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Zero Foodprint

EIN 47-3642630 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ZERO FOODPRINT IS MOBILIZING THE FOOD WORLD AROUND AGRICULTURAL CLIMATE SOLUTIONS. OUR WORK AIMS TO CREATE A CIRCULAR ECONOMY THAT INCENTIVIZES PRACTICES THAT ACTIVELY DRAW DOWN CARBON DIOXIDE AND OFFER OUR BEST HOPE OF ADDRESSING THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

Income
$5.4 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
9.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 41%
Employees
12
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$157,112, 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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 201% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (1)
  1. $3.2 million spent. DURING 2024, ZERO FOODPRINT (ZFP) CONTINUED AND GREW RESTORE CALIFORNIA WITH SUPPORT FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM NUMEROUS BUSINESSES. RESTORE CALIFORNIA MAKES GRANTS TO IMPLEMENT AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES THAT BUILD HEALTHY SOIL, AS DEFINED BY CALIFORNIA'S HEALTHY SOILS PROGRAM. SIMILARLY, ZFP EXPANDED RESTORE COLORADO, IN CONJUNCTION WITH BOULDER AND DENVER COUNTY GOVERNMENTS AS WELL AS NUMEROUS LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS. ZFP CONTINUED A FUNDRAISING MECHANISM FOR RESTORE CALIFORNIA AND RESTORE COLORADO WITH DOZENS OF RESTAURANTS NATIONWIDE DONATING A PERCENTAGE OF INCOME OR COLLECTING A SURCHARGE ON DINERS' BILLS FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING HEALTHY SOIL PROJECTS. ZFP AWARDED NEARLY $750K IN RESTORE GRANTS TO 53 FARM PROJECTS, INCLUDING 18 IN CALIFORNIA AND 27 IN COLORADO. RESTORE ALSO EXPANDED TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, OPENING APPLICATIONS TO FARMERS IN OREGON AND WASHINGTON, AND AWARDING 8 PROJECTS IN THE NORTHWEST. ZFP CONTINUED EXPANSION OF OUR MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, EXPANDING OPTIONS BEYOND 1% OF SALES, AND HAS BEGUN RECRUITING CONSUMER PACKAGED GOODS BRANDS AND GROCERS TO JOIN THE ZERO FOODPRINT MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM AND ROTATING ANNUAL CAMPAIGNS. ZFP CONTINUED OUR CROWDFUNDING MECHANISM FOR INDIVIDUALS TO DONATE TO THE RESTORE FUND THROUGH OUR FEATURED PROJECTS SECTION ON THE WEBSITE WWW.ZEROFOODPRINT.ORG. ZFP BEGAN ENGAGING LARGE CORPORATIONS IN CALIFORNIA TO COMMIT THEIR FOOD SERVICE PROGRAMS TO REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE AND RESTORE CALIFORNIA THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN AN ACCELERATOR PROGRAM IN WHICH NUMEROUS FOOD & BEVERAGE COMPANIES PARTICIPATE. ZFP CONTINUED AND GREW THE COMPOST CONNECTOR PROGRAM, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO HELP CALIFORNIA JURISDICTIONS MEET CALIFORNIA SB1383 RECYCLED ORGANIC WASTE PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENTS BY FACILITATING COMPOST AND MULCH PURCHASE. COMPOST CONNECTOR SOLICITS REQUESTS FOR COMPOST AND MULCH FROM AGRICULTURE BUSINESSES INCLUDING SMALL WORKING FARMS, VINEYARDS, AND RANCHES, AND PROVIDES REDUCED COST COMPOST AND MULCH IN COMPLIANCE WITH SB1383.

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

  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 2024.

    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 2017.

    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.