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Sierra Roots

EIN 45-4897093 · Grass Valley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Sierra Roots is committed to collaborating with chronically homeless individuals to help them make progress in their health, self reliance and action plans to obtain secure and safe homes. We employ a relationship-based approach that identifies individual needs and preserves the dignity of each person.

Income
$95,606
Spending
$84,558
Reserves
20 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%

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

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

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

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 (5)
  1. $36,760 spent. Manage cold weather shelter operations for Nevada County in Nevada City. The Sierra Roots Weather Shelter is a program in partnership with Nevada County. The Weather Shelter uses a 30-bed public facility in Nevada City as a temporary shelter venue during extreme weather events. The shelter was open for 15 days in 2025.
  2. $7,551 spent. Using a local government grant from the City of Nevada City, we facilitated a portion of their Neighbor-to-Neighbor project. We engaged the homeless population in wildfire prevention to address their safety during wildfires and their role in preventing wildfires from occurring.
  3. $3,556 spent. Provide food, clothing and supplies to the homeless of Western Nevada County: We provided weekly hot meals for homeless participants, using volunteers, totaling 835 meals in 2025. The meals also provided a place to give away clothes, shoes, sleeping bags, and other essential items to participants. This program allows us to cultivate relationships with homeless participants in order to engage them in our advocacy programs and connect them to needed public services. Most participants in this program are chronically homeless, often living in tents in the woods and in other secluded areas.
  4. $1,180 spent. Using what remained of a state grant and donations, we used our Advocacy program to increase public awareness of homeless issues and increase community engagement in those issues. We were able to produce numerous articles and op-eds in the local paper to increase awareness of local homeless issues.
  5. $1,105 spent. The Write On program was intended to teach homeless and formerly homeless students to write and tell their stories in poetry, short stories and essays. Once completed, assistant and volunteers were to record and publish the finished works. Unfortunately, the federal arts grant funding this project ended, our Project Director left the organization, and we were unable to complete the project. 11

Source: Form 990EZ 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 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 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 October 2013.

    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.