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Carbon Offsets to Alleviate Poverty

EIN 27-4220630 · Walnut Creek, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak42 out of 100GovernanceFair54 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF CARBON OFFSETS TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY (COTAP) IS TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES TO ADDRESS BOTH CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL POVERTY. COTAP COUNTERACTS YOUR CARBON EMISSIONS THROUGH CERTIFIED FORESTRY PROJECTS IN LEAST-DEVELOPED REGIONS WHICH CREATE TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE, AND LIFE- CHANGING EARNINGS FOR RURAL FARMING COMMUNITIES WHERE INCOME LEVELS ARE LESS THAN $2 PER DAY.

Income
$242,161
Spending
$197,648
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
1

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: 42 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 88% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $167,161 spent. IN 2024, COTAP CONTINUED HELPING INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS THEIR UNAVOIDABLE CARBON EMISSIONS WHILE CREATING INCOME FOR THE POOR. INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS OFFSET 12,382.56 TONNES, RAISING $167,161.45 IN FUNDING FOR OUR PARTNER PROJECTS IN UGANDA, INDIA, FIJI, AND INDONESIA. NO STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS OR PROJECT VISITS WERE CONDUCTED IN 2024.

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 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 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 July 2011.

    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.