Passes our checks

Natural Cork Council

EIN 93-4522842 · Salem, OR

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

What it says it does

THE NCC is dedicated to educating wine consumers and the wine industry about the importance and benefits of cork as the most sustainable wine closure

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

Reserves
4 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Spending floor
15 of 15
95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Weak: 19 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

Independent board
5 of 25
0 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
0 of 5
Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10
Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)

$201,361 spent. In 2025 the NCC launched a public awareness campaign targeting the environmental and sustainable efforts by our organization and the Portuguese government. This campaign focused on the regenerative cork forest planting projects which included a fertigation project that is aimed at developing faster growing and more climate resistant cork trees. We also helped fund a land reclamation project which takes land that has been abandoned and re-plants cork oak to prevent forest fires, reduce the effects of desertification and soil erosion. The NCC has partnered with the Cork Collective to remove millions of cork stoppers from our landfills and upcycle them into consumer and sports related products. To date the Cork Collective project has removed over 2 million corks from landfills.

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

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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.