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Sustainable Contra Costa

EIN 30-0670501 · Walnut Creek, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceFair61 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Sustainable Contra Costa conducts educational outreach campaigns workshops and events to help people and communities live sustainably and build healthy communities.

Income
$286,100
Spending
$255,234
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
6.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 71%
Employees
10
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$42,550, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    0 of 25

    0 of 0 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

    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

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 (10)
  1. $43,695 spent. CCC Challenge: The Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge is an online platform that helps Contra Costa residents reduce their carbon footprint by providing tips incentives and resources.
  2. $32,650 spent. SCOCO contracts with Central San to deliver their suite of elementary classroom lessons to support hands-on wastewater science and engineering for students in TK through 5th grade.
  3. $23,960 spent. Awards Event: SCOCO hosts awards event to recognize leaders in sustainability community and raise awareness
  4. $22,472 spent. BayREN Home Energy: SCOCO is contracted with Contra Costa County to develop and implement creative marketing and outreach strategies throughout the County that effectively increase awareness of the BayREN Home+ Energy Efficiency Program among marginalized and economically disadvantaged communities.
  5. $13,051 spent. SLIA: Sustainable Leaders in Action or SLIA is the youth-led branch of Sustainable Contra Costa. Made up of both high school and college students SLIA uplifts and cultivates a network of over 30 amazing young activists and provides them with opportunities for professional development and camaraderie. Together they raise widespread awareness and mobilize meaningful climate action throughout Contra Costa County.
  6. $12,102 spent. Contra Costa County Urban Forest Management Plan: Conducting public outreach on the countywide tree plan to guide how the county will plant care for and protect trees across Contra Costa County.
  7. $11,983 spent. East Bay Clean Air Coalition: The East Bay Clean Air Coalition brings together community based organizations in East Costa Contra County to educate residents especially those in the most impacted areas on air quality and support them in taking action to create healthy air quality.
  8. $10,035 spent. Aclima SMMI: SCOCO conducted community outreach to support Aclima to build a dataset of criteria pollutants toxic air contaminants and greenhouse gases in East Contra Costa County. Once the air quality monitoring is complete the data will be published in an interactive portal giving us essential information to support additional actions - with the goal to reduce emissions and exposure.
  9. $4,981 spent. Community education workshops
  10. $5,428 spent. Other County EPA Brownfields Interethnica Blue Strike Environmental Republic Services SWC Christ the King St Stephen Parish CC Regional Health Foundation Encasa

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 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 August 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 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.