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Compass Science Communication Inc

EIN 81-1344772 · Milwaukie, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COMPASS CHAMPIONS, CONNECTS, AND SUPPORTS DIVERSE SCIENTIST LEADERS TO IMPROVE THE WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE AND NATURE.

Income
$990,859
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
14
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$131,610, cfo/co-exec dir

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

Financial health

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 41% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    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.

  • 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, 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 (4)
  1. $718,039 spent. CAPACITY BUILDING: GROUNDED IN THE LATEST RESEARCH ON SCIENCE COMMUNICATION, OUR IN-DEPTH, HIGHLY INTERACTIVE, AND CUSTOMIZED GROUP TRAININGS AND INDIVIDUAL COACHING ENABLE SCIENTISTS TO FIND THE RELEVANCE OF THEIR SCIENCE FOR THE AUDIENCES THEY MOST WANT TO REACHJOURNALISTS, POLICYMAKERS, COMMUNITIES, LEADERS WITHIN THEIR INSTITUTION, AND OTHER SCIENTISTS. WE HELP SCIENTISTS SET, REFINE, AND ULTIMATELY ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS FOR EFFECTIVELY ENGAGING WITH SOCIETY. AS PIONEERS AND LEADERS IN THE PRACTICE OF SCIENCE COMMUNICATION, WE BRING OUR EXPERIENCE, INSIGHT, AND SOCIAL CAPITAL TO SUPPORTING MORE SCIENTISTS TO TAKE ACTIONS TO ADVANCE SOLUTIONS THROUGH MEANINGFUL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
  2. $376,063 spent. STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT: WE SUPPORT AND COLLABORATE WITH SCIENTISTS IN GENERATING, EVALUATING, AND ELEVATING EQUITABLE SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIODIVERSITY LOSS. TO SPARK COLLABORATIVE ACTION, WE EQUIP SCIENTISTS WITH STRATEGIC AND INCLUSIVE MINDSETS, SUPPORT SCIENTISTS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO COLLABORATE MORE EFFECTIVELY, AND INSPIRE A SHARED BELIEF THAT TOGETHER, WE CAN CO-CREATE THE CONDITIONS FOR PEOPLE AND NATURE TO THRIVE. WE LEVERAGE OUR CONSCIOUSLY WOVEN NETWORK OF RELATIONSHIPS TO ENGAGE A DIVERSITY OF STAKEHOLDERS AND ENSURE OUR SHARED UNDERSTANDING IS DRIVEN BY SCIENCE, INFORMED BY AFFECTED COMMUNITIES, AND REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF PERSPECTIVESNOT JUST THE VIEWS DERIVED FROM THOSE WITH HISTORICAL POWER AND PRIVILEGE.
  3. $146,970 spent. VISIBILITY AND OUTREACH: WE SEEK TO EXPAND THE PORTION OF THE SCIENCE COMMUNITY WHO SEE THEMSELVES AS AGENTS OF CHANGE AND COMPASS AS A LEADER AND ONGOING RESOURCE IN SCIENCE COMMUNICATION, ENGAGEMENT, AND POLICY. WE STRATEGICALLY ENGAGE WITH A DIVERSE ARRAY OF SCIENCE LEADERS THAT REFLECT SOCIETY AS A WHOLE, DEEPENING EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS AND MAKING TARGETED EFFORTS TO BUILD NEW ONES THAT FURTHER OUR MISSION. BY SHARING AND AMPLIFYING KEY PERSPECTIVES FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS, POLICYMAKERS, AND DIVERSE SCIENCE LEADERS, WE AIM TO SHIFT THE NARRATIVE ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIODIVERSITY LOSS TOWARD SOLUTIONS AND COLLECTIVE ACTION.
  4. $7,253 spent. SCIENTIST NETWORK: THE COMPASS NETWORK HAS BEEN HAND-BUILT AND STRENGTHENED FOR OVER 20 YEARS. WE DEVELOP AND DEEPEN RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS AND BETWEEN SCIENTIST LEADERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO THE WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE AND NATURE. WE AIM TO PROVIDE ALL COMPASS ALUMNI WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY, COLLABORATE AROUND A SHARED PURPOSE, AND ACCESS ONGOING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO FURTHER THEIR ENGAGEMENT. THE SCIENTIST NETWORK WILL SERVE AS A PLATFORM FOR CONNECTION, A SOLUTIONS INCUBATOR, AND A MODEL FOR A MORE DIVERSE, EQUITABLE, INCLUSIVE, AND MUTUALLY SUPPORTIVE SCIENCE CULTURE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2016.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.