Habitable
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
HABITABLE HAS A VISION THAT ALL PEOPLE AND THE PLANET THRIVE WHEN THE MATERIALS ECONOMY IS IN BALANCE WITH NATURE. OUR MISSION IS TO IMPROVE HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH BY CREATING BOLD, SCIENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS THAT INSPIRE MATERIALS INNOVATIONS TO ELIMINATE POLLUTION, MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE, AND CREATE A MORE EQUITABLE FUTURE. HABITABLE IS A LEADING ORGANIZATION REDUCING POLLUTION BY ADVOCATING FOR A REDUCTION IN THE USE OF TOXIC CHEMICALS AND PLASTICS THROUGHOUT THE SUPPLY CHAIN AS PRODUCTS ARE MADE, USED, AND DISPOSED. OUR FIVE KEY STRATEGIES ARE: 1) BUILD CAPACITY FOR INFORMED DECISIONS, 2) DRIVE MARKET DEMAND AND ADOPTION, 3) INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE, 4) REDUCE CHEMICALS OF CONCERN USE, AND 5) DECREASE EXPOSURE TO TOXIC CHEMICALS.
- Income
- $5.1 million
- Spending
- $4.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 1.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 52%
- Employees
- 21
- Volunteers
- 11
- Highest pay
- $221,282, ceo
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: 66 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 90% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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, 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 (1)
- $4.4 million spent. HABITABLE CURRENTLY HAS PROGRAMS IN THREE AREAS: INNOVATIVE RESEARCH; POWERFUL DATA TOOLS; AND CAPACITY-BUILDING EDUCATION. 1.INNOVATIVE RESEARCH HABITABLE PUBLISHES INNOVATIVE, ACTIONABLE RESEARCH THAT ADVANCES HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. FOR EXAMPLE, KAISER PERMANENTE CITED HABITABLE'S RESEARCH AS THE DRIVER FOR ITS DECISION TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF ANTIMICROBIAL ADDITIVES IN ITS BUILDING PRODUCT SPECIFICATION, AND THE HOME DEPOT RELIED UPON HABITABLE'S RESEARCH TO ADOPT A HAZARD AVOIDANCE CHEMICAL STRATEGY THAT SIGNALS FUNDAMENTAL, PERMANENT AND SYSTEMIC IMPROVEMENT IN THE BUILDING PRODUCTS INDUSTRY, AND IS A STRONG STEP TOWARDS HEALTH EQUITY IN BUILDING PRODUCTS. IN ADDITION, OUR INFLUENTIAL ELECTRONIC PUBLICATIONS REACH THOUSANDS OF HEALTHY BUILDING PROFESSIONALS, SCIENTISTS, RESEARCHERS AND OTHERS INTERESTED IN DECREASING CHEMICALS OF CONCERN AND ARE KEY RESOURCES FOR OPINION LEADERS IN THE FIELD. AS A THOUGHT LEADER, HABITABLE FOCUSES ON MARKET TRENDS AND POLICY ISSUES THAT IMPACT THE GREEN BUILDING COMMUNITY AND OTHER PRODUCT MARKETS THAT SUPPORT A CIRCULAR ECONOMY. IN COMMUNICATING OUR LATEST RESEARCH FINDINGS WE ARE OFTEN THE FIRST TO RAISE NEW ISSUES OF CONCERN THAT CROSS-CUT SECTORS, LIKE ISSUES RELATED TO PLASTICS, EMBODIED CARBON, AND CLIMATE CHANGE. 2.POWERFUL DATA TOOLS HABITABLE OFFERS DATA TOOLS DESIGNED TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE, PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY AND INSPIRE SAFER CHEMISTRY AND PRODUCT INNOVATION. IT IS CURRENTLY DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY HEALTHIER BUILDING MATERIALS AND OTHER TYPES OF PRODUCTS BECAUSE PRODUCT INGREDIENTS ARE NOT TYPICALLY OR RELIABLY DISCLOSED BY INDUSTRY. HABITABLE IS AN ACKNOWLEDGED LEADER IN ADVANCING THE DISCLOSURE OF THE CONTENTS AND RELATED HEALTH HAZARDS IN COMMONLY USED BUILDING PRODUCTS, AND WE ARE ADVANCING RESOURCES IN OTHER SECTORS. OUR DATA TOOLS INCLUDE: PHAROS: THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE INDEPENDENT DATABASE OF CHEMICALS, POLYMERS, METALS, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES - CURRENTLY OVER 200,000 CHEMICALS AND GROWING. IT IS USED ACROSS SECTORS, INCLUDING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, ELECTRONICS, FOOD PACKAGING, BEAUTY AND PERSONAL CARE, AND MANY OTHER CONSUMER PRODUCTS. USING DOZENS OF SCIENTIFIC LISTS FOR SPECIFIC HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAZARDS, IT AGGREGATES A VAST ARRAY OF INFORMATION USED FOR ANALYZING CHEMICALS OF CONCERN. THE TOOL ALSO PROVIDES A WEALTH OF INFORMATION ON CERTIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS USED TO MEASURE THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF CHEMICALS AND MATERIALS, INCLUDING VOC CONTENT AND EMISSIONS, RECYCLED AND BIOBASED CONTENT, AND MUCH MORE. INFORMED: LEVERAGING OUR DEEP RESEARCH AND COMMON PRODUCT METHODOLOGY HABITABLE IS ABLE TO SCREEN PRODUCT TYPES (I.E., FLOORING, INSULATION, PAINT, ETC.) WHERE TRANSPARENCY FROM MANUFACTURERS IS INCOMPLETE OR SIMPLY DOES NOT EXIST. LEVERAGING THIS METHODOLOGY HABITABLE IS ABLE TO CLASSIFY THE PRODUCT TYPES INTO A RED TO GREEN (WORST TO BEST) RANKING. ACCESS TO THESE PRODUCT RANKINGS IS PROVIDED THROUGH OUR INFORMED APPLICATION, RESOURCES, AND CONSULTING SERVICES. CHEMFORWARD: FISCALLY SPONSORED BY HABITABLE, THE PROGRAM'S MISSION IS TO BE THE MOST-TRUSTED SOURCE FOR ACTIONABLE CHEMICAL HAZARD INFORMATION THAT EMPOWERS SUPPLIERS, MANUFACTURERS AND BRANDS ACROSS ALL SECTORS TO CREATE PRODUCTS THAT ARE SAFE FOR PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THE MISSION WILL BE REALIZED BY COLLABORATING WITH THE VALUE CHAIN TO PROVIDE COST-EFFICIENT ACCESS TO VERIFIED, ACTIONABLE CHEMICAL HAZARD INFORMATION AND THEREBY ENABLE BETTER CHEMISTRY IN PRODUCT DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING. IN THE LANDSCAPE OF MATERIAL-HEALTH AND SAFER CHEMISTRY INITIATIVES, CHEMFORWARD SUPPORTS ORGANIZATIONS DEVELOPING CHEMICAL GUIDELINES (RETAILERS, BRANDS, NGOS, CERTIFIERS) THAT PROVIDE TRUSTED EVIDENCE-BASE SAFER PRODUCTS. SUM DECELERATOR: FISCALLY SPONSORED BY HABITABLE, THE PROGRAM'S GOAL IS TO EDUCATE THE FOOD INDUSTRY ON THE IMPACT OF SINGLE USE PACKAGING AND TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THEIR COMMON USE TO IMPROVE BOTH HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL WELL-BEING. THE SAFER CHEMISTRY IMPACT FUND (SCIF) ADVANCES SCIENCE-BASED, DATA-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS TO SYSTEMATICALLY ELIMINATE HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AND REPLACE THEM WITH VERIFIED SAFE ALTERNATIVES. SCIF EMPOWERS THE SUPPLY CHAIN WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE, TOOLS, AND GUIDANCE NEEDED TO SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THE TRANSITION TO SAFER CHEMISTRY. 3.CAPACITY-BUILDING EDUCATION HABITABLE'S PRIMARY COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE AND EDUCATION PROGRAM IS A NATIONAL INITIATIVE SUPPORTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING LEADERS WHO ARE IMPROVING HUMAN HEALTH BY USING LESS TOXIC BUILDING MATERIALS. OUR PARTICIPANTS HAVE ACCESS TO ONLINE RESOURCE PROVIDING CRITICAL INFORMATION TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS NETWORKING WITH PEERS IN THE COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE, SPOTLIGHTING ON-THE GROUND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE PROGRAM IS ENABLING THOSE WHO DEVELOP, OWN AND OPERATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO WORK AT THE FOREFRONT OF HEALTHY BUILDING PRACTICE BY ADAPTING OUR LEADING-EDGE RESEARCH AND DECISION-MAKING TECHNOLOGY TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS MARKET. LITTLE THINGS MATTER (LTM) IS FISCALLY SPONSORED BY HABITABLE. THE PROGRAM'S PRIMARY GOAL IS TO INFORM PEOPLE ABOUT THE IMPACT OF TOXIC CHEMICALS ON THEIR HEALTH, WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON CHILDREN AND DISEASE PREVENTION. LTM'S UNIQUE APPROACH INVOLVES CREATING VIDEOS AND OTHER CONTENT TO EXPLAIN COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH TOPICS IN A WAY THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. HABITABLE CURRENTLY HAS PROGRAMS IN THREE AREAS: INNOVATIVE RESEARCH; POWERFUL DATA TOOLS; AND CAPACITY-BUILDING EDUCATION. 1.INNOVATIVE RESEARCH HABITABLE PUBLISHES INNOVATIVE, ACTIONABLE RESEARCH THAT ADVANCES HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. FOR EXAMPLE, KAISER PERMANENTE CITED HABITABLE'S RESEARCH AS THE DRIVER FOR ITS DECISION TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF ANTIMICROBIAL ADDITIVES IN ITS BUILDING PRODUCT SPECIFICATION, AND THE HOME DEPOT RELIED UPON HABITABLE'S RESEARCH TO ADOPT A HAZARD AVOIDANCE CHEMICAL STRATEGY THAT SIGNALS FUNDAMENTAL, PERMANENT AND SYSTEMIC IMPROVEMENT IN THE BUIL
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
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 October 13, 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 December 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 October 21, 2026.
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