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Engineers and Scientists Acting Locally

EIN 83-2077343 · Hayward, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ENGINEERS & SCIENTISTS ACTING LOCALLY (ESAL) IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO INCREASING LOCAL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT BY PROFESSIONALS WITH BACKGROUNDS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM).

Income
$373,760
Spending
$171,942
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
22.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
1
Volunteers
45
Highest pay
$72,406, executive di

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 54% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2256% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $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

    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 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 (1)
  1. $137,860 spent. ESAL HAS HOSTED 8 CONFERENCE SESSIONS AND 1 POSTER AT THE OSTEM CONFERENCE, SACNAS NDISTEM, AGU 24, NSBE ANNUAL CONVENTION, SCITALK 25, THE NSPN SYMPOSIUM, AND THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF IMMUNOLOGISTS ANNUAL MEETING. WE TRAINED 400+ PEOPLE THROUGH THESE SESSIONS AND HOSTED THREE COMMUNITY CLEANUP EVENTS IN SAN LEANDRO AND CENTRAL VALLEY, CA ESAL IS BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH GROUPS, LIKE THE CONSERVATION X LABS FIRE GRAND CHALLENGE AND WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM G20 GLOBAL SMART CITIES ALLIANCE, TO FIELD THEIR REQUESTS FOR EXPERTISE AND CONNECTIONS WITH MEMBERS OF THE ESAL NETWORK. IN THE FIRE GRAND CHALLENGE, ESAL IS AN AMPLIFYING PARTNER, PROMOTING ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR STEM FOLKS. FOR THE SMART CITIES ALLIANCE, ESAL CONNECTED THEIR STAFF TO 4 LAND SUBSIDENCE EXPERTS TO INTERVIEW FOR A PROJECT THEY WERE DEVELOPING IN INDONESIA. ESAL CO-HOSTED A NETWORKING EVENT AT THE AAAS ANNUAL MEETING IN BOSTON WITH THE NATIONAL SCIENCE POLICY NETWORK AND ENGINEERS & SCIENTISTS ENGAGING IN POLICY (ESEP). 200 PEOPLE ATTENDED. ESAL HOSTED AND PARTICIPATED IN 4 COMPLIMENTARY TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR (1) THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS FOR STEM PHDS AND POSTDOCS (GPS-STEM) SCIENCE POLICY & ADVOCACY FOR STEM SCIENTISTS, (2) THE NATIONAL SCIENCE POLICY NETWORK BLACK IN SCIPOL VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM, (3) MIRZAYAN FELLOWS, AND (4) AAAS STPF ALUMNI LOCAL ENGAGEMENT WEBINAR. IN TOTAL, ABOUT 100 PEOPLE WERE ENGAGED IN THESE COMPLIMENTARY SESSIONS. ESAL LED 2 PAID WORKSHOPS FOR 10 ASPET WASHINGTON FELLOWS AND 11 MEMBERS OF THE NSBE ENERGY SIG. ESAL HAS HOSTED 2 PUBLIC, VIRTUAL EVENTS ABOUT THE SCIENTIFIC WORKFORCE AND ABOUT FINDING JOBS AND BUILDING CAREERS IN LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS. 200 PEOPLE REGISTERED TO ATTEND AND ABOUT 90 TOTAL TUNED IN LIVE. ESAL HOSTED 2 EXHIBITOR TABLES AT THE AGU 24 CONFERENCE AND AT THE NCSL LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT, SPEAKING DIRECTLY WITH AN ESTIMATED 250 PEOPLE INTERESTED IN ESALS WORK. ESAL BUILT OUT AN ONLINE PLATFORM FOR PEOPLE WITH STEM BACKGROUNDS WHO WANT INFORMATION, SUPPORT, AND CONNECTION. THE PLATFORM IS A TOOL TO BUILD MORE COLLECTIVE CAPACITY FOR LOCAL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ACROSS THE NETWORK. IT LAUNCHED IN JULY 2025 AND HAS OVER 200 NETWORK MEMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ESAL HAS HOSTED 8 CONFERENCE SESSIONS AND 1 POSTER AT THE OSTEM CONFERENCE, SACNAS NDISTEM, AGU 24, NSBE ANNUAL CONVENTION, SCITALK 25, THE NSPN SYMPOSIUM, AND THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF IMMUNOLOGISTS ANNUAL MEETING. WE TRAINED 400+ PEOPLE THROUGH THESE SESSIONS AND HOSTED THREE COMMUNITY CLEANUP EVENTS IN SAN LEANDRO AND CENTRAL VALLEY, CA ESAL IS BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH GROUPS, LIKE THE CONSERVATION X LABS FIRE GRAND CHALLENGE AND WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM G20 GLOBAL SMART CITIES ALLIANCE, TO FIELD THEIR REQUESTS FOR EXPERTISE AND CONNECTIONS WITH MEMBERS OF THE ESAL NETWORK. IN THE FIRE GRAND CHALLENGE, ESAL IS AN AMPLIFYING PARTNER, PROMOTING ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR STEM FOLKS. FOR THE SMART CITIES ALLIANCE, ESAL CONNECTED THEIR STAFF TO 4 LAND SUBSIDENCE EXPERTS TO INTERVIEW FOR A PROJECT THEY WERE DEVELOPING IN INDONESIA. ESAL CO-HOSTED A NETWORKING EVENT AT THE AAAS ANNUAL MEETING IN BOSTON WITH THE NATIONAL SCIENCE POLICY NETWORK AND ENGINEERS & SCIENTISTS ENGAGING IN POLICY (ESEP). 200 PEOPLE ATTENDED. ESAL HOSTED AND PARTICIPATED IN 4 COMPLIMENTARY TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR (1) THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS FOR STEM PHDS AND POSTDOCS (GPS-STEM) SCIENCE POLICY & ADVOCACY FOR STEM SCIENTISTS, (2) THE NATIONAL SCIENCE POLICY NETWORK BLACK IN SCIPOL VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM, (3) MIRZAYAN FELLOWS, AND (4) AAAS STPF ALUMNI LOCAL ENGAGEMENT WEBINAR. IN TOTAL, ABOUT 100 PEOPLE WERE ENGAGED IN THESE COMPLIMENTARY SESSIONS. ESAL LED 2 PAID WORKSHOPS FOR 10 ASPET WASHINGTON FELLOWS AND 11 MEMBERS OF THE NSBE ENERGY SIG. ESAL HAS HOSTED 2 PUBLIC, VIRTUAL EVENTS ABOUT THE SCIENTIFIC WORKFORCE AND ABOUT FINDING JOBS AND BUILDING CAREERS IN LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS. 200 PEOPLE REGISTERED TO ATTEND AND ABOUT 90 TOTAL TUNED IN LIVE. ESAL HOSTED 2 EXHIBITOR TABLES AT THE AGU 24 CONFERENCE AND AT THE NCSL LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT, SPEAKING DIRECTLY WITH AN ESTIMATED 250 PEOPLE INTERESTED IN ESALS WORK. ESAL BUILT OUT AN ONLINE PLATFORM FOR PEOPLE WITH STEM BACKGROUNDS WHO WANT INFORMATION, SUPPORT, AND CONNECTION. THE PLATFORM IS A TOOL TO BUILD MORE COLLECTIVE CAPACITY FOR LOCAL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ACROSS THE NETWORK. IT LAUNCHED IN JULY 2025 AND HAS OVER 200 NETWORK MEMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

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 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.