Passes our checks

Plastic Free America

EIN 85-1083459 · Glendale, CA

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

What it says it does

We eliminate petroleum-based, single-use plastic from restaurants and schools by subsidizing the purchase of reusable replacements.

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

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

Reserves
4 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 363% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15
Income fell 54% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
99% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

Independent board
25 of 25
13 of 13 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.
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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)

$1,326 spent. Eliminated 192,140 single-use plastic items, weighing 1,851 pounds, from York Township Senior Center in Lombard IL.
$4,138 spent. Eliminated 163,800 single-use plastic items, weighing 2,225 pounds, from Davison Central Elementary School in Davison MI.
$172 spent. Eliminated 158,410 single-use plastic items, weighing 719 pounds, from Wild Goose Bar & Grill in Chicago IL.
$181,407 spent. Made additional small grants to other restaurants and schools (totaling $31,407) and made a large bulk order of 25,000 stainless steel Ahimsa trays ($150,000) for a 2026 project in Florida.

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

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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2020.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.