Nonprofit · EIN 81-0954815
THE COMMUNITY ECOLOGY INSTITUTE
Tax-exempt · COLUMBIA, MD 21044
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $1,166,864 | $1,134,413 | $32,451 | $2,688,870 | $381,401 | $2,307,469 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $1,246,970 | $1,184,006 | $62,964 | $2,250,232 | $344,900 | $1,905,332 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $698,518
- of which government grants
- $342,677
- Program service revenue
- $431,470
- Investment income
- $819
- Net rental income
- $7,964
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $28,093
- Other revenue
- $36,057
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $116,550
- Other salaries and wages
- $563,124
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $750,601
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $53,210
- Occupancy
- $52,752
- Travel
- $1,982
- Depreciation
- $24,086
- Program services (functional)
- $816,893
- Management and general (functional)
- $297,192
- Fundraising (functional)
- $20,328
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $2,250,232
- Total assets, end of year
- $2,688,870
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $381,401
- Net assets, end of year
- $2,307,469
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $1,719,233
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $2,017,620
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $289,849
- Gross receipts
- $1,183,205
- Employees
- 27
- Volunteers
- 800
- Year formed
- 2016
- State of legal domicile
- MD
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIARA D'AMORE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $113,146 | $3,404 |
| JEAN SILVER-ISENSTADT | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| MONICA LEWIS | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| PATRICK CURTIS | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| MARGO DUESTERHAUS | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMES AQUIRRE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JEN BLONDO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MABROOKA CHAUDHRY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ERICA COADY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| AKIL COLE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KIM FLYR END 123124 | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| VERNON GRAY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ERICA JONES | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| EDUARDO MARIN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JONATHAN MCKINNEY END 43024 | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
4 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEAH MILLER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| KIA PAYNE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| GARY PILARCHIK | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| JASON VANKIRK | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 17 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIARA D'AMORE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $102,294 | $3,465 |
| ERICA JONES | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $1,350 | $0 |
| JEAN SILVER-ISENSTADT | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| MONICA LEWIS | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PATRICK CURTIS | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MARGO DUESTERHAUS | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TONYA AIKENS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MABROOKA CHAUDHRY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ERICA COADY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| AKIL COLE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KIM FLYR | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| EDUARDO MARIN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JONATHAN MCKINNEY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LEAH MILLER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| GARY PILARCHIK | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JASON VANKIRK | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JASON ZHAO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 8000 HARRIET TUBMAN LN, COLUMBIA, MD 21044-4015
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- CHIARA D'AMORE, 8000 HARRIET TUBMAN LANE, COLUMBIA, MD 21044
- Signed the 990
- CHIARA D'AMORE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Phone
- (443) 832-3824
- Return prepared by
- RUBINO AND COMPANY CHARTERED
Mission
TO CULTIVATE COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE AND NATURE THRIVE TOGETHER.
Program accomplishments
- CEI OFFERS SEVEN CORE EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS:1. A COMMUNITY OF FAMILIES IN NATURE (CFIN): THE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE FREQUENT, FUN, AND FRIENDLY NATURE-BASED EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION THAT CAN BE ENJOYED BY THE ENTIRE FAMILY - CHILDREN OF ALL AGES AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. 2. ROOTS & WINGS LEARNING COMMUNITY: THE MISSION IS TO OFFER SUPPLEMENTAL EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION FOR HOME-SCHOOLED CHILDREN THAT NURTURES A DEEP CONNECTION TO SELF, COMMUNITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH PROGRAMMING THAT EMPHASIZES CREATIVITY, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND HANDS-ON, NATURE-BASED EXPLORATION.3. GREEN SEEDS INTERNSHIP: THE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE FOR HIGH-SCHOOL, COLLEGE, AND GRADUATE STUDENTS ACROSS A RANGE OF SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL THEMES.4. NOURISHING GARDENS: THE MISSION IS TO TRANSFORM LAWNS INTO GARDENS THAT NOURISH OUR FAMILIES, THE COMMUNITY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM ARE TWO-FOLD: (1) INSTALLING FOOD AND POLLINATOR GARDENS IN YARDS, COMMUNITY SPACES, AND WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES, AND (2) PROVIDING A GREEN-INFRASTRUCTURE JOBS TRAINING PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM BRINGS THE BENEFITS, LEARNING, AND EXPERIENCE OF FREETOWN FARM DIRECTLY TO THE FRONT DOORS OF OUR NEIGHBORS.5. ECOSTEWARDS VOLUNTEERS: THE MISSION IS TO CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN A WAY THAT WELCOMES THEM INTO CEI'S STEWARDSHIP OF FREETOWN FARM AND THE GREEN FARMACY GARDEN, PROVIDES THEM WITH DIRECT WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR WORK ON THESE PROPERTIES, AND PROVIDES DIRECT EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION THROUGH VOLUNTEERISM.6. SUSTAINABLE SKILLS WORKSHOPS: THE MISSION IS TO OFFER A STRATEGIC SELECTION OF WORKSHOPS THAT WELCOME A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS INTO CEI'S WORK AND PROVIDE EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION ON SKILLS THAT SUPPORT BOTH SUSTAINABILITY AND INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY HEALTH.7. AGROECOLOGY IN ACTION: THE MISSION IS TO STEWARD CEI'S TWO PROPERTIES, FREETOWN FARM AND THE GREEN FARMACY GARDEN, IN WAYS THAT CONNECT THEIR AGRICULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES WITH THEIR ECOLOGICAL OPPORTUNITIES ALL WHILE MAKING BOTH PROPERTIES SPACES IN WHICH OUR OTHER CORE PROGRAMS CAN THRIVE AND BE A HOME FOR EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION.Expenses $555,881 · revenue $451,855
- IN 2019, CEI PURCHASED A 6.4-ACRE ORGANIC FARM IN OUR HOMETOWN OF COLUMBIA, MARYLAND. WE HAVE CREATED A COMMUNITY CENTER ON THIS UNIQUE PROPERTY WHERE PEOPLE CAN LEARN THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES ABOUT HOW THEY CAN HAVE HAPPIER, HEALTHIER, MORE CONNECTED, AND SUSTAINABLE LIVES. WE ARE ACTIVELY FARMING THIS PROPERTY AND COLLABORATIVELY GROW TONS OF PRODUCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY EACH YEAR WITH AN EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION AND PROVISION OF FOOD TO THOSE WHO ARE FACING FOOD INSECURITY. IN 2022 WE PURCHASED A SECOND 6-ACRE PROPERTY, THE GREEN FARMACY GARDEN IN FULTON, WHICH IS A UNIQUE MEDICINAL BOTANICAL GARDEN. FROM BOTH PROPERTIES AND ACROSS OUR SEVEN CORE PROGRAMS, IN 2024 ALONE WE PROVIDED EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION TO OVER 3,500 DISTINCT AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT EQUATED TO OVER 59,000 HOURS OF LEARNING.Expenses $261,012 · revenue $7,708
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
- 81-0954815
- 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
- 2016
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Public and societal benefit (W99)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $2,688,870
- Income (IRS master file)
- $1,183,205
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2024 | $1,166,864 | $1,134,413 | $2,688,870 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $1,246,970 | $1,184,006 | $2,250,232 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $1,780,394 | $724,212 | $1,964,787 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
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 81-0954815).
Questions about THE COMMUNITY ECOLOGY INSTITUTE
- What is the EIN of THE COMMUNITY ECOLOGY INSTITUTE?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of THE COMMUNITY ECOLOGY INSTITUTE is 81-0954815.
- Is THE COMMUNITY ECOLOGY INSTITUTE tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2016.
- Are donations to THE COMMUNITY ECOLOGY INSTITUTE tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does THE COMMUNITY ECOLOGY INSTITUTE 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 THE COMMUNITY ECOLOGY INSTITUTE 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 THE COMMUNITY ECOLOGY INSTITUTE 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 THE COMMUNITY ECOLOGY INSTITUTE?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names CHIARA D'AMORE.
- Who are the officers and directors of THE COMMUNITY ECOLOGY INSTITUTE?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 19 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $113,146 (CHIARA D'AMORE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does THE COMMUNITY ECOLOGY INSTITUTE have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $1,166,864, expenses of $1,134,413 and total assets of $2,688,870 at year end.
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