Nonprofit · EIN 20-4944165
EXPLORE ECOLOGY
Tax-exempt · SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $1,993,161 | $1,743,457 | $249,704 | $892,617 | $492,562 | $400,055 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $846,939
- of which government grants
- $49,330
- Program service revenue
- $1,145,943
- Investment income
- $279
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $100,322
- Other salaries and wages
- $934,164
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,225,129
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $54,120
- Occupancy
- $42,861
- Travel
- $32,176
- Depreciation
- $14,589
- Program services (functional)
- $1,309,828
- Management and general (functional)
- $319,463
- Fundraising (functional)
- $114,166
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $350,095
- Total assets, end of year
- $892,617
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $492,562
- Net assets, end of year
- $400,055
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $61,640
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $371,634
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $28,421
- Gross receipts
- $1,993,161
- Employees
- 52
- Volunteers
- 1,492
- Year formed
- 2006
- State of legal domicile
- CA
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LINDSAY JOHNSON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $91,500 | $8,822 |
| SUSAN TOMPKINS | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| SCOTT ESTBY | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL HAMMAN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMES CUNNINGHAM | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| BRYAN KERNER | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| CLAYTON GARLAND | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| SAMI WEISS | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| DANIELLE GLYNN | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| MARIANNE CASTON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 302 E COTA ST, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101-1622
- In care of
- % CAY SANCHEZ
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- LINDSAY JOHNSON, 302 E COTA STREET, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101
- Signed the 990
- LINDSAY JOHNSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Phone
- (805) 884-0459
- Return prepared by
- PROSPERITY PARTNERS
Mission
EXPLORE ECOLOGY EMPOWERS OUR COMMUNITY TO PROECT AND PRESERVE THE PLANET WITH INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND NATURE-BASED LEARNING.
Program accomplishments
- ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION:OVER 800 ENVIRONMENTAL LESSONS WERE CONDUCTED BY EXPLORE ECOLOGY STAFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 20,000 STUDENTS THROUGHOUT SANTA BARBARA COUNTY. LESSONS FOCUS ON WATER QUALITY, WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP AND WASTE MANAGEMENT - REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE AND COMPOST. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION LESSONS TAKE PLACE IN CLASSROOMS, ON FIELD TRIPS INCLUDING THE WATERSHED RESOURCE CENTER, TAJIGUAS LANDFILL, AND BEACH CLEANUPS. THROUGH THIS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, EXPLORE ECOLOGY HELPS LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS REACH THEIR GOALS OF EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. 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. LESSONS FOCUS ON WASTE DIVERSION (REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE AND COMPOST), WATER QUALITY, SCHOOL GARDENS AND NUTRITION. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION LESSONS ARE PRESENTED TO GROUPS FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS, AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER CAMP GROUPS, AS WELL AS SOME GROUPS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS AND ADULTS. THROUGH THIS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, EXPLORE ECOLOGY HELPS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS REACH THEIR GOALS OF EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.Expenses $273,957 · revenue $340,819
- SCHOOL GARDENS:AN ADDITIONAL 10,000 ELEMENTARY AGE STUDENTS WERE EDUCATED THROUGH EXPLORE ECOLOGY'S SCHOOL GARDENS PROGRAM IN 34 GARDENS COUNTYWIDE. STAFF MAINTAIN GARDENS WHILE WORKING WITH SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS TO PROVIDE LESSONS IN PLANTING, CULTIVATING, HARVESTING, COMPOSTING, AND NUTRITION. EXPLORE ECOLOGY PROVIDES TRAINING FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS TO USE IN PRESCHOOLS AND DAYCARE CENTERS. THE SCHOOL GARDENS TEAM FREQUENTLY PROVIDES CONSULTATION AND COLLABORATION WITH OTHER NONPROFITS SEEKING TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN OUTDOOR CLASSROOM CURRICULUM.Expenses $829,987 · revenue $605,397
- EE CREATIVE REUSE - ART FROM SCRAP: ART FROM SCRAP CREATIVE REUSE STORE RECEIVES DONATIONS FROM MORE THAN 200 BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS. OVER 18 TONS OF MATERIALS WERE DIVERTED FROM THE LANDFILL WHILE EMPOWERING BUSINESSES TO REDUCE AND REUSE THEIR EXCESS MATERIALS. 25 SCHOOLS SERVING ABOUT 5,000 STUDENTS BENEFITED FROM THE FREE SCHOOL MATERIALS PROGRAM FOR ART, SCIENCE AND OTHER USES. YOUTH GROUPS, ARTISTS, PARENTS AND THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATED IN THE WASTE DIVERSION TECHNIQUE OF REUSE THROUGH THE ART FROM SCRAP REUSE STORE, WHERE OVER 200 PEOPLE PER WEEK SHOPPED FOR CREATIVE REUSE MATERIALS.Expenses $141,943 · revenue $169,594
- EE MAKERSPACE ART PROGRAM: 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 LEAD TO IMPROVED EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCE. TWICE WEEKLY CRAFTERNOONS ARE OFFERED FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WHILE MONTHLY WORKSHOPS ENGAGE ALL AGES IN SKILLS-BUILDING THAT INCLUDES SEWING, JOURNAL BINDING, AND NEEDLE CRAFTS. EXPLORE ECOLOGY SUPPORTS SCHOOLS, LOCAL ART COLLECTIVES, PERFORMING ART COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS BY PROVIDING UNIQUE RECYCLED MATERIALS AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.Expenses $63,941 · revenue $30,133
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | Not on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 20-4944165
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2006
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Environment (C27)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $892,617
- Income (IRS master file)
- $1,993,161
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $1,474,442 | $1,561,043 | $350,095 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2022 | $1,257,539 | $1,226,921 | $331,641 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS publishes only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years appear here as 990.tax collects the monthly files. 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS.
Questions about EXPLORE ECOLOGY
- What is the EIN of EXPLORE ECOLOGY?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of EXPLORE ECOLOGY is 20-4944165.
- Is EXPLORE ECOLOGY tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2006.
- Are donations to EXPLORE ECOLOGY tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does EXPLORE ECOLOGY file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of EXPLORE ECOLOGY due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did EXPLORE ECOLOGY last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
- Who is the principal officer of EXPLORE ECOLOGY?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names LINDSAY JOHNSON.
- Who are the officers and directors of EXPLORE ECOLOGY?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 10 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $91,500 (LINDSAY JOHNSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does EXPLORE ECOLOGY have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $1,993,161, expenses of $1,743,457 and total assets of $892,617 at year end.
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