Ethos Environmental Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Ethos Environmental is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping rural communities and small family farms thrive. The organization provides practical, compassionate assistance to rural individuals and community groups facing environmental, economic, geographic, and physical challenges. Ethos Environmental supports responsible environmental stewardship, wildfire resilience, watershed protection, and community safety while also strengthening local grassroots organizations through fiscal sponsorship and project development assistance.
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $894,041
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 99%
- Employees
- 0
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
Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 70% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Weak: 16 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $804,637 spent. The organizations largest program service accomplishment during the year was the Spyrock Safe Access Roadside Fuels Reduction project. Ethos Environmental worked with local residents, Fire Safe Councils, and partner agencies to reduce hazardous roadside vegetation along main trunk access roads in the Spy Rock community. These roads serve as the only access and evacuation routes for many rural households. Dense roadside vegetation, narrow travel corridors, and accumulated fuels had created substantial wildfire risk and threatened the ability of emergency responders to reach homes. Project activities included planning and implementing roadside vegetation reduction, developing long-term maintenance strategies, coordinating with local volunteer groups, and prioritizing roads serving elderly, disabled, and otherwise vulnerable residents. The project also supported maintenance of emergency access to fire-water tanks and improved the likelihood that firefighters and medical responders could safely reach homes during emergencies. The project produced significant public benefit by improving evacuation safety, reducing wildfire transmission risk, increasing access for emergency responders, and protecting the approximately 800 parcels and 2,000 residents who rely upon Spyrock Road and connected private roads as their principal route of access.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2022.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.