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Project Redwood

EIN 88-3021934 · San Rafael, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROJECT REDWOOD'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE FUNDING, EXPERTISE, AND CONNECTIONS TO SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS WHO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGE OF GLOBAL POVERTY.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
3
Volunteers
99

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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 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 (1)
  1. $979,668 spent. PROJECT REDWOOD PROVIDES FUNDING, EXPERTISE, AND CONNECTIONS TO SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS WHO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGE OF GLOBAL POVERTY. PROJECT REDWOOD HIGHLIGHTS, FY2024-25: IN A TIME OF UNPRECEDENTED GLOBAL WEALTH, ACUTE POVERTY REMAINS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM. MORE THAN 1.5 BILLION PEOPLE LIVE IN POVERTY WORLDWIDE, INCLUDING 38 MILLION IN THE UNITED STATES ALONE. SINCE BEING FOUNDED BY STANFORD MBA ALUMNI IN 2006, PROJECT REDWOOD HAS PROVIDED OVER $6.5 MILLION IN FINANCIAL CATALYTIC CAPITAL, AS WELL AS IN-KIND SUPPORT, TO HELP NEARLY 1.1 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES. IN LINE WITH OUR BUSINESS BACKGROUNDS, WE FOCUS ON EDUCATION, JOB TRAINING, JOB CREATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. MUCH ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY OCCURS AT THE GRASS ROOTS LEVEL. PROJECT REDWOOD PROVIDES SUPPORT TO SMALL INNOVATIVE SOCIAL VENTURE NONPROFITS, FUNDING WELL-DEFINED PROJECTS THAT WILL HAVE STRONG IMMEDIATE AND LONGER-RANGE OUTCOMES. WE SUPPLEMENT GRANTS WITH MENTORING, CONSULTING, AND CONNECTIONS TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN THESE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. PROJECT REDWOOD'S FY2024-25 MILESTONES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: * WE COMPLETED OUR SECOND YEAR OF OPERATION AS AN INDEPENDENT 501(C)3 NONPROFIT, AFTER HAVING BEEN FISCALLY SPONSORED FOR OUR FIRST 17 YEARS. * WE HAD A STRONG YEAR IN FUNDRAISING, WITH DONATIONS FROM AN EXPANDING ROSTER OF MORE THAN 160 STANFORD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ALUMNI AND FRIENDS. * OUR VOLUNTEER NETWORK ALSO CONTINUED TO EXPAND, WITH NEARLY 100 VOLUNTEERS REPRESENTING MORE THAN 40 STANFORD ALUMNI CLASSES NOW ENGAGED, BEYOND THE FOUNDING CLASS OF 1980. * WE AWARDED $899,000 IN PROJECT AND IMPACT GRANTS RANGING FROM $24,000 TO $40,500 TO 28 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WORKING IN AFRICA, LATIN AMERICA, ASIA AND THE UNITED STATES. OTHER AWARDS BROUGHT OUR TOTAL GRANTMAKING DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR TO $911,500. FROM THESE SEEDS OF SOLUTIONS, THE GRANTEES ACHIEVE MEASURABLE IMPACT IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND BEYOND THROUGH EDUCATION, JOB CREATION, JOB TRAINING, OR ENTREPRENEURSHIP. FIVE OF OUR AWARDS WERE UNRESTRICTED IMPACT-BUILDING GRANTS TO PREVIOUS GRANTEES WITH DEMONSTRATED POTENTIAL TO GROW TO SCALE WITH OUR SUPPORT.

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 November 6, 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 December 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 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.