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Ecostudio Foundation

EIN 87-1730274 · Syracuse, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceFair51 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO UNITE CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, AND THE ARTS FOR A MORE JUST WORLD. WE PLEDGE TO SUPPORT CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN THE WORLDS MOST CRUCIAL ECOSYSTEMS AND ADVOCATE FOR THE RIGHTS OF THOSE WHOSE LANDS AND LIVES ARE ENDANGERED BY ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS.

Income
$526,946
Spending
$588,450
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
3
Highest pay
$26,808, director global learning

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

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 51 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    1 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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 (3)
  1. $127,169 spent. BRIGHT ISLANDS, DEEP FORESTS IS A NATURAL HISTORY EXPLORATION OF ECUADOR THAT PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR US SCHOLARS AND OLDER AMERICANS. PARTICIPANTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT BIOLOGY, GEOGRAPHY, NATURAL HISTORY, AND OTHER TOPICS FROM EXPERTS IN VARIOUS FIELD SETTINGS ACROSS ECUADOR. ECOSTUDIO FOUNDATION DEVELOPED THE PROGRAM AND CONTRACTED PROFESSIONALS IN ECUADOR TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM. PROVIDED ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR NON-STUDENTS; CONTRIBUTED TO CONSERVATION INITIATIVES IN THE SITES OF STUDY; FOSTERED CULTURAL EXCHANGE BETWEEN US SCHOLARS AND DIVERSE POPULATIONS ACROSS ECUADOR.
  2. $101,192 spent. U OF CO BOULDERS ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION PROGRAM IS PART OF A CREDIT-BEARING COURSE AT CU BOULDER (EITHER 3 CREDITS OF EBIO LAB AND/OR 6 HOURS OF 4000 LEVEL EBIO COURSES) AND FEATURES EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IN ECUADOR OVERSEEN BY CU BOULDER FACULTY AND ON-SITE PROFESSIONALS. STUDENTS STUDIED ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION IN ONE OF THE MOST BIOLOGICALLY DIVERSE LOCATIONS ON THE PLANET AND OBTAINED HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION BIOLOGY. ECOSTUDIO FOUNDATION DEVELOPED THE PROGRAM FOR CU BOULDER AND CONTRACTED PROVIDERS IN ECUADOR TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM. DESIGNED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR US COLLEGE STUDENTS; CONTRIBUTED TO CONSERVATION INITIATIVES IN THE SITES OF STUDY; FOSTERED CULTURAL EXCHANGE BETWEEN US SCHOLARS AND DIVERSE POPULATIONS ACROSS ECUADOR.
  3. $93,722 spent. ECKERD COLLEGES NATURAL HISTORY OF THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS AND ECUADOR IS AN ACADEMIC PROGRAM THAT GIVES STUDENTS ACCESS TO FIELD SETTINGS THAT DEMONSTRATE THEORIES AND CONCEPTS OF THEIR RESEARCH. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES A CREDIT-BEARING COURSE AT ECKERD AND CONCLUDES WITH AN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAM IN ECUADOR OVERSEEN BY ECKERD FACULTY AND ON-SITE PROFESSIONALS. ECOSTUDIO FOUNDATION DEVELOPED THE PROGRAM FOR ECKERD COLLEGE AND CONTRACTED PROVIDERS IN ECUADOR TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM. DESIGNED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR US COLLEGE STUDENTS; CONTRIBUTED TO CONSERVATION INITIATIVES IN THE SITES OF STUDY; FOSTERED CULTURAL EXCHANGE BETWEEN US SCHOLARS AND DIVERSE POPULATIONS ACROSS ECUADOR.

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 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 January 2022.

    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 October 21, 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.