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I Love a Clean San Diego County Inc

EIN 95-2566791 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

I Love A Clean San Diego works to improve the quality of life for all San Diegans by providing environmental preservation opportunities and education through a variety of channels. continues on Schedule O.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 65%
Employees
41
Volunteers
30,487
Highest pay
$161,631, executive director

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 38% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    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 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 (3)
  1. $644,815 spent. Community Engagement In 2025, ILACSD restored and enhanced outdoor areas across San Diego County through 906 community events, supported by 28,284 volunteers. The majority of these cleanups took place in inland areas, including creek beds, canyons, parks, and urban neighborhoods. Countywide efforts such as Creek to Bay and Coastal Cleanup Day mobilized thousands of volunteers to address environmental damage, dedicating a few hours to improving outdoor spaces while engaging in a meaningful and enjoyable experience. ILACSD also serves as the San Diego County coordinator for the statewide Adopt-A-Beach program and offers an independent cleanup program, empowering residents to beautify their own neighborhoods year-round.
  2. $944,252 spent. I Love A Clean San Diegos environmental education programs combine classroom presentations with hands-on learning opportunities for children and teens, while also offering a robust selection of adult education activities tailored to local businesses, individuals, and families. These programs foster environmental awareness and inspire long-term stewardship, often transforming otherwise unaware youth into lifelong environmental advocates. In 2025, ILACSD delivered 940 environmental education presentations, reaching approximately 44,668 youth and adults across San Diego County. In addition, ILACSD engaged community members through outreach booths at local events. ILACSD is a trusted partner to more than a dozen local jurisdictions, implementing comprehensive environmental programs with a strong focus on youth education.
  3. $796,503 spent. Waste Recovery ILACSD operates a call center and manages an online database that provide San Diego County residents with convenient, reliable information on waste disposal, recycling, and reuse. Through these resources, individuals receive referrals on how and where to recycle, repair, donate, or safely dispose of hazardous items, helping to divert significant amounts of waste from local landfills and reduce illegal dumping. In 2025, ILACSD responded to 221,155 requests for recycling information through its WasteFreeSD.org platform and 1800237BLUE hotline. In addition to these services, ILACSD offers recycling outreach and infrastructure support at community events, with educational content on topics such as used motor oil recycling. ILACSD also conducts site visits to certified collection centers to ensure compliance with environmental standards. To further reduce waste, ILACSD hosts swap events where community members exchange gently used items, encouraging reuse, and reducing unnecessary purchases. ILACSD also partners with school districts countywide to evaluate and improve camp

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

  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 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 November 1974.

    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.