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The Community Ecology Institute

EIN 81-0954815 · Columbia, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CULTIVATE COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE AND NATURE THRIVE TOGETHER.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 37%
Employees
27
Volunteers
800
Highest pay
$116,550, 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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 70% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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 (2)
  1. $555,881 spent. CEI OFFERS SEVEN CORE EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS:1. A COMMUNITY OF FAMILIES IN NATURE (CFIN): THE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE FREQUENT, FUN, AND FRIENDLY NATURE-BASED EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION THAT CAN BE ENJOYED BY THE ENTIRE FAMILY - CHILDREN OF ALL AGES AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. 2. ROOTS & WINGS LEARNING COMMUNITY: THE MISSION IS TO OFFER SUPPLEMENTAL EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION FOR HOME-SCHOOLED CHILDREN THAT NURTURES A DEEP CONNECTION TO SELF, COMMUNITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH PROGRAMMING THAT EMPHASIZES CREATIVITY, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND HANDS-ON, NATURE-BASED EXPLORATION.3. GREEN SEEDS INTERNSHIP: THE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE FOR HIGH-SCHOOL, COLLEGE, AND GRADUATE STUDENTS ACROSS A RANGE OF SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL THEMES.4. NOURISHING GARDENS: THE MISSION IS TO TRANSFORM LAWNS INTO GARDENS THAT NOURISH OUR FAMILIES, THE COMMUNITY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM ARE TWO-FOLD: (1) INSTALLING FOOD AND POLLINATOR GARDENS IN YARDS, COMMUNITY SPACES, AND WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES, AND (2) PROVIDING A GREEN-INFRASTRUCTURE JOBS TRAINING PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM BRINGS THE BENEFITS, LEARNING, AND EXPERIENCE OF FREETOWN FARM DIRECTLY TO THE FRONT DOORS OF OUR NEIGHBORS.5. ECOSTEWARDS VOLUNTEERS: THE MISSION IS TO CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN A WAY THAT WELCOMES THEM INTO CEI'S STEWARDSHIP OF FREETOWN FARM AND THE GREEN FARMACY GARDEN, PROVIDES THEM WITH DIRECT WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR WORK ON THESE PROPERTIES, AND PROVIDES DIRECT EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION THROUGH VOLUNTEERISM.6. SUSTAINABLE SKILLS WORKSHOPS: THE MISSION IS TO OFFER A STRATEGIC SELECTION OF WORKSHOPS THAT WELCOME A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS INTO CEI'S WORK AND PROVIDE EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION ON SKILLS THAT SUPPORT BOTH SUSTAINABILITY AND INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY HEALTH.7. AGROECOLOGY IN ACTION: THE MISSION IS TO STEWARD CEI'S TWO PROPERTIES, FREETOWN FARM AND THE GREEN FARMACY GARDEN, IN WAYS THAT CONNECT THEIR AGRICULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES WITH THEIR ECOLOGICAL OPPORTUNITIES ALL WHILE MAKING BOTH PROPERTIES SPACES IN WHICH OUR OTHER CORE PROGRAMS CAN THRIVE AND BE A HOME FOR EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION.
  2. $261,012 spent. IN 2019, CEI PURCHASED A 6.4-ACRE ORGANIC FARM IN OUR HOMETOWN OF COLUMBIA, MARYLAND. WE HAVE CREATED A COMMUNITY CENTER ON THIS UNIQUE PROPERTY WHERE PEOPLE CAN LEARN THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES ABOUT HOW THEY CAN HAVE HAPPIER, HEALTHIER, MORE CONNECTED, AND SUSTAINABLE LIVES. WE ARE ACTIVELY FARMING THIS PROPERTY AND COLLABORATIVELY GROW TONS OF PRODUCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY EACH YEAR WITH AN EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION AND PROVISION OF FOOD TO THOSE WHO ARE FACING FOOD INSECURITY. IN 2022 WE PURCHASED A SECOND 6-ACRE PROPERTY, THE GREEN FARMACY GARDEN IN FULTON, WHICH IS A UNIQUE MEDICINAL BOTANICAL GARDEN. FROM BOTH PROPERTIES AND ACROSS OUR SEVEN CORE PROGRAMS, IN 2024 ALONE WE PROVIDED EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION TO OVER 3,500 DISTINCT AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT EQUATED TO OVER 59,000 HOURS OF LEARNING.

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 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 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 2016.

    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.