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

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
59¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$100K 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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FY2024 · 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
59%
of spending
Worth a look: 59% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$100K
to officers and key staff · 17% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 17% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
9 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 9.0 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
$49K
8% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 8% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
9
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 9 of 9 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$777K
+3% vs prior year
Spent
$596K
To programs
59%
Net assets
$602K
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$777K
FY2024▲ +3%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$420K
FY2022$610K
FY2023$754K
FY2024$777K
FY2025$615K
Expenses
$596K
FY2024▼ -8%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$428K
FY2022$492K
FY2023$645K
FY2024$596K
FY2025$794K
Net assets
$602K
FY2024▲ +43%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$192K
FY2022$310K
FY2023$420K
FY2024$602K
FY2025$423K

From the FY2024 Form 990 (year ending June 2024) · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2024 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

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

59 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 59% · $351K Management & general 34% · $204K Fundraising 7% · $41K

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

10 people listed on the 990; $100K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2023); the FY2024 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Dir.
$100,263Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$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 · $351K · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

School Day Youth Programs | Food is essential to our existence. Students of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds experience first hand the simple act of harvesting, cooking, and connecting to their food.

$165Kprogram expense
02

Community |Healthy, connected, resilient communities are the foundation to a sustainable future. Our CommunityConnect program provides opportunities for local residents to learn more about how we can better care for ourselves,our communities, and our environment.

$102Kprogram expense
03

Facilities Stewardship

In exchange for use of the 10-acre Hilton Bialek Habitat facility, MEarth provides property maintenance and upkeep services to Carmel Unified School District. "Facility stewardship" revenue is the amount paid to MEarth by CUSD on a monthly basis that is considered the difference between the value of the use of the land and the services…

$84Kprogram 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 FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$777K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$595K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$135K
Other incomeLn 4–11$44K
Money outPt IX
$596K
Ln 25
Programscol B$351K
Managementcol C$204K
Fundraisingcol D$41K
Owns and owesPt X
$602K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$446K
Total assetsLn 16$651K
LiabilitiesLn 26$49K
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b9
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$595K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$7K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$135K
Investment incomeLn 3$5K
Other incomeLn 4–11$44K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$777K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$10K
SavingsLn 2$437K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$446K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$12K
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$651K
LiabilitiesLn 26$49K
Net assetsLn 32$602K
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$369K$446K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$12K$12K
Total assetsLn 16$436K$651K
LiabilitiesLn 26$16K$49K
Net assetsLn 32$420K$602K
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$107K$20K$69K$17K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$277K$233K$36K$8K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$20K$2K$18K
Payroll taxesLn 10$30K$20K$8K$2K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$23K$23K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$28K$6K$17K$5K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$8K$618$2K$5K
Office expensesLn 13$3K$388$2K
Information technologyLn 14$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$1K$288$825
TravelLn 17$7K$7K$566$99
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$62$62
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$2K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$13K$13K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$68K$54K$10K$3K
All other expensesLn 24e$8K$8K$437$204
Total functional expensesLn 25$596K$351K$204K$41K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $615K$794K−$179K$423K 990 PDF
FY2024 Viewing $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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $777,431 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $549,909$594,826
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $150,510$134,507
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $11,748$4,570
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $42,328$43,528
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $754,495$777,431
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $516,500$434,300
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $128,338$161,511
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $644,838$595,811
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $109,657$181,620
Part VI · Governance 9 of 9 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members9
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 $777,431 across 11 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $8,619 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$6,850
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$587,976
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$594,826
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $131,712$131,712
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $4,570$4,570
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 $37,601$37,601
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $103$103
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $134,507 · Excluded from tax $48,098$777,431
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $595,811 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 $20,277 · Management $69,370 · Fundraising $17,075$106,722
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $232,809 · Management $36,340 · Fundraising $8,062$277,211
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,745 · Management $18,313$20,058
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $20,416 · Management $7,994 · Fundraising $1,899$30,309
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $23,047$23,047
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $6,115 · Management $17,179 · Fundraising $5,195$28,489
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $618 · Management $2,142 · Fundraising $4,768$7,528
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $388 · Management $2,365$2,753
IX-14 Information technology$0
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $288 · Management $825$1,113
IX-17 TravelPrograms $6,518 · Management $566 · Fundraising $99$7,183
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsManagement $62$62
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $2,251$2,251
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $13,229$13,229
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $54,494 · Management $9,873 · Fundraising $3,313$67,680
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $7,535 · Management $437 · Fundraising $204$8,176
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $351,203 · Management $203,993 · Fundraising $40,615$595,811
Part X · Balance sheet $651,036 assets, 19 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $124$9,681
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $368,551$436,598
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $100$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $55,013$191,420
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$1,583
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $12,189$11,754
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 $435,977$651,036
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $16,014$26,212
X-19 Deferred revenue$23,241
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $16,014$49,453
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $375,963$601,583
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $419,963$601,583
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $435,977$651,036
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $601,583 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$777,431
XI-2 Total expenses$595,811
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$181,620
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$419,963
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$601,583

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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