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Passes our checks

One Earth Collective

EIN 47-1691970 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WORKING MISSION OF ONE EARTH COLLECTIVE IS TO HARNESS THE POWER OF PEOPLE THROUGH VIBRANT ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMING THAT INSPIRES ACTION, FACILITATES LEARNING, PROMOTES JUSTICE, AND FOSTERS EQUITY AND INCLUSION TO CREATE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND A HEALTHIER PLANET.

Income
$298,523
Spending
$302,308
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
4
Volunteers
311
Highest pay
$79,000, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 June 30, 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 (3)
  1. $129,606 spent. ONE EARTH FILM FESTIVAL (OEFF) IS OUR FLAGSHIP ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM, EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE JUSTICE CHALLENGES THROUGH COMPELLING, SOLUTION-ORIENTED FILMS AND FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS. OVER 14 YEARS, OEFF HAS REACHED MORE THAN 49,000 ATTENDEES, CATALYZING AWARENESS SPARKING MEANINGFUL ACTION FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. IN APRIL 2025, WE PRESENTED OUR 14TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL, A WEEK-LONG SERIES OF IN-PERSON EVENTS ACROSS CHICAGO (INCLUDING THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES), OAK PARK, PARK RIDGE, RIVER GROVE, WAUKEGAN, AND DUPAGE/KANE COUNTY, ASWELL AS TWO VIRTUAL FILM EVENTS TO AUDIENCES ACROSS THE GLOBE.
  2. $63,659 spent. ONE EARTH LOCAL ("OEL") WORKS COLLABORATIVELY TO BUILD AND DEVELOP REPLICABLE MODELS FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE AND SOCIALLY JUST COMMUNITIES IN THE GREATER CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AREA. OEL'S WORK INCLUDES (1) WESTSIDE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ALLIANCE (WEJA), WORKING WITH OTHER LEADERS, ACTIVISTS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT CHICAGO'S WESTSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS TO COORDINATE, SUPPORT AND AMPLIFY OUR COLLECTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE EFFORTS; (2) FOOD & FILM SHOWCASES FOR AUSTIN EATS, A CONSORTIUM OF 26 ORGANIZATIONS WORKING IN THE WESTSIDE OF CHICAGO, HIGHLIGHTING HEALTH DISPARITIES IN BLACK, BROWN AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AND THE POWER OF EXERCISE AND DIET ON HEALTH OUTCOMES; (3) CLIMATE READY COOP (CLIMATE OUTREACH OAK PARK), HELPING THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK'S SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE DEPARTMENT LEAD EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH REGARDING OAK PARK'S CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, HEAT SAFETY, LOCAL CLIMATE COACHING, AND ENERGY GRANTS FOR HOMEOWNERS; (4) GREEN BLOCK PARTIES, DELIVERING 30-MINUTE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR BLOCK PARTIES ACROSS OAK PARK, IL, REACHING MORE THAN 120 RESIDENTS WITH ACTION-SPARKING INFORMATION ABOUT GREEN ENERGY, NATIVE PLANT GARDENING, RESIDENTIAL FLOODING, LOCAL CLIMATE COACHING, AND WASTE/RECYCLING.
  3. $30,233 spent. ONE EARTH YOUTH VOICES EMPOWERS YOUNG PEOPLE TO ENGAGE MEANINGFULLY IN THE CLIMATE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENTS THROUGH ART, ACTIVISM, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, WITH PROGRAMMING INCLUDING (1) YOUNG FILMMAKERS CONTEST (YFC), WHICH INVITES STUDENTS FROM GRADES 3 THROUGH AGE 25 TO CREATE SHORT, FOCUSED FILMS ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABILITY. IN 2025, WE RECEIVED 363 SUBMISSIONS AND WINNING FILMS AND FILMMAKERS WERE CELEBRATED AT AWARDS CEREMONIES IN SEPTEMBER AND FEATURED AT THE APRIL FILM FESTIVAL, WHERE THEIR VOICES ARE ELEVATED TO A BROAD AUDIENCE; (2) YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL (YAC), WHERE YOUTH GUIDE THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXECUTION OF YOUTH-FOCUSED PROGRAMMING DURING THE ONE EARTH FILM FESTIVAL; AND (3) AUSTIN GROWN, WORKING WITH BUILD CHICAGO, TO ENGAGE HIGH SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL ARTS, CULINARY SKILLS, AND FOOD EDUCATION, A HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE THAT CONNECTS YOUTH TO THE LAND, TO ONE ANOTHER, AND TO THE COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 January 2015.

    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.