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Earthroots Field School Inc

EIN 26-2379948 · Trabuco Cyn, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceWeak46 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

EARTHROOTS INSPIRES LIFE-LONG DEDICATION TO ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIPTHROUGH DEEP NATUREAND COMMUNITY CONNECTION MENTORING. EARTHROOTS CREATE A LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR PARTICIPANTS TO GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW ALL OF LIFE IS CONNECTED. THEY LEARN HOW OUR ACTIONS INFLUENCE THE WORLD AROUND US.

Income
$391,713
Spending
$410,259
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
-2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
13
Volunteers
122
Highest pay
$27,335, 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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 80% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 75% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% 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

Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (2)
  1. $287,787 spent. EARTHROOTS HOMESCHOOL PROGRAM IS AN ALL-OUTDOOR PROGRAM THAT MEETS DURING THE FALL, WINTER, AND SPRING FOR STUDENTS AGES 6-14. PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN WEEKLY HANDS-ON, ALL-OUTDOOR LESSONS THAT EXPLORE PERSONAL CONNECTIONS WITH THE NATURAL WORLD AND DEVELOP AWARENESS OF HOW ACTIONS AFFECT THE EARTH, EACH OTHER, AND OURSELVES. CLASS THEMES INCLUDE WILDERNESS AWARENESS, ECOLOGICAL GARDENING, NATURAL BUILDING, NATURAL CRAFTS, AND COOKING. PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP PHYSICAL STRENGTH, LISTENING SKILLS, COMFORT IN NATURE, ECOLOGICAL LITERACY, INTELLIGENCE, WILDLIFE AWARENESS, GROUP PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS, AND SUSTAINABLE LIVING STRATEGIES. EACH CLASS HAS A 5-HOUR DURATION, WITH EACH STUDENT PARTICIPATING AN AVERAGE OF 160 HOURS OF PROGRAM TIME.
  2. $31,494 spent. EARTHROOTS ECOLITERACY IS A K-5 EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT BRINGS STUDENTS OUTDOORS AND UTILIZES THEIR CAMPUS AS THE FIELD TRIP DESTINATION TO LEARN ABOUT ORGANIC GARDENING, NATIVE HABITAT RESTORATION, RAINWATER HARVESTING, COMPOSTING AND RECYCLING. STUDENTS DEVELOP MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS TO THE EARTH THROUGH HANDS-ON OUTDOOR LESSONS IN LIFE CYCLES OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS, NATURAL BUILDING, REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE, WILDERNESS AWARENESS, ETHNOBOTANY, WATER CONSERVATION, AND REDUCING WASTE. AS A RESULT OF INTERACTING WITH THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, MANY STUDENTS DEVELOP IMPROVED COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING INCLUDING INCREASED CONCENTRATION, GREATER ATTENTION CAPACITIES, REDUCED STRESS LEVELS, AND IMPROVED SOCIAL SKILLS. THE PROGRAM MEETS SEPTEMBER THROUGH MAY AND SERVES 620 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, WITH EACH STUDENT PARTICIPATING AN AVERAGE OF 8 HOURS OF PROGRAM TIME.

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 April 2009.

    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.