Nonprofit · EIN 95-3527131
ROMERO INSTITUTE
Tax-exempt · SANTA CRUZ, CA 95060
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $2,005,493 | $2,894,634 | -$889,141 | $548,987 | $147,880 | $401,107 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $2,310,390 | $2,647,278 | -$336,888 | $1,547,668 | $215,489 | $1,332,179 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $1,880,941
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $124,999
- Net rental income
- $250
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $110,473
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$1,023
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $326
- Other revenue
- -$447
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $131,610
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $290,022
- Other salaries and wages
- $1,184,767
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,666,945
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $154,330
- Occupancy
- $138,822
- Depreciation
- $39,859
- Program services (functional)
- $2,338,027
- Management and general (functional)
- $304,227
- Fundraising (functional)
- $252,380
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $1,547,668
- Total assets, end of year
- $548,987
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $147,880
- Net assets, end of year
- $401,107
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $72,106
- Publicly traded securities
- $274,221
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $247,537
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $153,570
- Gross receipts
- $3,844,942
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 1,179
- Year formed
- 1980
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DANIEL SHEEHAN | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 50 | $139,050 | $5,961 |
| SARA NELSON | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 50 | $139,050 | $5,961 |
| KAREN K JUAREZ | EMPLOYEE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $108,786 | $0 |
| JAMES GARRISON | EMPLOYEE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $107,011 | $0 |
| CHASE IRON EYES | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 45 | $87,418 | $0 |
| MARKELL BROOKS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| GWENDOLYN GRACE | AUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ERIC THIERMANN | BOARD CHAIR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 7 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DANIEL SHEEHAN | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 50 | $125,888 | $1,061 |
| SARA NELSON | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 50 | $125,887 | $1,061 |
| DANIEL PAUL NELSON | SECRETARY/TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 50 | $84,872 | $8,565 |
| CHASE IRON EYES | CODIRECTOR OF LPLP Trustee or director | 40 | $84,872 | $0 |
| MARKELL BROOKS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| GWENDOLYN GRACE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ERIC THIERMANN | AUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 210 HIGH ST 2ND FLOOR, SANTA CRUZ, CA 95060-3760
- In care of
- % SARA NELSON
- Mailing address (990-N for 2021)
- 210 High St Fl 2, Santa Cruz CA 95060
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- SARA NELSON, 210 HIGH ST 2ND FLOOR, SANTA CRUZ, CA 95060
- Principal officer (990-N for 2021)
- Ethridge Darlene, 659 Lake Rd, Atkins AR 72823
- Signed the 990
- SARA NELSON, VICE PRESIDENT
- Phone
- (831) 459-6135
- Website
- www.romeroinstitute.com
- Return prepared by
- BRYMAR CPA LLP
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 95-3527131 or by the name ROMERO INSTITUTE.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
EXPOSE SYSTEMIC INJUSTICE AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS FOR GLOBAL WARMING, ECONOMIC INEQUALITY, HUMAN AND INDIGENOUS RIGHTS. INTERFAITH LAW AND POLICY CENTER USING IMPACT LITIGATION, INVESTIGATION, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE GOALS.
Program accomplishments
- THE LAKOTA PEOPLE'S LAW PROJECT CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE THROUGHOUT 2024 FOR THE RIGHTS AND SOVEREIGNTY OF THE LAKOTA SIOUX PEOPLE, BUT THE MAJOR PROJECT FOR THE YEAR WAS PREPARING FOR THE FULL TRANSITION OF LPLP'S INFRASTRUCTURE TO INDEPENDENT NATIVE CONTROL/LEADERSHIP. UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF LPLP'S LONGTIME CO-DIRECTOR, CHASE IRON EYES, A SEPARATE 501C3 ORGANIZATION CALLED "SACRED DEFENSE" WAS ESTABLISHED AND THEN, AFTER MUCH PREPARATION, POSSESSION OF LPLP'S INFRASTRUCTURE WAS OFFICIALLY TRANSFERRED TO SACRED DEFENSE ON DECEMBER 1, 2024. WHILE CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE TRANSITION REMAIN IN PROGRESS, THE FULL SEPARATION OF LPLP FROM THE ROMERO INSTITUTE IS EXPECTED TO BE FINALIZED BY MID-2025.DURING JANUARY TO NOVEMBER OF 2024, LPLP OPERATED AS A FULLY INTEGRATED AUXILIARY, OR PROJECT, OF THE ROMERO INSTITUTE. OUR DOMINANT EFFORT IN 2024 WAS UNWINDING OUR WORK ON BEHALF OF THE STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBE, FOR WHOM WE SPENT 3 YEARS PROVIDING TECHNICAL SUPPORT IN RELATION TO ITS ONGOING EFFORT TO RESIST THE DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE. PRIOR TO 2024, AND DURING THE EARLY MONTHS OF 2024, WE MANAGED THE TRIBE'S COMMUNICATION FLOW, INCLUDING THEIR E-BLASTS, VIDEO PRODUCTION, FUNDRAISING, WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT, AND PRESS RELEASES. AT STANDING ROCK WE ALSO OPERATED OUR KINSHIP CARE HOME, WHERE 3 CHILDREN WERE HOUSED THROUGHOUT 2024, AND WE MADE STRIDES IN DEVELOPING OUR "NODAPL" ARCHIVE WHICH, WHEN EVENTUALLY LAUNCHED IN COLLABORATION WITH SITTING BULL COLLEGE AND LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO, WILL PROVIDE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF FREE MEDIA ABOUT TRIBALLY-LED OIL PIPELINE FIGHTS TO EDUCATORS, JOURNALISTS, LAWYERS, AND OTHERS ACROSS THE WORLD.Expenses $841,571 · grants $56,610
- LET'S GREEN CALIFORNIA - IN 2024 THE LEADERS OF OUR PROJECT CONTINUED TO WORK WITH LABOR LEADERS, ENVIRONMENTALISTS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACTIVISTS TO ESTABLISH LABOR STANDARDS IN THE COMMUNITY CHOICE ENERGY AGENCIES IN THE BAY AREA AND CENTRAL CALIFORNIA. BY JOINING WITH LABOR TO SUPPORT THESE STANDARDS, WE ENCOURAGED THE BUILDING OF TRUST AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE THREE COMMUNITIES. THE SUCCESS OF THESE EFFORTS PERSUADED A LARGE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION TO INCORPORATE OUR TEAM INTO THEIR PROGRAM. WE FACILITATED THAT TRANSITION, KNOWING THAT THE SUCCESS OF CLIMATE POLICIES IN CALIFORNIA DEPENDS ON LABOR BEING AT THE TABLE. OUR STRATEGIC WORK WITH LABOR IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA SINCE 2016 WILL NOW BE TAKEN THROUGHOUT THE STATE. CALIFORNIA CONTINUES TO BE A STATE THAT COULD CREATE A MODEL OF EQUITABLE CLIMATE POLICIES THAT CAN BE REPLICATED WORLDWIDE.KNOWING THAT MEMBERS OF LOW TO MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITIES NEED EDUCATION ON WHY ELECTRIC CARS AND ELECTRIC KITCHENS ARE MORE ECONOMICAL AND HEALTHY FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, WE ALSO CONTINUED OUR PROGRAM WITH THE MONTEREY CATHOLIC DIOCESE. WORKING WITH DIOCESAN LEADERS AND LEADERS IN LOCAL PARISHES IN PREDOMINANTLY HISPANIC COMMUNITIES, WE BROUGHT IN EXPERTS, KITCHEN EQUIPMENT, AND ELECTRIC CARS. WE PROVIDED FOOD COOKED ON ELECTRIC STOVES AND RIDES IN THE ELECTRIC CARS. WE GENERATED GATHERINGS AFTER CHURCH SERVICES AND EDUCATED PARISHIONERS ON HOW TO RECEIVE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR PURCHASING THESE ITEMS, AND HOW IMPORTANT THE HEALTH BENEFITS WERE COMPARED TO NATURAL GAS STOVES AND GASOLINE CARS.Expenses $100,751
- THE NEW PARADIGM INSTITUTE WAS LAUNCHED IN 2023 AFTER THREE WHISTLEBLOWERS PUBLICLY TESTIFIED TO CONGRESS THAT OUR GOVERNMENT HAS CAPTURED NONHUMAN SPACECRAFT AND NONHUMAN BODIES IN CRASH RETRIEVALS, AND THAT NAVY PILOTS ON BOTH COASTS OF OUR COUNTRY SEE NONHUMAN SPACECRAFT EVERY DAY. AFTER OPENING A D.C. OFFICE ACROSS FROM THE SENATE, AND HIRING PROFESSIONAL TEAMS, OUR INITIATIVE BEGAN TO DEVELOP POLICY AND MOBILIZE CITIZENS FOR DISCLOSURE OF THE INFORMATION HIDDEN FROM CITIZENS AND OUR ELECTED LEADERS FOR 80 YEARS. WITH THE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION IN DECEMBER, 2023, "DISCLOSURE HAS BEGUN".IN 2024 WE CONTINUED TO BUILD OUR POWERFUL WEBSITE ENGINE FOR EDUCATION, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING, AND FUNDRAISING. OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS AND 80 PODCASTS APPEARANCES REACHED MILLIONS OF VIEWERS, OUR GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING EFFORTS BEGAN BUILDING OUT 1000 VOLUNTEERS INTO A NATIONWIDE ORGANIZING FORCE TO PRESSURE OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TO PROCEED WITH PUBLIC DISCLOSURE HEARINGS, AND WE LAUNCHED A MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN TO BUILD OUR FUNDRAISING BASE. OUR D.C. TEAM EDUCATED CONGRESSIONAL STAFF AND MEMBERS, AND OUR LEGAL TEAM PRODUCED THE MOST THOROUGH UFO WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION BILL EVER WRITTEN. OUR FIVE DIFFERENT CALLS TO ACTION GENERATED 73,000 LETTERS TO CONGRESS MEMBERS. WE HELD A STRATEGIC MEETING AND FORMED A COLLABORATIVE VISION FOR DISCLOSURE WITH 25 SIGNIFICANT ALLIES IN THE UFO SPACE. OUR GENERAL COUNSEL CONTINUED TO LEGALLY REPRESENT WHISTLEBLOWER, LUE ELIZONDO, WHOSE BOOK, IMMINENT, BECAME A NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER. OUR LEGAL TEAM BEGAN THE ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH TO CRAFT A RICO COMPLAINT AGAINST THE LEADERS OF THE LEGACY PROJECT WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MULTIPLE CRIMES ASSOCIATED WITH THE 80 YEARS OF SECRECY OF OUR CAPTURE AND INTERACTION WITH UFO CRAFT AND PILOTS.WE CO-HOSTED THE FIRST UFO TEACH IN AT YALE UNIVERSITY WITH THE INVISIBLE COLLEGE AND THE YALE STUDENT UFO SOCIETY. AND, ON OCTOBER 20, 2024, WE LAUNCHED GLOBAL DISCLOSURE DAY WITH A PANEL OF EXCELLENT INVESTIGATORS, WHISTLEBLOWERS, AND LOCAL ORGANIZERS. 1000 ZOOM MEMBERS JOINED NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY, AND IT REACHED 177,947 LIVE STREAM VIEWERS. IN NOVEMBER, AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING HIGHLIGHTING LUE ELIZONDO, WE ORGANIZED A PRESS CONFERENCE AND A SUCCESSFUL OUTDOOR RALLY WITH OUR ALLY, MUFON, CALLING FOR MORE PUBLIC HEARINGS.AFTER SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL CLASSES, WE SEPARATED NEW PARADIGM INSTITUTE FROM UBIQUITY UNIVERSITY IN ORDER TO FOCUS OUR STAFF AND RESOURCES ON THE CHALLENGING TASK OF GENERATING DISCLOSURE.Expenses $1,044,197
- SPECIAL MEDIA PROJECT - IS A RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATIVE PROJECT THAT IS PREPARING TO PRODUCE A PUBLICLY AVAILABLE ARCHIVE, A 24-EPISODE PODCAST SERIES, A DOCUMENTARY SERIES, AND A CABLE SERIES ABOUT THE LEGAL, INVESTIGATIVE, AND ORGANIZING ACTIVITIES OF THE CHRISTIC INSTITUTE AND THE ROMERO INSTITUTE. THE RESEARCH COVERS 50 YEARS OF PUBLIC INTEREST WORK AND REVEALS IMPORTANT HISTORICAL INFORMATION THAT IS RELEVANT TODAY TO ILLUMINATE SYSTEMIC INJUSTICE IN CORPORATE AND GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION, HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS, DRUG SMUGGLING, AND ILLEGAL WAR MAKING. THE ROMERO INSTITUTE ARCHIVAL PROJECT SEEKS TO CORRECT THE HISTORICAL RECORD AND PROVIDE CREDIBLE FACTS IN SEVERAL MEDIA FORMATS. THE GOAL IS TO SHARE TRUE FACTS THAT BEG FOR NEW LAWS AND POLICIES NEEDED TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE, GREEN, AND THRIVING FUTURE FOR THE U.S. AND THE WORLD. IN 2024 WE RECEIVED THIRTY YEARS OF ARCHIVES FROM THE ORIGINAL THERAPIST FOR UFO/ET ABDUCTION EXPERIENCERS, AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DIGITIZING THE MATERIAL. SECONDLY, PLANNING AND NEGOTIATING BEGAN ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PODCAST ABOUT DAN SHEEHAN'S HISTORY IN THE UFO/ET COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS.Expenses $351,508 · grants $75,000
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
- 95-3527131
- 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
- 1981
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $548,987
- Income (IRS master file)
- $3,844,942
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2024 | $2,005,493 | $2,894,634 | $548,987 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $2,310,390 | $2,647,278 | $1,547,668 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $1,876,523 | $3,188,901 | $1,722,675 | IRS |
| 990-N for 2021 Officer: Ethridge Darlene | December 31, 2021 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | 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 95-3527131).
Questions about ROMERO INSTITUTE
- What is the EIN of ROMERO INSTITUTE?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of ROMERO INSTITUTE is 95-3527131.
- Is ROMERO INSTITUTE tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1981.
- Are donations to ROMERO INSTITUTE tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does ROMERO 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 ROMERO 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 ROMERO 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 ROMERO INSTITUTE?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names SARA NELSON.
- Who are the officers and directors of ROMERO INSTITUTE?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 8 people; 5 received compensation from the organization, the highest $139,050 (DANIEL SHEEHAN, PRESIDENT).
- How much revenue does ROMERO INSTITUTE have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $2,005,493, expenses of $2,894,634 and total assets of $548,987 at year end.
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