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Bluedot Institute Inc

EIN 86-2758477 · Westlake Vlg, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BLUEDOT INSTITUTE, INC. IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO (1) SUPPORTING A NETWORK OF STUDENT CLIMATE LEADERS INTERESTED IN PROMOTING SOLUTION-ORIENTED PROJECTS FOR THEIR SCHOOLS AND/OR COMMUNITIES VIA STUDENT-BASED PROGRAMS, (2) HELPING STUDENTS DEVELOP THEIR JOURNALISTIC AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN CONNECTION WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOSTERING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN STUDENTS IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, AND (3) SPONSORING PUBLIC FORUMS, DISCUSSION BASED MEETINGS AND ROUNDTABLES, TOWN HALL MEETINGS, AND OTHER GATHERINGS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR THE PURPOSES OF DISCOURSE AND SOLVING MATTERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION.

Income
$445,571
Spending
$534,583
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
2
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$74,712, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 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 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 271% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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 (4)
  1. $124,671 spent. HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENTBLUEDOT INSTITUTE HOSTS YEAR-ROUND ONLINE GATHERINGS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES MENTORSHIP WIHT PROFESSIONAL EDITORS, PUBLISHES STUDENTS' ARTICLES AND SUPPORTS THEIR SOLUTION-ORIENTED COMMUNITY PROJECTS.
  2. $55,265 spent. CLIMATE LEADERSHIP RETREATS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTSBLUEDOT INSTITUTE HOSTS DAY-LONG AND WEEK-LONG RESIDENTIAL RETREATS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PROVIDE IN-DEPTH EXPERIENTIAL TRAINING IN LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND LEARNING ABOUT CLIMATE ISSUES.
  3. $238,000 spent. SPECIAL JOURNALISM PROJECTSBLUEDOT INSTITUTE FUNDS SPECIAL JOURNALISM PROJECTS WRITTEN BY VETERAN JOURNALISTS TO AMPLIFY CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS-ORIENTED INITIATIVES.
  4. $15,107 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACHBLUEDOT INSTITUTE PROVIDES GRANTS TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND CO-HOSTS LOCAL PUBLIC EVENTS, INCLUDING PANEL DISCUSSIONS AND FILMS, TO HIGHLIGHT CRITICAL ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS-ORIENTED IDEAS REGARDING CLIMATE AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2022.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.