K-12 environmental stewardship education programs for Monterey County youth.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
57¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 58 volunteers and 14 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $45K a year · 7% 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
57%
of spending
Worth a look: 57% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$114K
to officers and key staff · 14% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 14% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
7 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 6.6 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $100K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$70K
14% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 14% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
10
of 10 voting members
Looks good: 10 of 10 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$615K
-21% vs prior year
Spent
$794K
To programs
57%
Net assets
$423K
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$615K
FY2025▼ -21%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$420K
FY2022$610K
FY2023$754K
FY2024$777K
FY2025$615K
Expenses
$794K
FY2025▲ +33%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$428K
FY2022$492K
FY2023$645K
FY2024$596K
FY2025$794K
Net assets
$423K
FY2025▼ -30%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$192K
FY2022$310K
FY2023$420K
FY2024$602K
FY2025$423K

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Dec 2008.

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

Where the money goes

57 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 57% · $453K Management & general 35% · $282K Fundraising 7% · $59K

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

12 people listed on the 990; $114K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
$86,915Pt VII · Sec A
Sec. / Inter Ed
$27,170Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Karin Stratton’s $87K as Former Ed is at the 78th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1992 $100K–1M youth development 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 · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Karin Stratton$86,915$100,263$41,705——
Benjamin Eichorn——$23,257$80,010$93,866
Carol Olson$27,170————

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.

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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

Teach Monterey County youth about environmental stewardship through educational programs.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $357K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Community Programs

Healthy, connected, resilient communities are the foundation to a sustainable future. Our Community Connect programs provides opportunities for local residents of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds, to learn more about how we can better care for ourselves,our communities, and our environment.

$127Kprogram expense
02

Non School Day Youth Programs

Mearth offers 5 weeks of Summer Camp in addition to After School programs at various times throughout the year to local youth. Campers range from Kindergarten to 8th Grade, and programs reflect the same values and activities outlined under School Day Youth Programs above.

$126Kprogram expense
03

School Day Youth Programs

Students of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds experience the simple, yet powerful acts of planting, tending, harvesting, cooking, and connecting to their food and environment. This takes place inour LEED-certified culinary classroom, organic edible garden, pollinator gardens, and pond.

$104Kprogram 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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$100K

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$615K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$394K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$168K
Other incomeLn 4–11$53K
Money outPt IX
$794K
Ln 25
Programscol B$453K
Managementcol C$282K
Fundraisingcol D$59K
Owns and owesPt X
$423K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$436K
Total assetsLn 16$493K
LiabilitiesLn 26$70K
PeoplePt VI, VII
12
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a10
IndependentVI 1b10
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$394K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$11K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$168K
Investment incomeLn 3$122
Other incomeLn 4–11$53K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$615K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$41K
SavingsLn 2$395K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$436K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$9K
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$493K
LiabilitiesLn 26$70K
Net assetsLn 32$423K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 514
VolunteersI 658
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$446K$436K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$12K$9K
Total assetsLn 16$651K$493K
LiabilitiesLn 26$49K$70K
Net assetsLn 32$602K$423K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$108K$21K$70K$17K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$448K$351K$87K$11K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$24K$1K$23K$135
Payroll taxesLn 10$44K$29K$12K$2K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$24K$24K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$43K$22K$21K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$6K$3K$2K$2K
Office expensesLn 13$12K$155$11K$1K
Information technologyLn 14$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$3K$3K
TravelLn 17$10K$8K$2K$181
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$2K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$10K$130$10K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$48K$32K$12K$4K
All other expensesLn 24e$10K$9K$917$54
Total functional expensesLn 25$794K$453K$282K$59K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $615K$794K−$179K$423K 990 PDF
FY2024 $777K$596K$182K$602K 990 PDF
FY2023 $754K$645K$110K$420K 990 PDF
FY2022 $610K$492K$118K$310K 990 PDF
FY2021 $420K$428K−$7K$192K 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 FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $614,899 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $594,826$393,708
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $134,507$168,058
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $4,570$122
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $43,528$53,011
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $777,431$614,899
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $434,300$624,291
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $161,511$169,234
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $595,811$793,525
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $181,620−$178,626
Part VI · Governance 10 of 10 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body10
VI-1b Independent voting members10
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 $614,899 across 10 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $7,977 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$11,240
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$382,468
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$393,708
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $168,058$168,058
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $122$122
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $45,034$45,034
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $168,058 · Excluded from tax $53,133$614,899
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $793,525 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $20,543 · Management $70,277 · Fundraising $17,299$108,119
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $350,968 · Management $86,636 · Fundraising $10,620$448,224
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,161 · Management $22,781 · Fundraising $135$24,077
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $29,295 · Management $12,472 · Fundraising $2,104$43,871
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $24,050$24,050
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesManagement $22,359 · Fundraising $21,025$43,384
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $2,571 · Management $2,148 · Fundraising $1,639$6,358
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $155 · Management $10,621 · Fundraising $1,366$12,142
IX-14 Information technology$0
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyManagement $3,375$3,375
IX-17 TravelPrograms $7,908 · Management $1,976 · Fundraising $181$10,065
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $2,308$2,308
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $130 · Management $9,750$9,880
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $31,609 · Management $12,012 · Fundraising $4,370$47,991
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $8,710 · Management $917 · Fundraising $54$9,681
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $453,050 · Management $281,682 · Fundraising $58,793$793,525
Part X · Balance sheet $492,637 assets, 20 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $9,681$40,943
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $436,598$395,097
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $191,420$30,280
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $1,583$16,871
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $11,754$9,446
X-11 Publicly traded securities$0
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assets$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $651,036$492,637
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $26,212$51,370
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $23,241$18,310
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $49,453$69,680
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $601,583$331,227
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictions$91,730
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $601,583$422,957
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $651,036$492,637
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $422,957 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$614,899
XI-2 Total expenses$793,525
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$178,626
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$601,583
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$422,957

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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