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Passes our checks

Bring Recycling

EIN 23-7137120 · Eugene, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Our mission is to provide vision, leadership, and tools for living well on the planet we share.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
32
Volunteers
119
Highest pay
$94,125, executive 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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 (6)
  1. $1.1 million spent. REUSE AND RETAIL OUTLET AND DONATION CENTER: THE PLANET IMPROVEMENT CENTER, PART REUSE STORE AND PART CONSERVATION LEARNING CENTER, IS A COMMUNITY TREASURE FEATURING ART, A DEMONSTRATION GARDEN AND EXAMPLES OF GREEN BUILDING, CREATIVE REUSE, AND RENEWABLE ENERGY. THE CENTER HAS ENABLED BRING TO EXPAND SALES OF USED BUILDING MATERIALS WHILE CREATING INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS THAT EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY TO REDUCE WASTE AND LIVE MORE SUSTAINABLY. THE CENTER PROMOTES RESOURCE CONSERVATION WHILE PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT TO FOLKS THAT MAY HAVE BARRIERS TO TRADITIONAL EMPLOYMENT. THE CENTER OPERATES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY BY OFFERING EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING TO STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS AND BY PROVIDING LOW-COST BUILDING MATERIALS TO THE PUBLIC. WE PROCESS OVER 2 MILLION POUNDS OF MATERIAL ANNUALLY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)
  2. $269,990 spent. BUSINESS PROGRAM: OUR RETHINK BUSINESS PROGRAM, A FREE, COMPREHENSIVE CONSULTING SERVICE, PROVIDES LANE COUNTY BUSINESSES WITH CONFIDENTIAL ADVICE AND SUPPORT ON PRACTICAL WAYS TO REDUCE WASTE AND SAVE MONEY. BUSINESSES RECEIVE PROMOTIONAL ASSISTANCE AND FREE RESOURCES, INCLUDING WATER-SAVING DEVICES, RECYCLING COLLECTION BOXES, AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. TO DATE, WEVE SERVED MORE THAN 500 LOCAL BUSINESSES AND CERTIFIED 200. (Continued on Schedule O)
  3. $164,317 spent. EDUCATION: K-12 EDUCATION: BRING OFFERS FREE WASTE PREVENTION EDUCATION DESIGNED TO HELP LOCAL SCHOOLS ACHIEVE SYSTEM-WIDE IMPROVEMENTS IN SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE. WE COMBINE CLASSROOM WITH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND IN-SCHOOL RESOURCE CONSERVATION STRATEGIES TO INSPIRE GOOD HABITS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND AT HOME. OUR AWARD-WINNING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION OFFERINGS, WHICH SERVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ANNUALLY, INCLUDE FIELD TRIPS TO REUSE AND WASTE HANDLING FACILITIES, COMPOSTING DEMONSTRATIONS, CLASSROOM VISITS, AND NGSS-ALIGNED CURRICULA. WE SEND QUARTERLY E-NEWSLETTERS TO OUR SUBSCRIBER LIST OF OVER 3,500 AND OFFER A TELEPHONE AND WEBPAGE REFERRAL SERVICE.(CONTINUTED ON SCHEDULE O)
  4. REUSE AND RETAIL OUTLET AND DONATION CENTER - OUR MATERIAL RECOVERY PROGRAM SUPPORTS THIS WORK BY PROACTIVELY RECOVERING MATERIALS FROM SITES SLATED TO BE DEMOLISHED, REMODELED OR HAVE NEW CONSTRUCTION.
  5. BUSINESS PROGRAM - IN ADDITION, RETHINK OFFERS WASTE AUDITS TO BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES. THE PROGRAM OFFERS CHECKLISTS FOR THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES: AUTOMOTIVE, CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION, FOOD RETAIL (GROCERY), HOTELS AND HOSPITALITY, OFFICE AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, LANDSCAPING, MANUFACTURING, AND RESTAURANTS. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE BUILT A PLATFORM TO SHARE OUR MODEL WITH OTHER BUSINESS EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE AND ARE BUILDING THE OREGON STEWARDSHIP BUSINESS NETWORK TO COLLABORATE, SHARE BEST PRACTICES, AND INCREASE KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT REINVENTING THE WHEEL IN EACH COMMUNITY.
  6. COMMUNITY EDUCATION - WE OFFER DIY CLASSES AND FAMILY FRIENDLY WORKSHOPS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO HELP PEOPLE LIVE RESILIENTLY IN THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITY WHILE INSPIRING REUSE AND CREATIVE THINKING OF MATERIALS THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE CONSIDERED WASTE.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1978.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.