2025-10-29T15:56:05-05:00 2024-12-31 521186096 RUBINO AND COMPANY CHARTERED 6903 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE SUITE 300 BETHESDA MD 208171818 990 2024-01-01 810954815 THE COMMUNITY ECOLOGY INSTITUTE COMM 4438323824 8000 HARRIET TUBMAN LANE COLUMBIA MD 21044 CHIARA D'AMORE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 4438323824 2025-10-28 1 0 KAY VOLLANS CPA P01404047 3015643636 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z CHIARA D'AMORE 8000 HARRIET TUBMAN LANE COLUMBIA MD 21044 1183205 0 X WWW.COMMUNITYECOLOGYINSTITUTE.ORG X 2016 MD TO CULTIVATE COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE AND NATURE THRIVE TOGETHER. 16 16 27 800 0 0 918702 698518 275588 431470 619 819 52061 36057 1246970 1166864 0 0 0 0 536381 750601 1690 0 20328 645935 383812 1184006 1134413 62964 32451 2250232 2688870 344900 381401 1905332 2307469 X TO CULTIVATE COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE AND NATURE THRIVE TOGETHER. 0 0 555881 451855 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. 261012 7708 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. 816893 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 29 0 1 27 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 16 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 MD X CHIARA D'AMORE 4438323824 8000 HARRIET TUBMAN LANE COLUMBIA MD 21044 CHIARA D'AMORE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00 X 113146 0 3404 JEAN SILVER-ISENSTADT PRESIDENT 10.00 X X 0 0 0 MONICA LEWIS VICE PRESIDENT 3.00 X X 0 0 0 PATRICK CURTIS TREASURER 3.00 X X 0 0 0 MARGO DUESTERHAUS SECRETARY 3.00 X X 0 0 0 JAMES AQUIRRE BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 JEN BLONDO BOARD MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 MABROOKA CHAUDHRY BOARD MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 ERICA COADY BOARD MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 AKIL COLE BOARD MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 KIM FLYR END 123124 BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 VERNON GRAY BOARD MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 ERICA JONES BOARD MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 EDUARDO MARIN BOARD MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 JONATHAN MCKINNEY END 43024 BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 LEAH MILLER BOARD MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 KIA PAYNE BOARD MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 GARY PILARCHIK BOARD MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 JASON VANKIRK BOARD MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 113146 0 3404 1 0 0 0 0 70623 342677 285218 698518 TUITION 611600 407277 407277 CONTRACTED SERVICES 900099 18011 18011 MEMBERSHIP FEES 900099 6182 6182 431470 819 819 7964 0 7964 7964 7964 9249 70623 9249 0 35185 7092 28093 28093 1166864 459563 0 8783 X 116550 58275 46620 11655 563124 503958 51907 7259 10057 10057 6221 6221 54649 54649 53210 53210 139455 119529 19926 3164 828 2336 72462 58483 12565 1414 11031 3806 7225 52752 51298 1454 1982 913 1069 9753 8248 1505 24086 24086 15917 11555 4362 1134413 816893 297192 20328 438514 354030 89476 128975 514476 5399 3302 7420 8353 1827523 108290 1669924 1719233 2250232 2688870 63851 96653 124564 142581 156485 142167 344900 381401 X 1653717 2017620 251615 289849 1905332 2307469 2250232 2688870 32451 27500 342186 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 268949 455689 1502213 742113 697967 3666931 268949 455689 1502213 742113 697967 3666931 126720 3540211 5462 6262 4685 6814 8783 32006 772 7306 8078 3707015 1197644 0.95500 0.95080 X SCHEDULE A, PART II, LINE 10, EXPLANATION OF OTHER INCOME: OTHER INCOME - 2022 AMOUNT: $ 772. 2023 AMOUNT: $ 7,306. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 458608 458608 1250901 82720 1168181 40424 22515 17909 77590 3055 74535 1719233 X 1201456 27500 27500 1173956 -7092 -7092 1166864 1141505 7092 7092 1134413 0 1134413 PART X, LINE 2: THE INSTITUTE IS EXEMPT FROM INCOME TAX UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE (THE CODE) AND COMPARABLE STATE LAW, AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO IT ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE WITHIN THE LIMITATIONS PRESCRIBED BY THE CODE. THE ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON ACCOUNTING FOR UNCERTAINTY IN INCOME TAXES ADDRESSES THE DETERMINATION OF WHETHER TAX BENEFITS CLAIMED OR EXPECTED TO BE CLAIMED ON A TAX RETURN SHOULD BE RECORDED IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. UNDER THAT GUIDANCE, THE INSTITUTE RECOGNIZES THE TAX BENEFIT FROM AN UNCERTAIN TAX POSITION ONLY IF IT IS MORE LIKELY THAN NOT THAT THE TAX POSITION WILL BE SUSTAINED ON EXAMINATION BY TAXING AUTHORITIES BASED ON THE TECHNICAL MERITS OF THE POSITIONS. THERE WERE NO UNRECOGNIZED TAX BENEFITS IDENTIFIED OR RECORDED AS LIABILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024. THE INSTITUTE FILES FEDERAL AND STATE INFORMATION RETURNS. THE INSTITUTE'S FEDERAL FORM 990 REMAINS OPEN FOR THREE YEARS FOR FEDERAL AND STATE EXAMINATION. PART XI, LINE 4B - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: COST OF GOODS SOLD -7,092. PART XII, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: COST OF GOODS SOLD 7,092. HARVEST GALA 79872 70623 9249 1553 5522 600 1574 79872 70623 9249 1553 5522 600 1574 9249 0 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B FORM 990 IS PROVIDED TO THE BOARD PRIOR TO FILING WITH THE IRS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C THE ORGANIZATION'S BOARD APPROVED A CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND REGULARLY MONITORS AND ENFORCES THIS POLICY. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A EACH YEAR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS REVIEWS AND APPROVES THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S COMPENSATION FOR THE FORTHCOMING YEAR. FOR COMPARABILITY DATA THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS A COMPENSATION COMMITTEE, WHICH IS A PART OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND THEY UTILIZE THE 990S OF OTHER LOCAL NON PROFITS AS WELL AS PUBLISHED COMPENSATION SURVEYS TO INFORM THEIR ANALYSIS. THE LAST TIME COMPENSATION WAS REVIEWED AND INDEPENDENTLY ASSESSED WAS IN OCTOBER 2024. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 REQUIRED DOCUMENTS ARE MADE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 11G CONTRACTORS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 119,529. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 19,926. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 139,455. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: THE PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. STANDARDS FOR EXCELLENCE RECOGNITION: THE COMMUNITY ECOLOGY INSTITUTE IS NOW RECOGNIZED BY THE STANDARDS FOR EXCELLENCE INSTITUTE AS HAVING MET THE "STANDARDS BASICS" LEVEL POLICY REQUIREMENTS FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AND LEGAL COMPLIANCE.