Nonprofit · EIN 81-3707643
GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY
Tax-exempt · PALO ALTO, CA 94303
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $2,504,845 | $2,243,033 | $261,812 | $1,736,999 | $140,399 | $1,596,600 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $2,249,954 | $2,005,713 | $244,241 | $1,508,492 | $173,704 | $1,334,788 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $1,719,713 | $1,796,832 | -$77,119 | $1,183,846 | $93,299 | $1,090,547 |
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.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KATE DOLKAS | DEVELOPMENT DIR. | 40 | $113,464 | $1,739 |
| JUNKO BRYANT | CO-EXEC DIRECTR Officer | 30 | $98,183 | $1,743 |
| ALEX VON FELDT | CO-EXEC DIRECTR Officer | 30 | $95,940 | $1,743 |
| KIT GORDON | Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ANDY FENSELAU | VICE-CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL WU | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CASEY MULLINS | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID SMERNOFF | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BARBARA ERNY | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JERRY HEARN | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| TINA HUGG | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BARBARA CAMACHO GARCIA | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KAUMUMDI PHANASALKAR | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BART WESTCOTT | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| GARRY SOTNIK | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 14 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KATE DOLKAS | DEVELOPMENT DIR. | 40 | $106,092 | $1,094 |
| JUNKO BRYANT | CO-EXEC DIRECTR Officer | 30 | $97,460 | $1,094 |
| ALEX VON FELDT | CO-EXEC DIRECTR Officer | 30 | $89,960 | $1,094 |
| KIT GORDON | Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ANDY FENSELAU | VICE-CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL WU | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CASEY MULLINS | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID SMERNOFF | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BARBARA ERNY | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JERRY HEARN | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| TINA HUGG | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JAPJIT TULSI | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JULIO CALDERON | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BART WESTCOTT | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 11 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID SMERNOFF | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| JERRY HEARN | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| KIT GORDON | President & CEO Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| BART WESTCOTT | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| ANDY FENSELAU | Vice President Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| JAPJIT TULSI | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| LUCILLE GLASSMAN | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| CASEY MULLINS | Secretary Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| MICHAEL WU | Treasurer Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| BARB ERNY | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| TINA HUGG | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $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
- Website
- GRASSROOTSECOLOGY.ORG/
- 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)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
WE RESTORE NATIVE PLANTS TO OPEN SPACES AND NEIGHBORHOODS, STEWARD CREEKS AND WATERSHEDS, AND PROVIDE HANDS-ON NATURE EDUCATION
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 year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 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
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $2,504,845 | $2,243,033 | $1,736,999 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2024 | $2,249,954 | $2,005,713 | $1,508,492 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2023 | $1,719,713 | $1,796,832 | $1,183,846 | XML |
| 990 | June 2022 | $1,939,340 | $1,674,305 | $1,253,916 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 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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