Richards Rubbish Roundup
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
We keep the City of Colorado Springs and its rivers and creeks clean by organizing volunteers for weekly litter pickups participating in larger cleanup events sponsored by the city and other local organizations educating community members about the importance of keeping our waterways free of trash training other groups on how to have their own pickups safely and providing supplies and gear to other groups who want to hold their own cleanups.
- Income
- $74,285
- Spending
- $58,014
- Reserves
- 3.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Highest pay
- $12,692, executive director
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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)
- $23,906 spent. In 2024 our volunteers picked up 1,004 bags of trash which is approximately 29,160 pounds of trash based on an estimate of 30 pounds per bag. They spent 1,106 hours cleaning up our parks trails creeks and rivers. They safely collected and disposed of 1,191 used and discarded hypodermic needles. Our objective is to keep our city clean and safe for its citizens and visitors by safely disposing of potentially dangerous waste - especially used hypodermic needles which can cause life-threatening diseases if stepped on or accidentally grabbed by people recreating in the area. We are also accomplishing another goal of keeping trash and particularly plastic out of our waterways thereby preventing toxic chemicals and microplastics from entering not only our water supply but also that of cities and towns downstream from us. In the process of fulfilling these goals we maintain the incredible beauty of the city in which we live.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 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 2024.
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 April 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.