California Native Grass Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of the California Native Grasslands Association is to promote, preserve, and restore the diversity of California's native grasses and grassland ecosystems through education, advocacy, research, and stewardship.
- Income
- $131,455
- Spending
- $120,224
- Reserves
- 16.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 83%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (5)
- $49,363 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACHWe provide information to the general public through our website and by responding to information requests. We received and answered over 32 requests for complex information on grassland restoration techniques, management, conservation, urban landscaping, propagation and other questions covering a wide range of conditions in different areas within the state.Directors and Advisory Committee Members made 2 site visit consultations. 2025 October 18 - With the help of Jim Hanson, Advisory Committee Member, we scheduled a fieldtrip/workday for a San Jose State University college class to the Fossil Hill project site in Walnut Creek, to illustrate the principles and approach that both Phil Johnson and Glen Schneider use to convert annual weedy grasslands to native plant community mosaics. 2025 November 19 CNGA Director JP Marie met Glide Ranch representative Lyle Wilen at the ranch to address their request for advice on planting low-stature, non-annual reseeding grass on 15 acres to control weeds.PODCAST INTERVIEW2025 January 12. Exploring the World with Da Potato Sisters interviewed CNGA Director and grassland researcher Brooke Wainwright for their episode titled, All About California Grasslands!!!https://open.spotify.com/episode/35x9SuKoOLRGUHXjr0n5k9https://www.instagram.com/dapotatosisters/WEBSITEWe continually update and add new information to our website covering a wide range of topics that support our mission to promote, preserve, and restore the diversity of California's grasses and grassland ecosystems through education, advocacy, research, and stewardship
- WORKSHOPS and EVENTS1. CNGA 2025 Science-Based Symposium: Better Grasslands Through KnowledgeThe California Native Grasslands Association hosted its first science-based symposium in 15 years. The 2-day symposium was held on February 6 and 7, 2025 at Hopland Research and Extension Center. Each morning of this two-day conference began with keynote addresses from experts in the field and continue with themed sessions.Attendance: 124Field trips on Wednesday and Saturday were hosted by Grace Hudson Museum Wild Gardens in Ukiah, Heritage Growers Native Seed Amplification Facility, Pepperwood Preserve in Santa Rosa, and Willits Bypass Mitigation Project in Willits. Attendance: 99Presentation slides and posters from our February 2025 Science Symposium are now available on the CNGA website.2. CNGA 17th Annual Field Day at Hedgerow Farms, April 4, 2025. Attendance: 1173. Student Research Seminar Series Featuring GRASS Scholarship Awardees. Seven on-line presentations on Tuesday evenings. Total Attendance: 166
- CONFERENCESCNGA sponsored and exhibited our information at these conferences; Presentations by Directors and GRASS Scholars are noted below: 2025 Northern California Botanists Symposium, Chico State University January 13 to 15, 20252025 California Rangeland Coalition Conference, Robert Cabral Ag Center, Stockton on March 4, 20252025 SERCAL Conference, Sacramento CA, April 2025. Attendance: 4502025 Cal-IPC Symposium Ventura CA, in person & online, November 12-15, 2025. Attendance: Over 600 attendees. Presentations by CNGA Advisory Committee Member Tanya Myer and GRASS Scholars Rebecca Nelson, Katherine Brafford, and Joanna Tang. Attendance: Over 600 attendees.
- PUBLICATIONSGRASSLANDS JOURNALWe published four issues of CNGA's quarterly journal, Grasslands, with feature articles about native grasses, restoration, land management, current conservation efforts, and (of course) grassland habitat. CNGA members can opt for print or digital editions. Digital editions are available to all interested public on our website. GRASS BLAST! EMAIL COMMUNICATIONSWe sent monthly Grass Blast! emails to our contact list with news on CNGA activities and events, conservation, current research, and news items relating to California's grassland ecosystems.SPECIAL EMAIL OUTRACHStipa pulchra Day Blast email on Friday, August 22, 2025 to 2300 contacts containing comprehensive information about California's state grass (replicated here: California Native Grasslands Association - Purple Needlegrass Stipa pulchra).
- CONSERVATION ADVOCACYThe CNGA Conservation Committee is committed to advocating for the conservation and restoration of native grassland ecosystems, including conservation of native grassland habitats as a part of the 30 by 30 initiative (protection of 30 percent of the earth's surface by 2030). The committee supported or participated in several specific conservation issues in 2025 including:- May 22, 2025 letter to State supporting funding for seed supply (California Native Seed Supply Collaborative) - Tesla Park Classification Process continued support for Tesla as a State Reserve Commented on and attended workshops on the Alameda Tesla Classification and General Plan hosted by CA State Parks October 31, 2025 - Joint comment letter on State parks Two Proposed Concept plans for Alameda=Tesla Property
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 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 October 13, 2026.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1992.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: California Apt Association (Sacramento, CA), EIN 95-2829075. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.