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EIN 93-0579286 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SOLVE IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL NONPROFIT THAT BEGAN AS A GRASSROOTS INITIATIVE AND HAS GROWN INTO A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MODEL FOR VOLUNTEER-DRIVEN STEWARDSHIP. EACH YEAR, SOLVE MOBILIZES THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS ACROSS OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON TO CLEAN AND RESTORE NEIGHBORHOODS AND NATURAL AREAS, FOSTERING A CULTURE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CARE AND COMMUNITY PRIDE.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
19.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
19
Volunteers
18,896

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 September 30, 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 (4)
  1. $132,539 spent. DETRASH PORTLAND CONNECTS LIKE-MINDED VOLUNTEERS WHO WANT TO TACKLE THE ISSUE OF LITTER IN PORTLAND. EACH WEEK, WE SUPPORT EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND PROVIDE CLEANUP SUPPLIES, SAFETY INFORMATION, AND DISPOSAL ASSISTANCE FOR ANY WHO WOULD LIKE TO IMPROVE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGH THE SIMPLE ACT OF CLEANING UP.
  2. $77,232 spent. BEACH AND RIVERSIDE CLEANUP - THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS PICK UP TRASH, PULL INVASIVE VEGETATION AND PLANT NATIVE TREES ALONG OUR WATERWAYS AND BEACHES TO IMPROVE WILDLIFE HABITAT, EROSION CONTROL AND WATER QUALITY.
  3. $79,524 spent. OREGON SPRING CLEAN UP - ONE OF THE LARGEST EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES IN THE NATION, OREGON SPRING CLEAN UP PROJECTS TAKE PLACE AROUND THE STATE INVOLVING VOLUNTEERS IN ILLEGAL DUMPSITE AND NEIGHBORHOOD LITTER CLEANUPS, INVASIVE VEGETATION REMOVAL, NATIVE TREE AND SHRUB PLANTINGS AND MAINTENANCE OF WATERSHED RESTORATION SITES.
  4. $776,996 spent. PROJECT OREGON, OREGON ADOPT-A-RIVER, OREGON ADOPT-A-BEACH, PICK IT UP! PORTLAND.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1970.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.