Heal Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE HEAL PROJECT TEACHES STUDENTS TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR WORLD. WE TEACH KIDS WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM AND WHY IT MATTERS.
- Income
- $39,026
- Spending
- $84,362
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 67.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 51%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 25
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 67.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 116% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 92% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 33 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 (1)
- $60,682 spent. STUDENT PARTICIPANT NUMBERS IN OUR TWO MAIN PROGRAMS (BELOW) GREW 17%, REACHING A NEW RECORD HIGH OF 4,800 PARTICIPANTS IN THE FISCAL YEAR. THE HEAL PROJECT GARDEN PROGRAMS: A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM INTEGRATED INTO THE DAILY SCHOOL SCHEDULE OF FOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WITHIN THE CABRILLO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, PRIMARILY FOCUSING ON GRADES 2-3. THE PROGRAM UTILIZES A COMBINATION OF CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, GARDEN AND FOOD- BASED CURRICULUM & ACTIVITIES FOCUSING ON HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL, & AGRICULTURAL LITERACY. THE HEAL PROJECT FARM PROGRAM: A HANDS-ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AVAILABLE TO SCHOOL CHILDREN OF SAN MATEO COUNTY. THE PROGRAM PRIMARILY BENEFITS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL BUT IS OPEN TO GRADES K-12, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO UNDERSTAND FOOD SYSTEMS & DEVELOP POSITIVE ASSOCIATIONS WITH FRESH PRODUCE THROUGH PLANTING, GROWING, HARVESTING AND EATING ACTIVITIES. THE PROGRAM OPERATES THROUGH FIELD TRIPS AND DAY CAMP PROGRAMS. VOLUNTEER PROGRAM: PARTICIPATION IN OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM (CONNECTING LOCAL RESIDENTS, STUDENTS, AND SERVICE GROUPS WITH TRAINING AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE ON OUR WORKING FARM, WHILE GROWING, HARVESTING, AND PREPARING PRODUCE FOR LOCAL FOOD PROGRAMS) GREW BY 330%, REACHING A RECORD OF NEARLY 1,200 HOURS. CAPACITY BUILDING: COMPLETED COMPREHENSIVE STAFF TRAINING ON TRAUMA- INFORMED NUTRITION, AND SUPPORTED EXTENSIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS TO BETTER DELIVER CONTENT TO STUDENTS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS. STUDENT PARTICIPANT NUMBERS IN OUR TWO MAIN PROGRAMS (BELOW) GREW 17%, REACHING A NEW RECORD HIGH OF 4,800 PARTICIPANTS IN THE FISCAL YEAR. THE HEAL PROJECT GARDEN PROGRAMS: A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM INTEGRATED INTO THE DAILY SCHOOL SCHEDULE OF FOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WITHIN THE CABRILLO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, PRIMARILY FOCUSING ON GRADES 2-3. THE PROGRAM UTILIZES A COMBINATION OF CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, GARDEN AND FOOD- BASED CURRICULUM & ACTIVITIES FOCUSING ON HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL, & AGRICULTURAL LITERACY. THE HEAL PROJECT FARM PROGRAM: A HANDS-ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AVAILABLE TO SCHOOL CHILDREN OF SAN MATEO COUNTY. THE PROGRAM PRIMARILY BENEFITS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL BUT IS OPEN TO GRADES K-12, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO UNDERSTAND FOOD SYSTEMS & DEVELOP POSITIVE ASSOCIATIONS WITH FRESH PRODUCE THROUGH PLANTING, GROWING, HARVESTING AND EATING ACTIVITIES. THE PROGRAM OPERATES THROUGH FIELD TRIPS AND DAY CAMP PROGRAMS. VOLUNTEER PROGRAM: PARTICIPATION IN OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM (CONNECTING LOCAL RESIDENTS, STUDENTS, AND SERVICE GROUPS WITH TRAINING AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE ON OUR WORKING FARM, WHILE GROWING, HARVESTING, AND PREPARING PRODUCE FOR LOCAL FOOD PROGRAMS) GREW BY 330%, REACHING A RECORD OF NEARLY 1,200 HOURS. CAPACITY BUILDING: COMPLETED COMPREHENSIVE STAFF TRAINING ON TRAUMA- INFORMED NUTRITION, AND SUPPORTED EXTENSIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS TO BETTER DELIVER CONTENT TO STUDENTS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 June 2009.
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.