Greener by Default
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
GREENER BY DEFAULT'S MISSION IS TO CONSULT WITH INSTITUTIONS TO APPLY BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE TO FOOD POLICY, NUDGING DINERS TOWARD SUSTAINABLE PLANT-BASED FOOD WHILE PRESERVING FREEDOM OF CHOICE.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 6.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 6
- Highest pay
- $108,443, coo
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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $1.6 million spent. IN 2025, WE SHIFTED AN ESTIMATED 6 MILLION MEALS FROM MEAT TO PLANT-BASED OPTIONS ACROSS OUR PARTNERSHIPS. WE EXPANDED OUR TEAM TO 18 STAFF MEMBERS AND GREW OUR EXPERTISE. ONE OF OUR KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS WAS EXPANDING PLANT-BASED PATIENT DEFAULTS TO 400 U.S. HOSPITALS THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH SODEXO. WE ALSO LAUNCHED EIGHT PILOT PROGRAMS AT COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND OUR WORK EXPANDED INTO NEW SECTORS, INCLUDING OUR FIRST PARTNERSHIPS WITH A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, A CONVENTION CENTER, AND A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS VENUE. ADDITIONALLY, WE JOINED BILLIE EILISHS HIT ME HARD AND SOFT TOUR, PROVIDING MENU SUPPORT AND CULINARY TRAINING AT 11 MAJOR ARENAS. DURING THE YEAR, WE SHARED OUR EXPERTISE WITH OVER 25,000 PROFESSIONALS THROUGH FORUMS SUCH AS THE ASPEN IDEAS SUMMIT AND THE WORLD BANK. IN 2025, WE SHIFTED AN ESTIMATED 6 MILLION MEALS FROM MEAT TO PLANT-BASED OPTIONS ACROSS OUR PARTNERSHIPS. WE EXPANDED OUR TEAM TO 18 STAFF MEMBERS AND GREW OUR EXPERTISE. ONE OF OUR KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS WAS EXPANDING PLANT-BASED PATIENT DEFAULTS TO 400 U.S. HOSPITALS THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH SODEXO. WE ALSO LAUNCHED EIGHT PILOT PROGRAMS AT COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND OUR WORK EXPANDED INTO NEW SECTORS, INCLUDING OUR FIRST PARTNERSHIPS WITH A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, A CONVENTION CENTER, AND A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS VENUE. ADDITIONALLY, WE JOINED BILLIE EILISHS HIT ME HARD AND SOFT TOUR, PROVIDING MENU SUPPORT AND CULINARY TRAINING AT 11 MAJOR ARENAS. DURING THE YEAR, WE SHARED OUR EXPERTISE WITH OVER 25,000 PROFESSIONALS THROUGH FORUMS SUCH AS THE ASPEN IDEAS SUMMIT AND THE WORLD BANK.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2023.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.