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Nonprofit · EIN 81-3707643

GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY

Tax-exempt · PALO ALTO, CA 94303

Financials

$2.2M$2M2023$2.5M$2.2M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
June 30, 2025990$2,504,845$2,243,033$261,812$1,736,999$140,399$1,596,600
June 30, 2024990$2,249,954$2,005,713$244,241$1,508,492$173,704$1,334,788
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$808,617
of which government grants
$134,907
Program service revenue
$1,655,166
Investment income
$67,567
Net income from sales of inventory
-$26,505
Other revenue
-$26,505

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$192,380
Other salaries and wages
$1,211,594
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$1,669,511
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Occupancy
$20,990
Travel
$10,818
Depreciation
$9,631
Program services (functional)
$1,835,635
Management and general (functional)
$93,252
Fundraising (functional)
$314,146

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$1,508,492
Total assets, end of year
$1,736,999
Total liabilities, end of year
$140,399
Net assets, end of year
$1,596,600
Land, buildings and equipment
$41,255
Net assets without donor restrictions
$1,511,600
Net assets with donor restrictions
$85,000
Gross receipts
$2,647,674
Employees
28
Volunteers
7,400
Year formed
2016
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 June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
KATE DOLKASDEVELOPMENT DIR.40$113,464$1,739
JUNKO BRYANTCO-EXEC DIRECTR
Officer
30$98,183$1,743
ALEX VON FELDTCO-EXEC DIRECTR
Officer
30$95,940$1,743
KIT GORDONChairman
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
ANDY FENSELAUVICE-CHAIRMAN
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
MICHAEL WUTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
CASEY MULLINSSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
DAVID SMERNOFFDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
BARBARA ERNYDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JERRY HEARNDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
TINA HUGGDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
BARBARA CAMACHO GARCIADirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
KAUMUMDI PHANASALKARDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
BART WESTCOTTDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
GARRY SOTNIKDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 14 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
KATE DOLKASDEVELOPMENT DIR.40$106,092$1,094
JUNKO BRYANTCO-EXEC DIRECTR
Officer
30$97,460$1,094
ALEX VON FELDTCO-EXEC DIRECTR
Officer
30$89,960$1,094
KIT GORDONChairman
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
ANDY FENSELAUVICE-CHAIRMAN
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
MICHAEL WUTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
CASEY MULLINSSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
DAVID SMERNOFFDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
BARBARA ERNYDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JERRY HEARNDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
TINA HUGGDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JAPJIT TULSIDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JULIO CALDERONDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
BART WESTCOTTDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
3921 E BAYSHORE RD, PALO ALTO, CA 94303-4326
In care of
% DAVID SMERNOFF
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
MICHAEL WU, 3921 EAST BAYSHORE RD 202, PALO ALTO, CA 943034326
Signed the 990
MICHAEL WU, Treasurer
Phone
(650) 419-9880
Return prepared by
Witt Consulting Planning and Accounting

California records

California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 81-3707643 or by the name GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY.

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

Mission

WE RESTORE NATIVE PLANTS TO OPEN SPACES AND NEIGHBORHOODS, STEWARD CREEKS AND WATERSHEDS, AND PROVIDE HANDS-ON NATURE EDUCATION

990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • LAND STEWARDSHIP/HABITAT RESTORATION PROGRAMGRASSROOTS ECOLOGY STEWARDED 25 SITES ENCOMPASSING 2,324 ACRES, 9 DIFFERENT WATERSHEDS AND 1.5 MILES OF BAY AND SHORELINE. GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY ORGANIZED COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO INSTALL 5,465 PLANTS AT THESE SITES.
    Expenses $1,779,548 · revenue $1,584,190
  • EDUCATION GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY ENGAGED 7,400 PEOPLE THROUGH VOLUNTEER WORKDAYS, EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AND INTERNSHIPS.
    Expenses $34,082 · revenue $10,063
  • NURSERY PROGRAMOUR NURSERY GROWS A DIVERSITY OF LOCALLY NATIVE SPECIES FROM SEEDS AND CUTTINGS GATHERED WITHIN SANTA CLARA, SAN MATEO AND SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES. IT THEN DISTRIBUTES ABOUT 20,000 PLANTS FOR REINTRODUCTION WITHIN THEIR WATERSHED OF ORIGIN. WE SUPPLY PLANTS FOR OUR OWN HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS AS WELL AS THOSE OF MAJOR LAND MANAGERS IN OUR REGION.
    Expenses $22,005 · revenue $177,237

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 June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025June 30, 2026November 16, 2026Not due yet
2024June 30, 2025November 17, 2025990 on file
2023June 30, 2024November 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
81-3707643
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
2018
Accounting year ends
June
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Environment (C30)
Assets (IRS master file)
$1,736,999
Income (IRS master file)
$2,647,674

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990June 2025$2,504,845$2,243,033$1,736,999IRS
990June 2024$2,249,954$2,005,713$1,508,492IRS
990June 2023$1,719,713$1,796,832$1,183,846IRS
990June 2022$1,939,340$1,674,305$1,253,916IRS
990June 2021–––IRS
990June 2020–––IRS
990June 2019–––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 81-3707643).

Questions about GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY

What is the EIN of GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY?
The employer identification number (EIN) of GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY is 81-3707643.
Is GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2018.
Are donations to GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does GRASSROOTS 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 GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
Who is the principal officer of GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names MICHAEL WU.
Who are the officers and directors of GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 15 people; 3 received compensation from the organization, the highest $113,464 (KATE DOLKAS, DEVELOPMENT DIR.).
How much revenue does GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY have?
On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $2,504,845, expenses of $2,243,033 and total assets of $1,736,999 at year end.

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