPLORE ECOLOGY'S SCHOOL GARDENS PROGRAM. LESSONS FOCUS ON WASTE DIVERSION (REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE AND COMPOST), WATER QUALITY, SCHOOL GARDENS AND NUTRITION. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION LESSONS ARE PRESENTED TO GROUPS FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS, AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER CAMP GROUPS, AS WELL AS SOME GROUPS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS AND ADULTS. THROUGH THIS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, EXPLORE ECOLOGY HELPS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS REACH THEIR GOALS OF EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
  2. $829,987 spent. SCHOOL GARDENS:AN ADDITIONAL 10,000 ELEMENTARY AGE STUDENTS WERE EDUCATED THROUGH EXPLORE ECOLOGY'S SCHOOL GARDENS PROGRAM IN 34 GARDENS COUNTYWIDE. STAFF MAINTAIN GARDENS WHILE WORKING WITH SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS TO PROVIDE LESSONS IN PLANTING, CULTIVATING, HARVESTING, COMPOSTING, AND NUTRITION. EXPLORE ECOLOGY PROVIDES TRAINING FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS TO USE IN PRESCHOOLS AND DAYCARE CENTERS. THE SCHOOL GARDENS TEAM FREQUENTLY PROVIDES CONSULTATION AND COLLABORATION WITH OTHER NONPROFITS SEEKING TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN OUTDOOR CLASSROOM CURRICULUM.
  3. $141,943 spent. EE CREATIVE REUSE - ART FROM SCRAP: ART FROM SCRAP CREATIVE REUSE STORE RECEIVES DONATIONS FROM MORE THAN 200 BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS. OVER 18 TONS OF MATERIALS WERE DIVERTED FROM THE LANDFILL WHILE EMPOWERING BUSINESSES TO REDUCE AND REUSE THEIR EXCESS MATERIALS. 25 SCHOOLS SERVING ABOUT 5,000 STUDENTS BENEFITED FROM THE FREE SCHOOL MATERIALS PROGRAM FOR ART, SCIENCE AND OTHER USES. YOUTH GROUPS, ARTISTS, PARENTS AND THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATED IN THE WASTE DIVERSION TECHNIQUE OF REUSE THROUGH THE ART FROM SCRAP REUSE STORE, WHERE OVER 200 PEOPLE PER WEEK SHOPPED FOR CREATIVE REUSE MATERIALS.
  4. $63,941 spent. EE MAKERSPACE ART PROGRAM: OVER 5,000 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN ART ACTIVITIES WITH REUSE MATERIALS AS PART OF THEIR EDUCATION FIELD TRIPS, IN-CLASS LESSONS, AND VIRTUAL LESSONS. THESE EXPERIENCES HELPED TO INCREASE THEIR PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS WHICH LEAD TO IMPROVED EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCE. TWICE WEEKLY CRAFTERNOONS ARE OFFERED FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WHILE MONTHLY WORKSHOPS ENGAGE ALL AGES IN SKILLS-BUILDING THAT INCLUDES SEWING, JOURNAL BINDING, AND NEEDLE CRAFTS. EXPLORE ECOLOGY SUPPORTS SCHOOLS, LOCAL ART COLLECTIVES, PERFORMING ART COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS BY PROVIDING UNIQUE RECYCLED MATERIALS AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 August 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 October 21, 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.