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Zephyr Foundation for Advancing Travel Analysis Methods

EIN 82-2760651 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ZEPHYR'S MISSION IS TO ADVANCE RIGOROUS TRANSPORTATION AND LAND USE DECISION-MAKING FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD BY ADVOCATING FOR AND SUPPORTING IMPROVED TRAVEL ANALYSIS, AND FACILITATING ITS IMPLEMENTATION.

Income
$639,846
Spending
$129,603
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
59.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 99%
Employees
0
Volunteers
20

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 59.5 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 80% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1928% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (human services, $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

    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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $87,305 spent. ACTIVITY SIM - THE MISSION OF THE ACTIVITYSIM PROJECT IS TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN ADVANCED, OPEN-SOURCE, ACTIVITY-BASED TRAVEL BEHAVIOR MODELING SOFTWARE BASED ON BEST SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES. THE ACTIVITYSIM PROJECT IS LED BY A CONSORTIUM OF METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS (MPOS) AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AGENCIES, WHICH PROVIDES TECHNICAL DIRECTION AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT PROJECT DEVELOPMENT.
  2. $12,457 spent. TIMP - THE GOAL OF THE TMIP COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE IS TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL RESOURCES AND FACILITATE COMMUNITY BUILDING FOR THE TRAVEL DEMAND FORECASTING PROFESSIONALS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE (COP) PORTAL. THE TMIP COP SEEKS TO ADVANCE THE STATE OF THE PRACTICE OF TRAVEL MODELING BY ADVANCING RESEARCH AND BUILDING THE TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES OF AN ARRAY OF STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCIES, STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT), UNIVERSITIES, NONPROFITS AND PRIVATE SECTORS.
  3. $8,709 spent. MODELING MOBILITY (MOMO) - THE MODELING MOBILITY CONFERENCE IS A PRIMARY FORUM IN THE US FOR PRACTITIONERS, RESEARCHERS, STUDENTS, AND ALL INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING AND WORKING WITH TRAVEL MODELS, TRANSPORTATION DATA, AND QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS. THIS CONFERENCE EMPHASIZES ADVANCING ANALYTICAL SUPPORT FOR REAL-WORLD TRANSPORTATION DECISIONS AND FOSTERING A STRONG COMMUNITY THROUGH INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS, SESSIONS, AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES.
  4. $567 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS - GENERAL PROGRAMS - THE GOAL OF THE DMDU PROJECT IS TO PROMOTE A BROAD UNDERSTANDING OF PRACTICAL APPROACHES TO EFFECTIVELY INFORM DECISION-MAKERS FACED WITH UNCERTAINTY UNDERPINNING BASELINE ASSUMPTIONS IN TRAVEL FORECASTING AND PLANNING. THE GOAL OF THE GMNS PROJECT IS MEANT TO FIND COMMON GROUND IN TWO RELATED PROBLEM SPACES: AGENCY STAFF WHO NEED TO MANAGE NETWORKS (INCLUDING APPLYING PROJECTS AND MANAGING SCENARIOS), AND ACADEMIC RESEARCHERS WHO NEED TO MANAGE NETWORKS FOR RESEARCH. THE GOAL OF THE OPEN SCIENCE INITIATIVE IS TO RECOGNIZE OPEN AND REPRODUCIBLE RESEARCH, AND TO INCENTIVIZE AUTHORS TO ARCHIVE AND SHARE DATA, CODE, AND MODELS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR RESEARCH ARTICLES BY AWARDING.

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 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 December 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 February 2019.

    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.