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Center for Ecoliteracy

EIN 94-2911417 · Berkeley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CENTER FOR ECOLITERACY IS DEDICATED TO CULTIVATING EDUCATION FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF PEOPLE AND THE PLANET.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
7.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
11
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$241,924, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 December 31, 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 (1)
  1. $1.5 million spent. THE CENTER FOR ECOLITERACY IS REIMAGINING SCHOOL FOOD AS A PATHWAY FOR LEARNING AND CHANGE. FOR 30 YEARS, WE'VE TRANSFORMED EDUCATION IN CLASSROOMS, CAFETERIAS, AND GARDENS-PARTNERING WITH HUNDREDS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SUPPORTING THOUSANDS OF EDUCATORS, AND ENSURING MILLIONS OF CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS MEALS AT SCHOOL. OUR CORE INITIATIVE, CALIFORNIA FOOD FOR CALIFORNIA KIDS, INSPIRES SCHOOLS TO SERVE FRESH, LOCALLY-SOURCED MEALS AND ENGAGE STUDENTS IN THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN FOOD, CULTURE, HEALTH, AND THE ENVIRONMENT. TOGETHER, WE CAN BUILD A HEALTHIER, MORE HOPEFUL FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN. SEE SCHEDULE O - CONTINUATIONSCHOOL FOOD SYSTEMS CHANGE: CALIFORNIA FOOD FOR CALIFORNIA KIDS HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF SCHOOL FOOD TRANSFORMATION FOR A DECADE. OUR INCLUSIVE MODEL EMPOWERS SCHOOL NUTRITION PROFESSIONALS TO LEAD CHANGE WITH SUPPORT FROM THEIR PEERS. IN 2024, WE WELCOMED 22 NEW SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO THE CALIFORNIA FOOD FOR CALIFORNIA KIDS NETWORK, WHICH NOW INCLUDES 146 DISTRICTS IN 37 COUNTIES, REACHING 40% OF STUDENTS IN THE STATE WITH MORE FRESH AND LOCAL SCHOOL MEALS. OUR ONGOING SCHOOL FOOD INNOVATOR SERIES REACHED 275 PARTICIPANTS, PROVIDING A VALUABLE VIRTUAL CONVENING SPACE FOR SCHOOL NUTRITION LEADERS TO SHARE STRATEGIES TO ADVANCE SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS, SUCH AS STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, LOCAL PROCUREMENT, AND PROMOTING NEW MENU OFFERINGS.ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION: FOR 30 YEARS, WE'VE TRANSFORMED EDUCATION IN CLASSROOMS, CAFETERIAS, AND GARDENS-PARTNERING WITH HUNDREDS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SUPPORTING THOUSANDS OF EDUCATORS, AND ENSURING MILLIONS OF CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS MEALS AT SCHOOL. WE ARE REIMAGINING SCHOOL FOOD AS A PATHWAY FOR LEARNING AND CHANGE. OUR CULTURALLY INCLUSIVE FOOD EDUCATION RESOURCES ENGAGE STUDENTS IN LESSONS ABOUT CALIFORNIA'S RICH CULTURES, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THE ENVIRONMENT, ALL THROUGH FOOD. THIS YEAR, OUR EATING LEARNING GROWING RESOURCES REACHED 80,672 STUDENTS WITH CULTURALLY INCLUSIVE FARM TO SCHOOL EDUCATION. OUR SUITE OF CALIFORNIA'S CLIMATE-SMART FARMS ACTIVITIES WAS LAUNCHED TO ENGAGE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN QUESTIONING AND OBSERVING CLIMATE-RELATED PHENOMENA THROUGH CASE STUDIES OF CALIFORNIA FARMERS.POLICY AND ADVOCACY: THE CENTER FOR ECOLITERACY ADVOCATES FOR POLICIES THAT ENSURE ALL CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO FREE, FRESH, LOCAL SCHOOL MEALS AND FOOD SYSTEMS EDUCATION. IN 2024, OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS HELPED TO SECURE $1.9 BILLION IN THE 2024-2025 CALIFORNIA STATE BUDGET FOR SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL COALITION, WE DESIGNED AN ADVOCACY PLATFORM FOCUSED ON STRATEGIES TO MAXIMIZE FEDERAL FUNDING DURING A BUDGET DEFICIT YEAR. WE ALSO LED THE COALITION TO PROTECT $60 MILLION FOR THE STATE'S FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM AND SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR AB 2316, THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL FOOD SAFETY ACT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 December 2024.

    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 1983.

    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.