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Trash Punx

EIN 87-1833625 · San Jose, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE TRASH PUNX IS A 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION BASED IN SAN JOSE, CA WHO ARE DEDICATED TO SEEING A CLEANER COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT. THE TRASH PUNX HOST WATERWAY/PARK/STREET CLEANUP EVENTS, FREE ELECTRONIC WASTE RECYCLING EVENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY/BUSINESSES AND LEAD SCHOOL/COMMUNITY GROUP ASSEMBLIES AND PRESENTATIONS ABOUT HOW TO RECYCLE PROPERLY AND WHAT TO DO TO SEE A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$264,322
Spending
$273,141
Spent on programs
54%
Reserves
5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
0
Volunteers
1,717
Highest pay
$49,600, ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    54% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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

    3 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, 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 (6)
  1. $90,861 spent. WATERWAY CLEANUP AND NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP (TRASH CLEANUP PROGRAM): CLEANING UP ILLEGAL DUMPING ALONG SANTA CLARA COUNTY WATERWAYS, ABANDONED HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS, STREETS, PARKS, AND NEIGHBORHOODS. VOLUNTEERS OF ALL AGES PARTICIPATE IN THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAN THE ENVIRONMENT. THE TRASH PUNX PROVIDE ALL THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO CONDUCT THE EVENT.
  2. $46,844 spent. PROJECT PICK UP (GLOBAL INNOVATOR PROGRAM): PROJECT PICK UP IS THE TRASH PUNX GLOBAL PROGRAM DEDICATED TO ASSIST AND AID UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE WORLD. THE TRASH PUNX PROVIDE ALL THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO CONDUCT EVENTS RELATED TO TRASH CLEANUP IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD. VOLUNTEERS OF ALL AGES PARTICIPATE IN THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAN THE ENVIRONMENT.
  3. $4,663 spent. E-WASTE EVENT (ELECTRONIC WASTE RECYCLING PROGRAM): THE TRASH PUNX HOST A FREE ELECTRONIC WASTE RECYCLING DRIVE-THRU FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO PROPERLY RECYCLE THEIR ELECTRONIC WASTE. VOLUNTEERS OF ALL AGES PARTICIPATE IN THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAN THE ENVIRONMENT. THE TRASH PUNX PROVIDE ALL THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO CONDUCT THE EVENT.
  4. $2,797 spent. FREE MARKET EVENT (FREE MARKET PROGRAM): PROVIDING A FREE COMMUNITY EVENT FOR RESIDENTS TO BRING THEIR UNWANTED ITEMS (E.G. CLOTHES, TOYS, FURNITURE, ETC.) TO DONATE IN A "FREE-MARKET" EVENT. COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN ATTEND AND FIND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AND TAKE HOME FOR FREE. THE TRASHPUNX PROVIDE ALL THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO CONDUCT THE EVENT.
  5. $1,575 spent. LOCAL STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM: THE LOCAL STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM IS A CATALYST FOR CHANGE, EQUIPPING LOCAL STEWARDS WITH THE TOOLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO SPEARHEAD ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSFORMATION. THE TRASH PUNX PROVIDE ALL THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO CONDUCT EVENTS RELATED TO TRASH CLEANUP BY LOCAL PARTNERS (HIGH SCHOOL CLUBS, CUB SCOUTS, ETC.). VOLUNTEERS OF ALL AGES PARTICIPATE IN THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAN THE ENVIRONMENT.
  6. $140 spent. OUTREACH EVENT (EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAM): THE TRASH PUNX PROVIDE SCHOOLS/GROUPS/BUSINESSES WITH AN EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATION ABOUT HOW TO RECYCLE PROPERLY. THE TRASH PUNX PROVIDE RESOURCES TO ATTENDEES ON HOW TO RECYCLE PROPERLY AND WHAT TO DO TO BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 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 March 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.