Spruce Root Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE OTO ASSIST SOUTHEAST ALASKAS PEOPLE, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITIES IN REACHING LONG-TERM ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCE, AND IMPROVE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA COMMUNITIES THROUGH INNOVATION, SUSTAINABILITY AND COLLABORATION. THE CDFI PROVIDES MICRO AND SMALL BUSINESS LOANS TO ELIGIBLE BORROWERS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $12.1 million
- Spending
- $5.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 18.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 74%
- Employees
- 24
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $200,371, executive director
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 18.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 58% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 35% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (3)
- $2.6 million spent. THE SUSTAINABLE SOUTHEAST PARTNERSHIP (SSP) IS A GROWING COLLABORATION OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WHOSE COMMON GOAL IS TO EMPOWER SOUTHEAST ALASKAN COMMUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN CULTURAL, ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE. WE HAVE COME TOGETHER TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN HAVE GREATER IMPACT BY WORKING TOGETHER ON THE COMPLEX CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY THAN BY WORKING ON OUR OWN.
- $443,861 spent. LENDING ACTIVITIES WERE EXECUTED AND SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS WERE COMMITTED TO SECURE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO INCREASE AVAILABLE CAPITAL FOR LENDING TO ELIGIBLE BORROWERS.
- $960,551 spent. THE PATH TO PROSPERITY / BUSINESS AND CLIENT SERVICES PROGRAM IS A SUITE OF PROGRRAMS INCLUDING A BUSINESS COMPETITION THAT PROMOTES ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITIES (TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE) IN ITS TARGET COMMUNITIES. OVER 350 BUSINESSES HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM TO DATE.
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
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 December 2024.
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 February 2013.
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.