Cosanti Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 66 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO INSPIRE A REIMAGINED URBANISM THAT BUILDS RESILIENT AND EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES SUSTAINABLY INTEGRATED WITH THE NATURAL WORLD
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 57%
- Reserves
- 2.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 89%
- Employees
- 31
- Volunteers
- 40
- Highest pay
- $41,600, former ceo & director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1557% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 66 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 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 (2)
- $835,416 spent. COSANTI FOUNDATIONS EXPERIMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM EXPANDS FROM A MORE STRUCTURED TEACHING APPROACH TO OFFER CASUAL AND SPONTANEOUS LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. VISITORS MAY TOUR EITHER OF COSANTI FOUNDATIONS PHYSICAL SITES TO SEE THE CONCEPTS OF ARCOLOGY REFLECTED IN FACILITIES THAT ARE ACTIVELY USED FOR BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PURPOSES. OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO IMMERSE THEMSELVES MORE COMPLETELY IN THE EXPERIENCE OF DWELLING IN A TRANSFORMATIONAL URBAN ENVIRONMENT. AT ARCOSANTI, ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONS SITES, ABOUT SIXTY INDIVIDUALS RESIDE FULL TIME. A NUMBER OF THE RESIDENTS ALSO WORK FULL-TIME ON THE ARCOSANTI SITE. PERIODICALLY THE ARCOSANTI COMMUNITY HOSTS MUSICAL,ARTS, AND CONFERENCE-TYPE EVENTS TO WHICH THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS INVITED.
- $246,377 spent. COSANTI FOUNDATION CONDUCTS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS OF ALL AGES TO HELP INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY, RESPONSIBLE BUILDING PRACTICES,ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY, AND OTHER PRINCIPLES CONSISTENT WITH CREATING URBAN HABITAT WHILE PROTECTING NATURAL SURROUNDINGS. WE FOCUS UPON DEMONSTRATING HOW TO BALANCE EXPERIENTIALLY RICH LIFESTYLES WITH EARTHS CARRYING CAPACITY, ESPECIALLY AS POPULATION DENSITIES INCREASE. EDUCATION METHODS INCLUDE HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS ONSITE, IN SCHOOLS, AND IN OTHER COMMUNITY VENUES. WORKSHOPS RANGE FROM SINGLE DAY TO MULTI-WEEK PROGRAMS, DRAWING PARTICIPANTS FROM LOCAL K-12 SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES AROUND THE WORLD, AND INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ROOTED IN THE CONCEPT OF ARCOLOGY. WE HAVE BEGUN TO ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES THROUGH THE USE OF 3D VISUALIZATION TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2025, 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 November 2025.
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 July 1993.
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.