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Nonprofit · EIN 20-4944165

EXPLORE ECOLOGY

Tax-exempt · SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101

Financials

$1.5M$1.6M2023$2M$1.7M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of EXPLORE ECOLOGY by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2024990$1,993,161$1,743,457$249,704$892,617$492,562$400,055
December 31, 2023990$1,474,442$1,561,043-$86,601$350,095$199,744$150,351
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$846,939
of which government grants
$49,330
Program service revenue
$1,145,943
Investment income
$279
Other revenue
$0

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$100,322
Other salaries and wages
$934,164
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$1,225,129
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Accounting fees
$54,120
Occupancy
$42,861
Travel
$32,176
Depreciation
$14,589
Program services (functional)
$1,309,828
Management and general (functional)
$319,463
Fundraising (functional)
$114,166

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$350,095
Total assets, end of year
$892,617
Total liabilities, end of year
$492,562
Net assets, end of year
$400,055
Land, buildings and equipment
$61,640
Net assets without donor restrictions
$371,634
Net assets with donor restrictions
$28,421
Gross receipts
$1,993,161
Employees
52
Volunteers
1,492
Year formed
2006
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 / weekCompensationOther / benefits
LINDSAY JOHNSONEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
40$91,500$8,822
SUSAN TOMPKINSPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
SCOTT ESTBYTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
3$0$0
MICHAEL HAMMANTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
3$0$0
JAMES CUNNINGHAMTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
3$0$0
BRYAN KERNERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
3$0$0
CLAYTON GARLANDTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
3$0$0
SAMI WEISSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
3$0$0
DANIELLE GLYNNSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
3$0$0
MARIANNE CASTONTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
3$0$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 9 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
LINDSAY JOHNSONEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
40$84,325$7,973
SUSAN TOMPKINSPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
SCOTT ESTBYTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
3$0$0
MICHAEL HAMMANTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
3$0$0
JAMES CUNNINGHAMTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
3$0$0
BRYAN KERNERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
3$0$0
CLAYTON GARLANDTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
3$0$0
GRACIELLA RODRIGUEZTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
3$0$0
DANIELLE GLYNNSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
3$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
302 E COTA ST, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101-1622
In care of
% CAY SANCHEZ
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
LINDSAY JOHNSON, 302 E COTA STREET, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101
Signed the 990
LINDSAY JOHNSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Phone
(805) 884-0459
Return prepared by
PROSPERITY PARTNERS

California records

California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 20-4944165 or by the name EXPLORE ECOLOGY.

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

Mission

EXPLORE ECOLOGY EMPOWERS OUR COMMUNITY TO PROECT AND PRESERVE THE PLANET WITH INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND NATURE-BASED LEARNING.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Program accomplishments

  • ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION:OVER 800 ENVIRONMENTAL LESSONS WERE CONDUCTED BY EXPLORE ECOLOGY STAFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 20,000 STUDENTS THROUGHOUT SANTA BARBARA COUNTY. LESSONS FOCUS ON WATER QUALITY, WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP AND WASTE MANAGEMENT - REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE AND COMPOST. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION LESSONS TAKE PLACE IN CLASSROOMS, ON FIELD TRIPS INCLUDING THE WATERSHED RESOURCE CENTER, TAJIGUAS LANDFILL, AND BEACH CLEANUPS. THROUGH THIS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, EXPLORE ECOLOGY HELPS LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS REACH THEIR GOALS OF EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. OVER 800 ENVIRONMENTAL LESSONS WERE CONDUCTED BY EXPLORE ECOLOGY STAFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 20,000 PEOPLE, NEARLY ALL STUDENTS. AN ADDITIONAL 10,000 ELEMENTARY AGE STUDENTS WERE EDUCATED THROUGH EXPLORE ECOLOGY'S SCHOOL GARDENS PROGRAM. LESSONS FOCUS ON WASTE DIVERSION (REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE AND COMPOST), WATER QUALITY, SCHOOL GARDENS AND NUTRITION. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION LESSONS ARE PRESENTED TO GROUPS FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS, AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER CAMP GROUPS, AS WELL AS SOME GROUPS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS AND ADULTS. THROUGH THIS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, EXPLORE ECOLOGY HELPS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS REACH THEIR GOALS OF EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
    Expenses $273,957 · revenue $340,819
  • SCHOOL GARDENS:AN ADDITIONAL 10,000 ELEMENTARY AGE STUDENTS WERE EDUCATED THROUGH EXPLORE ECOLOGY'S SCHOOL GARDENS PROGRAM IN 34 GARDENS COUNTYWIDE. STAFF MAINTAIN GARDENS WHILE WORKING WITH SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS TO PROVIDE LESSONS IN PLANTING, CULTIVATING, HARVESTING, COMPOSTING, AND NUTRITION. EXPLORE ECOLOGY PROVIDES TRAINING FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS TO USE IN PRESCHOOLS AND DAYCARE CENTERS. THE SCHOOL GARDENS TEAM FREQUENTLY PROVIDES CONSULTATION AND COLLABORATION WITH OTHER NONPROFITS SEEKING TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN OUTDOOR CLASSROOM CURRICULUM.
    Expenses $829,987 · revenue $605,397
  • EE CREATIVE REUSE - ART FROM SCRAP: ART FROM SCRAP CREATIVE REUSE STORE RECEIVES DONATIONS FROM MORE THAN 200 BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS. OVER 18 TONS OF MATERIALS WERE DIVERTED FROM THE LANDFILL WHILE EMPOWERING BUSINESSES TO REDUCE AND REUSE THEIR EXCESS MATERIALS. 25 SCHOOLS SERVING ABOUT 5,000 STUDENTS BENEFITED FROM THE FREE SCHOOL MATERIALS PROGRAM FOR ART, SCIENCE AND OTHER USES. YOUTH GROUPS, ARTISTS, PARENTS AND THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATED IN THE WASTE DIVERSION TECHNIQUE OF REUSE THROUGH THE ART FROM SCRAP REUSE STORE, WHERE OVER 200 PEOPLE PER WEEK SHOPPED FOR CREATIVE REUSE MATERIALS.
    Expenses $141,943 · revenue $169,594
  • EE MAKERSPACE ART PROGRAM: OVER 5,000 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN ART ACTIVITIES WITH REUSE MATERIALS AS PART OF THEIR EDUCATION FIELD TRIPS, IN-CLASS LESSONS, AND VIRTUAL LESSONS. THESE EXPERIENCES HELPED TO INCREASE THEIR PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS WHICH LEAD TO IMPROVED EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCE. TWICE WEEKLY CRAFTERNOONS ARE OFFERED FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WHILE MONTHLY WORKSHOPS ENGAGE ALL AGES IN SKILLS-BUILDING THAT INCLUDES SEWING, JOURNAL BINDING, AND NEEDLE CRAFTS. EXPLORE ECOLOGY SUPPORTS SCHOOLS, LOCAL ART COLLECTIVES, PERFORMING ART COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS BY PROVIDING UNIQUE RECYCLED MATERIALS AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
    Expenses $63,941 · revenue $30,133

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
20-4944165
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
2006
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Environment (C27)
Assets (IRS master file)
$892,617
Income (IRS master file)
$1,993,161

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2024$1,993,161$1,743,457$892,617IRS
990December 2023$1,474,442$1,561,043$350,095XML
990December 2022$1,257,539$1,226,921$331,641IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990December 2019–––IRS
990December 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 20-4944165).

Questions about EXPLORE ECOLOGY

What is the EIN of EXPLORE ECOLOGY?
The employer identification number (EIN) of EXPLORE ECOLOGY is 20-4944165.
Is EXPLORE ECOLOGY tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2006.
Are donations to EXPLORE ECOLOGY tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does EXPLORE 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 EXPLORE ECOLOGY 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 EXPLORE ECOLOGY 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 EXPLORE ECOLOGY?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names LINDSAY JOHNSON.
Who are the officers and directors of EXPLORE ECOLOGY?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 10 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $91,500 (LINDSAY JOHNSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
How much revenue does EXPLORE ECOLOGY have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $1,993,161, expenses of $1,743,457 and total assets of $892,617 at year end.

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