Think Beyond Plastic Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Think Beyond Plastic Foundation is a non-profit corporation organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes, specifically to start, support and advance a global wave of innovation for alternatives to conventional, non-fossil fuel based plastic materials.
- Income
- $84,726
- Spending
- $235,205
- Reserves
- 3.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Highest pay
- $7,580, president
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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, 2024, 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, 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 (5)
- $63,000 spent. Innovation Challenges: Think Beyond Plastic Foundation conducts innovation challenges to identify solutions to plastic pollution. We developed the Agricultural Plastics Innovation Challenge, in partnership with Driscolls and other industry leaders. In 2023, as a continuation of these challenges, and in collaboration with the Global Entrepreneurship Center, we launched three calls for innovation with focus on new materials and sustainable chemistry, for agriculture, textile and packaging. The winners of these challenges were enrolled in our Innovation Accelerator.
- $10,200 spent. Innovation Accelerator: Accelerating innovation is essential to our mission. In 2023, we launched and trained three cohorts of 20 innovators in collaboration with the Global Entrepreneurship Centre. In collaboration with UCSC, we produced the Blue Pioneers accelerator program, for leaders and innovators who start and grow organizations to overcome ocean conservation challenges around the world. In 2024, in partnership with Silverstrand Capital we produced the Biodiversity accelerator, to identify innovations in plastic alternatives impacting the ocean.
- $6,200 spent. Investor Forum: In 2023 we hosted our annual investor forum with participation of over 100 investors. This forum explores the role of sustainable chemistry in innovations that achieve the SDGs, the role of frontier capital and blended financing mechanisms to secure the innovation pipeline, and the dynamics of the innovation eco-system. In 2024 we hosted an Investor forum in collaboration with Siverstrand.
- $91,407 spent. Innovation Centers: With the United Nations Development Program, we continued to develop the concept for a Regional Innovation Hub in the Philippines focused on eliminating plastic pollution through innovation and entrepreneurship. We have also developed a concept for a Global Innovation Center with focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Center will provide resources, access to support infrastructure and scale-up guidance to hundred of innovators working towards the SDGs in ocean health, agriculture, clean energy and waste.
- $34,000 spent. Academic Program: An essential part of our activities includes training students in developing a systems view of the plastic pollution problem and incorporating this view in graduate programs at universities. In collaboration with Middlebury Institute at Monterey, we have produced classes and educational programs to facilitate this learning. The class explores the Innovation Ecosystem as a concept for addressing global challenges and uses plastic pollution as a case study. In collaboration with UC Santa Cruz, we have developed programs for graduate students on sustainability. In collaboration with UC San Diego, we have produced training and participation in forums educating students and the public on innovation. We educated on plastic pollution student coalitions at University of Eugene, and University of Washington, Portland State University, Cal State Monterey Bay.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 November 6, 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 2024.
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 November 2018.
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 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.