Institute for Local Self Reliance Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK, STRATEGIES, AND INFORMATION TO AID THE CREATION OF ECOLOGICALLY-SOUND AND EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES. TO THAT END, ILSR WORKS WITH CITIZENS, ACTIVISTS, POLICYMAKERS, AND ENTREPRENEURS TO DESIGN SYSTEMS, POLICIES, AND INDUSTRIES THAT MEET LOCAL OR REGIONAL NEEDS; TO MAXIMIZE LOCAL HUMAN, MATERIAL, NATURAL, AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES; AND TO ENSURE THAT THE BENEFITS OF THESE SYSTEMS AND RESOURCES ACCRUE TO ALL LOCAL CITIZENS.
- Income
- $8.4 million
- Spending
- $6.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 8.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 84%
- Employees
- 37
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $175,168, co-director
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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% 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 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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)
- $2.1 million spent. INDEPENDENT BUSINESS - THE INDEPENDENT BUSINESS INITIATIVE CHAMPIONS LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES, LEADS EFFORTS TO FIGHT THE UNCHECKED POWER OF CORPORATE GIANTS LIKE WALMART AND AMAZON, AND SEEKS TO REVERSE THE GOVERNMENT POLICIES THAT WORK AGAINST THESE SMALL, INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES.
- $1.5 million spent. COMMUNITY BROADBAND NETWORKS - THE COMMUNITY BROADBAND NETWORK INITIATIVE PROMOTES LOCALLY ROOTED, DEMOCRATICALLY ACCOUNTABLE BROADBAND NETWORKS THAT PROVIDE FAST, AFFORDABLE AND RELIABLE INTERNET ACCESS TO ALL AMERICANS.
- $919,894 spent. COMPOSTING FOR COMMUNITY - THE COMPOSTING FOR COMMUNITY INITIATIVE ADVANCES LOCAL COMPOSTING TO CUT FOOD LOSS, ENHANCE SOILS, PROTECT THE CLIMATE, AND CREATE JOBS THROUGH ADVOCACY, TRAINING, RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND COALITION BUILDING.
- $1.1 million spent. ENERGY DEMOCRACY - OUR ENERGY DEMOCRACY INITIATIVE EMPOWERS HOUSEHOLDS AND COMMUNITIES TO PRODUCE THEIR OWN LOCAL, CLEAN, AND RENEWABLE ENERGY AND OPPOSE THE EXCESSIVE POWER OF MONOPOLY UTILITIES. ALSO INCLUDED IN OUR OTHER ACTIVITY IS OUR COMMUNICAITONS ACTIVITY.
- ENERGY DEMOCRACY - OUR ENERGY DEMOCRACY INITIATIVE EMPOWERS HOUSEHOLDS AND COMMUNITIES TO PRODUCE THEIR OWN LOCAL, CLEAN, AND RENEWABLE ENERGY AND OPPOSE THE EXCESSIVE POWER OF MONOPOLY UTILITIES. ALSO INCLUDED IN OUR OTHER ACTIVITY IS OUR COMMUNICAITONS ACTIVITY.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1974.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.