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Greenroots Inc

EIN 81-2718273 · Chelsea, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GREENROOTS WORKS TO ACHIEVE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND GREATER QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH COLLECTIVE ACTION, UNITY, EDUCATION AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP ACROSS NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES. WE DO SO THROUGH DEEP COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EMPOWERMENT, YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INNOVATIVE PROJECTS AND CAMPAIGNS.

Income
$4.3 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
18.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
42
Volunteers
5,000
Highest pay
$150,359, 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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 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)
  1. $2.6 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE OCLIMATE JUSTICE, WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION AND ENERGY DEMOCRACYIN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE IMPACTS FACING THE FRONTLINE COMMUNITIES OF CHELSEA AND EAST BOSTON, GREENROOTS ENGAGES RESIDENTS OF THESE TWO CITIES TO IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE CAMPAIGNS TO: DEVELOP WATERFRONT ACCESS; ADDRESS URBAN HEAT ISLAND, FLOODING AND SEA-LEVEL RISE; INCREASE GREEN SPACE AND TREE CANOPY COVER; AND WORK TOWARDS ENERGY DEMOCRACY AND RESILIENCE. SOME OF OUR PRESENT CAMPAIGNS AND PROJECTS INCLUDE ACQUIRING AND REVITALIZING THE FORBES SITE; IMPLEMENTING THE COOL BLOCK; FOSTERING THE TREE KEEPERS PROGRAM AND CAMINATAS VERDES; INCREASING ACCESS AND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION TO THE MILL CREEK, CHELSEA CREEK AND ISLAND END RIVER; ADVANCING A COMMUNITY-OWNED ENERGY MICROGRID; INCREASING LITERACY AROUND ENERGY BILLS AND ADVANCING INITIATIVES TO HELP CHELSEA AND EAST BOSTON RATE-PAYERS SAVE MONEY WHILE BEING MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT.
  2. $230,438 spent. SEE SCHEDULE OFOOD JUSTICE GREENROOTS WORKS TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY BY INTERTWINING URBAN GROWING SPACES TOGETHER WITH OUR TEACHING KITCHEN, WHERE NUTRITION, HEALTH AND CULTURE ARE THE FOCAL POINTS. GREENROOTS MANAGES AND SUPPORTS SIX URBAN GROWING SPACES: LA FINCA (OUR URBAN FARM), ANITA'S PLACE YOUTH GARDEN, MARLBOROUGH ST. COMMUNITY GARDEN, CHELSEA COMMUNITY GARDEN, SUFFOLK ST. COMMUNITY GARDEN AND MACE PUBLIC HOUSING GARDEN; AND A HYDROPONIC FREIGHT FARM THAT PROVIDES YEAR ROUND INDOOR GROWING AND HARVESTING. WE IMPLEMENT AN "URBAN FARM TO TABLE" CONCEPT BY MARRYING THE GROWING SPACES WITH OUR TEACHING KITCHEN. IN OUR TEACHING KITCHEN'S INAUGURAL YEAR, WE HOSTED OVER 2,050 PARTICIPANTS ACROSS 178 EVENTS. THROUGH OUR FOOD JUSTICE INITIATIVES, WE ARE PROVIDING FRESH, NUTRITIOUS AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT PRODUCE ALL WHILE ENGAGING HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, STAKEHOLDERS AND VOLUNTEERS.
  3. $665,938 spent. SEE SCHEDULE OHEALTH EQUITY & MOBILITYGREENROOTS' HEALTH EQUITY WORK ADDRESSES CHELSEA'S AND EAST BOSTON'S COMPROMISED PUBLIC HEALTH AND DISPROPORTIONATE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. GREENROOTS ADVANCES HEALTH EQUITY AND MOBILITY BY ENGAGING AND EMPOWERING RESIDENTS IN CAMPAIGNS TO: MONITOR AND UNDERSTAND AIR QUALITY DATA AND WAYS TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION; ELIMINATE ALL POTENTIAL SOURCES OF LEAD POISONING; IMPLEMENT MEASURES ADDRESSING URBAN HEAT IMPACTS; IDENTIFYING INDOOR HEALTH CONCERNS; IMPROVE ACCESS TO MOBILITY VIA PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION; AND ADVANCING MULTIMODAL PATHWAYS.

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

  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 June 2025.

    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 September 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 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.