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Stewardship Action Foundation

EIN 87-3813812 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EDUCATE AND COLLABORATE WITH PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND NON-PROFIT STAKEHODLERS TO ACHIEVE A RESPONSIBLE, CIRCULAR ECONOMY.

Income
$200,160
Spending
$225,791
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$45,967, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 48 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 45% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 94 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 (3)
  1. $102,962 spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION & OUTREACH: THE STEWARDSHIP ACTION FOUNDATION (SAF) ADVANCED ITS CHARITABLE MISSION THROUGH NATIONAL EDUCATION AND OUTREACH INITIATIVES, INCLUDING MULTIPLE MEDIA INTERVIEWS AND THOUGHT LEADERSHIP PIECES AS WELL AS SOCIAL MEDIA FOCUSED ON CIRCULAR ECONOMY SOLUTIONS, PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP, AND EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY (EPR) IMPLEMENTATION. PRIORITY ISSUE AREAS INCLUDED TRUTH IN LABELING, PACKAGING, CRITICAL MINERALS, AND HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE (HHW), AS WELL AS ADVANCING REUSE AND RECYLCING SYSTEMS.SAF REACHED POLICYMAKERS, INDUSTRY LEADERS, ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE PUBLIC THROUGH EDUCATION ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE SAFER PRODUCT DESIGN, REDUCTION OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES (INCLUDING PFAS), RESPONSIBLE MATERIAL MANAGEMENT, AND SCALABLE RECYLING AND REUSE SOLUTIONS.
  2. $53,680 spent. NATIONAL & REGIONAL CONFERENCES AND CONVENINGS: SAF STAFF PARTICIPATED IN AND CONTRIBUTED TO NATIONAL AND REGIONAL CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, AND VIRTUAL SUMMITS, ENGAGING DIVERSE AUDIENCES OF POLICYMAKRES, INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES, AND THE PUBLIC. THROUGH THESE ENGAGEMENTS, SAF SHARED SUBJECT-MATTER EXPERTISE, ELEVATED EMERGINS ISSUES, AND FOSTERED COLLABORATION ACROSS SECTORS.TOPICS INCLUDED PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP, HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT, REDUCTION OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES, SINGLE-USE PLASTICS REDUCTION, AND INNOVATIONS IN RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES AND MORE RECYCLABLE PRODUCTS. THESE CONVENINGS SUPPORTED KNOWLEDGE-SHARING, INFORMED DECISION-MAKING, AND CORSS-SECTOR ALIGNMENT ON RESPONSIBLE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT.
  3. $32,436 spent. MEMBER CONVENINGS & WEBINARS: SAF HOSTED AND PARTICIPATED IN NATIONAL WEBINARS AND VIRTUAL EVENTS, REACHING MORE THAN 3,000 PARTICIPANTS. THESE CONVENINGS BROUGHT TOGETHER LEGISLATORS, REGULATORS, INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES, AND SUBJECT-MATTER EXPERTS TO EXPLORE PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR COMPLEX WASTE MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES.EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING INCLUDED A NATIONAL WEBINAR SERIES ON RECYCLING INNOVATIONS DESIGNED TO HIGHLIGHT EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND SOLUTIONS ENTERING THE MARKET. KEY EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDED: * HOSTING A NATIONAL WEBINAR ON PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY FOR MARINE FLARES AND BOAT WRAP, IN COLLOBORATION WITH STATE AGENCIES AND NATIONAL PARTNERS, ADDRESSING END-OF-LIFE MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES AND POLICY APPROACHES. * PRESENTING ON PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY AT A NATIONAL VIRTUAL SUMMIT FOCUSED ON MARINE AND BOATING ISSUES. * CONVENING A NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL EVENT ON BEVERAGE RECYLCING SYSTEMS, INCLUDING PROGRAM DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS AND LESSONS LEARNED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 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.