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Nonprofit · EIN 38-3911932

MERITO FOUNDATION INC

Also known as MERITO INC

Tax-exempt · OXNARD, CA 93036

Financials

$413K$382K2023$557K$546K2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of MERITO FOUNDATION INC by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2024990$557,421$546,270$11,151$129,048$864$128,184
December 31, 2023990$413,304$382,252$31,052$129,322$12,289$117,033
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$565,722
of which government grants
$436,850
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$0
Net income from fundraising events
-$8,732
Other revenue
-$8,301

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$104,200
Other salaries and wages
$125,799
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$260,415
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$59
Accounting fees
$8,440
Occupancy
$22,750
Travel
$980
Depreciation
$6,154
Program services (functional)
$487,330
Management and general (functional)
$49,973
Fundraising (functional)
$8,967

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$129,322
Total assets, end of year
$129,048
Total liabilities, end of year
$864
Net assets, end of year
$128,184
Land, buildings and equipment
$12,557
Gross receipts
$566,153
Employees
4
Year formed
2013
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.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Rocio Lozano KnowltonExec. Director
Trustee or director, Officer
40$103,200
Linda ChiltonTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
2$1,000
Cliff RodriguezVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
3$0
David LantripPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Adam VegaSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Judy WillensDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Andrea MillsDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Alejandra BelalcazarDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Carlos Cohen IIDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 7 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Rocio Lozano KnowltonExec. Director
Trustee or director, Officer
40$94,250
Andrea MillsDirector
Trustee or director, Officer
2$450
Cliff RodriguezPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
3$0
Linda Chilton Sea Grant USCTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
David LantripVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Adam VegaSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Judy WillensDirector
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
300 E ESPLANADE DR STE 1980, OXNARD, CA 93036-1295
In care of
% ROCIO LOZANO-KNOWLTON
Mailing address (990-N for 2014)
1501 Cardigan Avenue, Ventura CA 93004
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
Rocio Lozano Knowlton, 3897 Market Street Ste 101, Ventura, CA 93003
Principal officer (990-N for 2014)
Rocio Lozano-Knowlton, 1501 Cardigan Avenue, Ventura CA 93004
Signed the 990
R Lozano Knowlton, Executive Director
Phone
(805) 765-6326
Return prepared by
MND LLP

California records

California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 38-3911932 or by the name MERITO FOUNDATION INC.

Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)

Mission

MERITO is a 501(c)3 charitable organization dedicated to protecting the ocean by facilitating education, conservation, and scientific research opportunities for multicultural youth and their communities while increasing awareness and understanding of the importance of the ocean, ocean-related threats, and environmentally friendly practices. MERITO also strives to motivate diverse youth to pursue science, technology or engineering careers that relate to the ocean.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Program accomplishments

  • In 2024, the MERITO Foundation staff and board immersed 4,950 4th-12th grade students in transformative place-based and project-based learning experiences and engaged over 15,000 adults through outreach and community events. Students participated in hands-on experiences in environmental monitoring, habitat restoration, outdoor recreation and STEAM challenges that helped them develop critical thinking skills and introduced them to environmental advocacy and green entrepreneurship. Outreach and community events included hosting the Earth Day Festival in Ventura, and involving the Spanish speaking communities of West Ventura in the co-design of the Parkway Preserve adjacent to the Ventura River. Each of these experiences was offered at no cost to the youth and communities we serve. Our work helped improve the health of our coast, our ocean, and the regions youth. The 4,950 students participated in Merito's 9-month ocean, climate & environmental education programs, including: Ventura River Action Network (V-RAN) in partnership with VUSD; From the Avenue to the Channel Islands (ATCI) in partnership with De Anza MS; Vamos a la Playa! (VLP) thanks to a Whale Tail Grant, the Port of Hueneme, and the Education & Engagement component of the Oxnard Beautification Project (OBP) for the City of Oxnard. We also expanded our outreach by providing watershed education in Bakersfield. Outdoor activities were supported by in-class instruction about the scientific concepts that were applied during the immersive outdoor experiences.Over 1,600 students participated in the collection of environmental data during the field experiences of our programs, following protocols set by research organizations. Monitoring ranged from water quality, macro-invertebrates, micro-plastics, marine debris, sandy beaches and rocky inter-tidal habitats, and aquatic bird populations. Stewardship activities included dune restoration assisting CA State Parks under the CA Department of Parks & Recreation. The data collected by the students is available to the public in the new V-RAN Story Map. Also, nearly 100 adults participated in monthly Sea Ramble events in Ventura, with Patagonia combining scenic bike rides with beach clean-ups, and piloting data collection for Southern CA Plankton Watch.1,130 students at De Anza Middle School enjoyed a variety of outdoor adventures this year through our From the Avenue to the Channel Islands (ATCI) program Funded by the Outdoor Equity Grant, created through AB 209 and administered by the CA Department of Parks & Recreation, Office of Grants and Local Services. The ATCI program combines environmental and ocean science education with activities like biking to the Ventura River Estuary, exploring tide pools, restoring dunes, outrigger canoing, sailing, camping, hiking, star gazing, and snorkeling at Catalina and Santa Cruz Islands. For many students, these trips were filled with unforgettable first time experiences.Merito engaged 1,937 students and 21 teachers from 14 schools in Oxnard, Hueneme, and El Rio through the Oxnard Beautification Project (OBP), an initiative of the City of Oxnard. Students learned the science to understand the impacts of trash and the urban heat island effect. After participating in hands-on field experiences at their local beaches, wetlands, and rivers, the students created outreach campaigns using their own art and digital media to educate their communities not to litter and to care for their local parks during the Beautiful Oxnard Challenge. The top student-authored projects were recognized by Mayor John C. Zaragoza and awarded stipends. Merito increased educator capacity to integrate ocean and climate science through Professional Development (PD) sessions. We provided tools and hands-on training to 69 educators to help them bring ocean, climate, energy, and environmental science to their classrooms through in-person, online, and field sessions. From exploring Santa Cruz Islands kelp forests to hands-on training in plankton collection and identification at Hueneme Pier, lectures from expert guests on plastic pollution, and webinars on how to guide their students to develop proposals that can reduce the carbon footprint of their schools; all our PD sessions blend the most up to date science, education, and real-world experiences and skills.850 students from the Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) participating in our V-RAN and ATCI programs learned how to conduct waste, water, and energy audits of their schools, or to assess community awareness of the Matilija Dam on the Ventura River. Out of 58 proposals competing in Energy Efficiency, Water Conservation, Waste Reduction, and Matilija Dam outreach that we received from their teachers, 16 teams made it to the 9th annual EECCOA Challenge Awards event on May 20, 2024, where 55 students showcased their projects. The top teams earned $6,100 in stipends for their innovative ideas, thanks to sponsors and volunteer judges.Merito directly engaged over 15,000 community members of Ventura and other Southern and Central California counties through community festivals, outreach events, public forums, lectures, presentations, and conferences. Highlights include: bringing the Earth Day Festival back to Plaza Park in Ventura; two community forums involving the Spanish-speaking community of West Ventura in the co-design Ojai Valley Land Conservancys Parkway Preserve; taking part in a speakers panel during the Southern California Coastal and Ocean Observing System (SCCOOS) Conference in San Diego; and the fun 20th annual Aloha Beach Festival, which gathered thousands of residents and visitors to celebrate coastal culture at Ventura.Through numerous weekday and weekend events in 2024, Merito involved over 500 students and 100 adults in stewardship activities including beach clean-ups and habitat restoration events. During the beach clean ups, the participants collected and categorized trash to inform research. In partnership with the CA Department of Parks & Recreation and The Nature Conservancy, over 150 students helped restore habitats at San Buenaventura and Ormond Beaches, removing thousands of sq. ft. of invasive plants. Additionally, after 6th graders at De Anza Middle School learned about native plants, a cohort continues to participate in on-campus gardening and composting.The MERITO Foundation empowered 27 young leaders, including Youth Environmental Stewards from the City of Ventura and our first-ever Ocean Ambassadors cohort of students from the Cities of Oxnard and Port Hueneme. The students were nominated by their teachers for their leadership abilities, and Merito involved them in community service, job shadowing environmental professionals, and outreach events. The Environmental Stewards sharpened their outdoor and leadership skills at a 3-day Outdoor Youth Connection camp led by CA Department of Parks & Recreation, while the Ocean Ambassadors learned team-building techniques at Ventura Harbor, complemented with sailing and kayaking skills experiences led by Merito board members.
    Expenses $487,330

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 yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026Not on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
38-3911932
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
2014
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Environment (C32)
Assets (IRS master file)
$129,048
Income (IRS master file)
$566,153

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2024$557,421$546,270$129,048IRS
990December 2023$413,304$382,252$129,322XML
990December 2022$322,200$310,141$126,603IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990-EZDecember 2020–––IRS
990-EZDecember 2019–––IRS
990-EZDecember 2018–––IRS
990-N for 2014
Officer: Rocio Lozano-Knowlton
December 31, 2014≤ $50,000 receipts––e-Postcard

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 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 (search EIN 38-3911932).

Questions about MERITO FOUNDATION INC

What is the EIN of MERITO FOUNDATION INC?
The employer identification number (EIN) of MERITO FOUNDATION INC is 38-3911932.
Is MERITO FOUNDATION INC tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2014.
Are donations to MERITO FOUNDATION INC tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does MERITO FOUNDATION INC 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 MERITO FOUNDATION INC 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 MERITO FOUNDATION INC 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 MERITO FOUNDATION INC?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names Rocio Lozano Knowlton.
Who are the officers and directors of MERITO FOUNDATION INC?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 9 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $103,200 (Rocio Lozano Knowlton, Exec. Director).
How much revenue does MERITO FOUNDATION INC have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $557,421, expenses of $546,270 and total assets of $129,048 at year end.

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