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The Plenary Co

EIN 47-2796683 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak41 out of 100GovernanceFair54 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PLENARY CO IS AN ARTS & EDUCATION NONPROFIT THAT COLLABORATES WITH ARTISTS, EXPERTS, AND COMMUNITIES TO DESIGN CREATIVE PATHWAYS THROUGH SOCIAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. IT PRODUCES IMAGINATIVE WORKS, INTERACTIVE MEDIA, GAMES, AND EXPLORATORY EXHIBITIONS DESIGNED TO CO-CREATE MORE INFORMED, EQUITABLE, AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES.

Income
$80,675
Spending
$230,957
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
2
Volunteers
100

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

Financial health

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 186% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 70% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 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 (2)
  1. $3,397 spent. I AM A SCIENTIST - THIS PROGRAM WAS STARTED AS A WAY TO BREAK BARRIERS AND STEREOTYPES IN THE FIELDS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM). THIS PROGRAM'S GOAL IS TO BUILD CLASSROOM TOOLS TO MAKE STEM CAREERS TECHNICALLY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY ACCESSIBLE TO ALL STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF DEMOGRAPHICS, INTERESTS, PERSONALITY, AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS. THE PROGRAM WORKS TO CREATE A COLLECTION OF EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES DESIGNED TO CHALLENGE PUBLIC MISCONCEPTIONS AND INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF STEM LEADERS.
  2. $177,388 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH - THE PLENARY CO COLLABORATES WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO DESIGN CREATIVE PATHWAYS THROUGH SOCIAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND PRODUCE IMAGINATIVE WORKS, INTERACTIVE MEDIA, GAMES, AND EXPLORATORY EXHIBITIONS DESIGNED TO CO-CREATE MORE INFORMED, EQUITABLE, AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 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 January 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 March 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.