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Earth Innovation Institute

EIN 27-3444564 · Berkeley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EARTH INNOVATION INSTITUTE WORKS TO ADVANCE CLIMATE-FRIENDLY RURAL DEVLOPEMENT THROUGH INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABLE FARMING, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES IN TROPICAL REGIONS AROUND THE WORLD.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
9
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$223,592, executive dir. & pres. eii

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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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 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 (4)
  1. $1.2 million spent. IN BRAZIL, EII'S WORK IS FOCUSED ON SIX STATES IN THE AMAZON AND CERRADO REGIONS: ACRE, AMAP, MATO GROSSO, MATO GROSSO DO SUL, PAR, AND TOCANTINS. IN EACH STATE, EII IS SUPPORTING THE GOVERNMENT AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT LOW-EMISSION DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES AND HELP THESE STATES COMPLETE THEIR JURISDICTIONAL REDD+ PROGRAMS SO THAT THEY CAN GENERATE REVENUES FROM THE SALE OF REDD+ CARBON CREDITS. EII'S WORK INCLUDES TECHNICAL WORK TO HELP CATTLE AND FARM SECTORS DEVELOP THE PROGRAMS FOR FOREST CONSERVATION AND RECUPERATION THAT WILL BE FUNDED WITH CARBON REVENUES AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR STATE GOVERNMENTS TO TAKE THE STEPS NEEDED TO ISSUE REDD+ CARBON CREDITS.
  2. $500,950 spent. EII'S WORK IN PERU IS FOCUSED ON THE REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS OF LORETO, SAN MARTIN, AND UCAYALI, ALTHOUGH EII ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT TO THE GOVERNMENTS OF OTHER AMAZON JURISDICTIONS INCLUDING AMAZONAS, HUNUCO, PIURA AND MADRE DE DIOS. THIS WORK HAS SUPPORTED EACH REGIONAL GOVERNMENT TO DEVELOP THEIR LOW-EMISSION RURAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES IN COLOMBIA, EII'S WORK IS FOCUSED ON THE DEPARTMENTS OF CAQUET ANDAND HAS ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE CREATION AND WORK OF THE "PUBLIC-PRIVATE COALITION FOR LOW-EMISSION RURAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PERUVIAN AMAZON."
  3. $205,338 spent. IN COLOMBIA, EII'S WORK IS FOCUSED ON THE DEPARTMENTS OF CAQUET AND META, SUPPORTING BOTH JURISDICTIONS TO DEVELOP LOW-EMISSION DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES AND IMPLEMENTING PILOT INITIATIVES IN SMALLHOLDER COMMUNITIES. IN ALL OTHER REGIONAL PROGRAMS, EII USES A SIMILAR APPROACH TO SUPPORT THE TRANSITIONS OF ENTIRE JURISDICTIONS TO A PATHWAY OF SUSTAINABLE, LOW-EMISSION RURAL DEVELOPMENT. THIS APPROACH INCLUDES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF JURISDICTION-WIDE GOALS THAT ARE UNDERSTOOD AND SUPPORTED BY KEY SECTORS, A SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AND REPORTING ON PROGRESS TOWARDS THOSE GOALS, AND INCENTIVE SYSTEMS FOR DRIVING PROGRESS TOWARDS THESE GOALS. EII WORKS WITH JURISDICTIONS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN TO MANAGE THESE TRANSITIONS AND PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO TRANSLATE CARBON EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS INTO CREDITS THAT CAN BE SOLD. EII DOES NOT ENGAGE IN THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF THESE CREDITS.
  4. IN ALL OTHER REGIONAL PROGRAMS, EII USES A SIMILAR APPROACH TO SUPPORT THE TRANSITIONS OF ENTIRE JURISDICTIONS TO A PATHWAY OF SUSTAINABLE, LOW-EMISSION RURAL DEVELOPMENT. THIS APPROACH INCLUDES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF JURISDICTION-WIDE GOALS THAT ARE UNDERSTOOD AND SUPPORTED BY KEY SECTORS, A SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AND REPORTING ON PROGRESS TOWARDS THOSE GOALS, AND INCENTIVE SYSTEMS FOR DRIVING PROGRESS TOWARDS THESE GOALS. EII WORKS WITH JURISDICTIONS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN TO MANAGE THESE TRANSITIONS AND PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO TRANSLATE CARBON EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS INTO CREDITS THAT CAN BE SOLD. EII DOES NOT ENGAGE IN THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF THESE CREDITS.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 November 2010.

    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.