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Vertuelab

EIN 26-1652936 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO UNLEASH INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP THAT WILL SOLVE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND CATALYZE SHARED ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. PROVIDE FUNDING AND HOLISTIC ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORT TO CLEANTECH STARTUPS.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
3.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 73%
Employees
13
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$199,984, 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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 60% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 (science, $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 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 (4)
  1. $796,219 spent. INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP -VERTUELAB WORKS DIRECTLY WITH EARLY-STAGE STARTUPS AND INNOVATIONS FOCUSED ON SOLVING ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES BY PROVIDING COACHING, MENTORSHIP, AND RESOURCES THAT IMPROVE STARTUP SUCCESS, ESPECIALLY IN THE CLIMATE TECH SPACE. ON A LIMITED BASIS THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HELPS COMPANIES FROM OTHER TECHNOLOGY SECTORS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION CONNECTS STARTUP COMPANIES AND POTENTIAL PRIVATE INVESTORS, PROVIDED GUIDANCE ON FEDERAL SBIR/STTR FUNDING APPLICATIONS, AND DELIVERED ON BUSINESS ACCELERATOR PROGRAMS. VERTUELAB PROGRAMS INCLUDE: 45CAMP, A CLIMATE TECHNOLOGY STARTUP PROGRAM DESIGNED TO UNDERINVESTED ENTREPRENEURS. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF A THREE-DAY WORKSHOP, A TEN-WEEK PRE-ACCELERATOR, AND A TEN-WEEK ACCELERATOR.FEDERAL FUNDING ASSISTANCE, A PROGRAM THAT HELPS EARLY-STAGE COMPANIES PURSUE FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING SBIR AND STTR GRANTS.CASCADIA CLEANTECH ACCELERATOR, AN 18-WEEK BUSINESS ACCELERATOR THAT PROVIDES MENTORSHIP, CURRICULUM, INVESTOR CONNECTIONS, AND FUNDING SUPPORT TO EARLY-STAGE CLEANTECH STARTUPS.
  2. $530,037 spent. JUST FUTURE CLIMATE LABS -JUST FUTURE CLIMATE LABS (JFC LABS) SERVES AS AN EXPERIMENTAL INITIATIVE FOCUSED ON DESIGNING AND PILOTING PROGRAMS THAT ADVANCES A RADICALLY INCLUSIVE CLIMATE TECH FUTURE. JFC LABS IS ROOTED IN PLACE-BASED INNOVATION AND EQUITY-CENTERED PRACTICE, AND SERVES AS A HUB FOR RESEARCH, FIELD-BUILDING, AND STRATEGIC EXPERIMENTATION AROUND INCLUSIVE CLIMATE SOLUTIONS. THROUGH THIS WORK, THE ORGANIZATION EXPLORES AND REPORTS ON THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF THE CLIMATE TECH SECTOR, IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE REGION TO APPROACH INNOVATION AND SUPPORT DIFFERENTLY.
  3. $247,146 spent. IMPACT FUNDS -IMPACT FUND IS FOCUSED ADDRESSING THE NEED FOR IMPROVED ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR EARLY STAGE CLEANTECH VENTURES AND INCREASING THE BASE OF RISK CAPITAL AVAILABLE IN THE REGION. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO RAISED CAPITAL FOR AND INITIATED INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES FROM CLIMATE IMPACT FUND THAT PROVIDES RISK-TOLERANT CAPITAL TO STARTUPS FROM THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA WORKING TO ADDRESS THE GLOBAL CLIMATE CRISIS.
  4. $2,133 spent. FUEL- AS PART OF ITS BROADER ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT EFFORTS, THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HOSTS FUEL, AN ANNUAL SUMMIT THAT CONVENES CLIMATE-FOCUSED LEADERS, INNOVATORS, ENTREPRENEURS, AND INVESTORS. FUEL PROVIDES A PLATFORM TO CATALYZE SOLUTIONS TO THE CLIMATE CRISIS AND FOSTER CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATION, WHILE ALSO ADVANCING CONVERSATIONS AROUND INCLUSIVE INNOVATION, CAPITAL ACCESS, AND SYSTEMS-LEVEL CHANGE IN THE CLIMATE TECH SPACE.

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 2008.

    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.