Appleseed Foundation Inc
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
THE APPLESEED FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE APPLESEED NETWORK, A COLLABORATION OF 20 NONPROFIT JUSTICE CENTERS ACROSS THE US AND MEXICO WORKING TOGETHER TO REDUCE POVERTY, COMBAT DISCRIMINATION, AND INVIGORATE DEMOCRACY.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $886,525
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 4.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 43
- Highest pay
- $134,691, 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 31% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2538 of 38 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $460,631 spent. APPLESEED NETWORK COLLABORATION -- THE APPLESEED FOUNDATION FACILITATES COLLABORATIVE ADVOCACY AMONG THE 20 JUSTICE CENTERS IN THE APPLESEED NETWORK. THESE COLLABORATIONS INCLUDE MULTICENTER PROJECTS RELATED TO ECONOMIC JUSTICE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, EDUCATION AND YOUTH, IMMIGRATION, AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE. ISSUES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE ARE BOTH WIDESPREAD ACROSS JURISDICTIONS AND DEEPLY ROOTED IN THEIR SPECIFIC COMMUNITY CONTEXT, AND APPLESEED'S STRUCTURE INDEPENDENT JUSTICE CENTERS WORKING COLLABORATIVELY AS A NETWORK ALLOWS APPLESEED TO WORK ON THESE ISSUES BOTH BROADLY AND DEEPLY.
- $169,666 spent. COLLECTIVE CAPACITY BUILDING -- THE APPLESEED FOUNDATION DEEPENS THE APPLESEED NETWORK'S IMPACT BY HELPING BUILD COMMUNITIES OF LEARNING AND PRACTICE AMONG THE 20 APPLESEED JUSTICE CENTERS. THROUGH FREQUENT WORKSHOPS, TRAININGS, STAFF COHORTS, AND STUDY GROUPS, THE APPLESEED FOUNDATION BRINGS APPLESEED CENTERS TOGETHER TO SHARE LESSONS LEARNED, TROUBLESHOOT CHALLENGES, DEVELOP NEW AND INNOVATIVE APPROACHES, AND FOSTER THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY NECESSARY TO SUSTAIN SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENTS.
- $109,578 spent. APPLESEED NEW JUSTICE -- THE APPLESEED FOUNDATION SOWS THE SEEDS OF JUSTICE BY LAUNCHING NEW APPLESEED JUSTICE CENTERS. WHEN ESTABLISHING A NEW APPLESEED CENTER, THE APPLESEED FOUNDATION WORKS CLOSELY WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ADVOCATES, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES IN THE JURISDICTION, GAPS IN EXISTING ADVOCACY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION. TWO NEWEST CENTERS ARE CONNECTICUT APPLESEED (RELAUNCHED IN 2024) AND WISCONSIN APPLESEED (LAUNCHED IN 2025).
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
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 September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on November 15, 2019 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on November 15, 2019.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2021.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Caution.
California's Attorney General lists its registration as revoked as of June 30, 2006. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 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.