Explore Ecology empowers our community to proect and preserve the planet with innovative environmental education and nature-based learning.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
82¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$84K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2023 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $41K a year · 3% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
82%
of spending
Looks good: 82% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$84K
to officers and key staff · 5% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 5% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.1 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
19
named funders · $812K
Looks good: 19 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$200K
57% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 57% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
8
of 8 voting members
Looks good: 8 of 8 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.5M
+17% vs prior year
Spent
$1.6M
To programs
82%
Net assets
$150K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$1.5M
FY2023▲ +17%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.0M
FY2021$1.2M
FY2022$1.3M
FY2023$1.5M
FY2024$2.0M
Expenses
$1.6M
FY2023▲ +27%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.0M
FY2021$1.2M
FY2022$1.2M
FY2023$1.6M
FY2024$1.7M
Net assets
$150K
FY2023▼ -37%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$167K
FY2021$206K
FY2022$237K
FY2023$150K
FY2024$400K

From the FY2023 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Aug 2006.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

82 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 82% · $1.3M Management & general 13% · $199K Fundraising 5% · $86K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

9 people listed on the 990; $84K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$84,325Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Lindsay Johnson’s $92K as Executive Director is at the 21st percentile of top reported officer pay among 1851 $1–10M environment nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Lindsay Johnson$91,500$84,325$79,200$78,535$74,069

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Explore Ecology executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Empowers communities through environmental education and nature-based learning to protect the planet.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $1.3M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

Over 800 environmental lessons were conducted by explore ecology staff for approximately 20,000 people, nearly all students. An additional 10,000 elementary age students were educated through explore ecology's school gardens program.

$1.0Mprogram expense
02

Over 5,000 students participated in art activities with reuse materials as part of their education field trips, in-class lessons and virtual lessons. These experiences helped to increase their problem solving skills, which has been shown to lead to improved educational performance.

$165Kprogram expense
03

Art from scrap creative reuse store receives donations from over 200 businesses and individuals. Over 18 tons of materials were diverted from the landfill while educating businesses about reducing and reusing their excess materials.

$71Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
See all 19 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.5M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$927K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$570K
Investment incomeLn 3$207
Money outPt IX
$1.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.3M
Managementcol C$199K
Fundraisingcol D$86K
Owns and owesPt X
$150K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$146K
Total assetsLn 16$350K
LiabilitiesLn 26$200K
PeoplePt VI, VII
9
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a8
IndependentVI 1b8
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$570K
Government grantsLn 1e$10K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$44K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$927K
Investment incomeLn 3$207
Total revenueLn 12$1.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$146K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$146K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$76K
Total assetsLn 16$350K
LiabilitiesLn 26$200K
Net assetsLn 32$150K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 552
VolunteersI 61,492
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$156K$146K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$85K$76K
Total assetsLn 16$332K$350K
LiabilitiesLn 26$95K$200K
Net assetsLn 32$237K$150K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$92K$28K$46K$18K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$788K$734K$4K$49K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$78K$55K$22K
Payroll taxesLn 10$70K$61K$4K$5K
Accounting feesLn 11c$38K$38K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$209K$183K$25K$1K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$16K$9K$952$6K
Information technologyLn 14$18K$4K$11K$3K
OccupancyLn 16$78K$61K$17K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$2K$1K$583$125
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$14K$13K$1K
InsuranceLn 23$11K$11K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$139K$122K$16K$2K
All other expensesLn 24e$8K$5K$2K$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.6M$1.3M$199K$86K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $2.0M$1.7M$250K$400K 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $1.5M$1.6M−$87K$150K 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.3M$1.2M$31K$237K 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.2M$1.2M$39K$206K 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.0M$1.0M−$27K$167K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,474,442 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $333,559$570,021
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $923,857$927,022
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $123$207
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0−$22,808
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,257,539$1,474,442
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $937,470$1,027,583
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $289,451$533,460
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,226,921$1,561,043
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $30,618−$86,601
Part VI · Governance 8 of 8 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body8
VI-1b Independent voting members8
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,474,442 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$44,400
VIII-1e Government grants$9,800
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$515,821
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$570,021
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $927,022$927,022
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $207$207
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$22,808−$22,808
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $927,022 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$22,601$1,474,442
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,561,043 across 14 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $27,689 · Management $46,149 · Fundraising $18,460$92,298
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $734,483 · Management $4,233 · Fundraising $48,889$787,605
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $55,252 · Management $22,338$77,590
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $61,202 · Management $3,642 · Fundraising $5,246$70,090
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $38,136$38,136
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $182,774 · Management $25,041 · Fundraising $1,100$208,915
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $9,307 · Management $952 · Fundraising $5,623$15,882
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $3,642 · Management $11,135 · Fundraising $2,965$17,742
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $61,249 · Management $16,717$77,966
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $1,068 · Management $583 · Fundraising $125$1,776
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $13,350 · Management $1,045$14,395
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $11,439$11,439
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $121,598 · Management $15,615 · Fundraising $1,610$138,823
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $5,018 · Management $1,867 · Fundraising $1,501$8,386
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,276,632 · Management $198,892 · Fundraising $85,519$1,561,043
Part X · Balance sheet $350,095 assets, 11 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $155,694$145,960
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $90,728$119,835
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $391$8,109
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $84,828$76,191
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $331,641$350,095
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $28,914$82,051
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $65,775$117,693
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $94,689$199,744
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $236,952$150,351
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $236,952$150,351
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $331,641$350,095
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $150,351 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,474,442
XI-2 Total expenses$1,561,043
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$86,601
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$236,952
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$150,351

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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