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Habits of Waste

EIN 46-3314343 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE COLLECTIVE CHANGE AND IMPACTFUL POLICIES, WITH A FOCUS ON WASTE REDUCTION, FOR A HEALTHIER, MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. OUR ORIGINAL ORGANIZATION CRAYON COLLECTION, NOW A PROGRAM OF HABITS OF WASTE, ALSO LIVES OUT THIS COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY.

Income
$270,939
Spending
$515,093
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
8
Volunteers
250
Highest pay
$106,870, founder, director, preside

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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 90% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $233,369 spent. PLASTIC FREE FUTURES: LIGHTS CAMERA, PLASTIC, AND BEYOND (LCPB) PROGRAM: OUR LCPB PROGRAM DE-NORMALIZES THE USE OF SINGLE-USE PLASTIC AND MEAT-BASED MEALS ON-SCREEN. WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE STUDIOS, INCLUDING WARNER BROS., PARAMOUNT STUDIOS, HBO, AND UNIVERSAL. IN 2025, WE EXPANDED OUR WORK TO INCLUDE PRODUCTIONS BY APPLE TV, DISNEY, SONY, AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF THEATRICAL STAGE EMPLOYEES (IATSE) UNION. WE PROVIDED SWAP LISTS FOR REUSABLES, SUSTAINABILITY TRAINING, AND CLIMATE COMMUNICATION TRAINING.
  2. $70,275 spent. CRAYON COLLECTION PROGRAM: IN THE WAKE OF THE 2025 LOS ANGELES FIRES, WE LAUNCHED BANNERS OF HOPE (BOH) PALISADES. BOH IS A TRAUMA-INFORMED CREATIVE ARTS MODEL TO HELP CHILDREN PROCESS FEAR, DISPLACEMENT, AND GRIEF CAUSED BY THE FIRES. THIS PROJECT PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH ONGOING STRESSES CAUSED BY THE FIRES TO FIND HEALING AND SUPPORT THROUGH CREATIVE ART EXPRESSION VIA AN IN-SCHOOL CURRICULUM AND A COMMUNITY ART-INSTALLATION. WE WORKED WITH 11 SCHOOLS FROM THE PACIFIC PALISADES THAT BURNED DOWN; EACH CREATED ARTWORK TO REFLECT THE PROCESS OF REMEMBRANCE AND LOOKING AHEAD. THEY SELECTED THREE WORDS OF HOPE TO REFLECT THEIR COMMUNITY AND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. WE PRINTED EACH ARTWORK AND WORDS ON 120 LARGE, LIGHT POLE BANNERS AND DISPLAYED THEM ACROSS PACIFIC (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) PALISADES AND PARTS OF BRENTWOOD.
  3. $32,783 spent. IMPERFECT ENVIRONMENTALIST PROGRAM: WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF INDIVIDUALS WORKING COLLECTIVELY TO MAKE CHANGE; FOUNDER SHEILA MOROVATI PUBLISHED "IMPERFECT ENVIRONMENTALIST" IN 2025, ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO TAKE SMALL STEPS TO HELP THE PLANET. THIS HAS FORMED THE FOUNDATION OF OUR OUTREACH ON "IMPERFECT ENVIRONMENTALISM," INCLUDING SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, PUBLIC OUTREACH, AND EDUCATION. WE ARE BUILDING AN EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM AND ARE FORGING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LA SCHOOLS AND UCLA.
  4. $23,216 spent. HEALTHY BODY, HEALTHY PLANET PROGRAM: CLEAN BEAUTY FOR ALL (CB4A). CB4A FOCUSES ON REDUCING TOXIC CHEMICALS IN BEAUTY PRODUCTS AND MAKING GREENER OPTIONS MORE AVAILABLE AT RETAILERS. WE ARE BUILDING A MOVEMENT TO ASK RETAILERS OF BEAUTY PRODUCTS TO INCLUDE TOXIN-FREE OPTIONS, ALLOWING CUSTOMERS TO HAVE HEALTHIER CHOICES.

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 June 2014.

    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.