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Nonprofiteer
← ECO CENTER INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by ECO CENTER INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$6,480,367
Total expenses
$5,582,882
Contributions and grants received
$3,549,356
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$1,487,988
Investment income
$832
Other revenue
$1,442,191
Total assets, end of year
$7,680,072
Total liabilities, end of year
$4,828,712
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$2,851,360
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$2,960,987
Management and general expenses
$2,014,607
Fundraising expenses
$607,288
Program service expenses (Part III)
$2,960,987

Program services were 53.0% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1b · Membership dues

    $168,060

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $43,031

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $3,338,265

  • 2a · Program service revenue: EDUCATION PROGRAMS

    total $1,038,002 · related or exempt $1,038,002

  • 2b · Program service revenue: PRIVATE EVENT

    total $449,986 · related or exempt $449,986

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $832 · related or exempt $832

  • 4 · Income from investment of tax-exempt bond proceeds

    total $0

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $0

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $0

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $306,435

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $306,435

  • 9c · Net income from gaming

    total $0

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $3,897,281

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $2,792,881

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $1,104,400 · excluded $1,104,400

  • 11a · Other revenue: OTHER

    total $31,356 · related or exempt $31,356

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $31,356

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $0

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $0

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $0

  • 4 · Benefits paid to or for members

    total $0

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $245,799 · program services $135,268 · management and general $80,036 · fundraising $30,495

  • 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

    total $0

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $2,828,848 · program services $1,556,767 · management and general $921,116 · fundraising $350,965

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $0

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $215,643 · program services $118,252 · management and general $70,931 · fundraising $26,460

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $343,807 · program services $180,347 · management and general $127,030 · fundraising $36,430

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $0

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $0

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $0

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $0

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $0

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $0

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $424,911 · program services $268,395 · management and general $21,851 · fundraising $134,665

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $30,201 · program services $29,169 · management and general $119 · fundraising $913

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $0

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $0

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $125,000 · management and general $125,000

  • 17 · Travel

    total $10,383 · program services $3,828 · management and general $6,449 · fundraising $106

  • 18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials

    total $0

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $0

  • 20 · Interest

    total $1,758 · management and general $203 · fundraising $1,555

  • 21 · Payments to affiliates

    total $0

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $223,836 · management and general $223,836

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $50,508 · program services $22,038 · management and general $23,539 · fundraising $4,931

  • 24a · Other expenses: PROGRAM EXPENSE

    total $198,328 · program services $198,328

  • 24b · Other expenses: FOOD AND BEVERAGE

    total $177,931 · program services $177,931

  • 24c · Other expenses: SUPPLIES

    total $168,970 · program services $151,463 · management and general $10,288 · fundraising $7,219

  • 24d · Other expenses: FACILITIES EXPENSE

    total $134,365 · management and general $134,365

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $402,594 · program services $119,201 · management and general $269,844 · fundraising $13,549

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,301,080 · end of year $1,233,284

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $315,643 · end of year $226,015

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    end of year $340,000

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $72,387 · end of year $112,414

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    end of year $0

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    end of year $0

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $69,675 · end of year $202,779

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    end of year $0

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $2,311,529

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $695,119

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $364,618 · end of year $1,616,410

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    end of year $0

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    end of year $0

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    end of year $0

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    end of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $4,247,167 · end of year $3,949,170

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $58,617 · end of year $668,529

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $58,617 · end of year $18,839

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $4,299,461 · end of year $4,141,344

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,729,084 · end of year $2,404,028

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $224,791 · end of year $447,332

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE ECOLOGY CENTER IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT EDUCATES AND ENGAGES THE COMMUNITY IN REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE, SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. THROUGH ITS WORKING FARM, HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, SCHOOL AND FAMILY EDUCATION, AND FOOD ACCESS INITIATIVES, THE ORGANIZATION PROMOTES HEALTHY, RESILIENT, AND EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

Activities or mission (Part I)

THE ECOLOGY CENTER IS A COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO BUILDING A HEALTHY, ABUNDANT, AND REGENERATIVE FOOD FUTURE FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES A 28-ACRE WORKING FARM THAT SERVES AS A LIVING CLASSROOM FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, HANDS-ON LEARNING, AND DEMONSTRATIONS OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. THROUGH COMMUNITY EVENTS, SCHOOL AND FAMILY PROGRAMS, FOOD ACCESS INITIATIVES, FARMING EDUCATION, AND ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOLUNTEERS AND VISITORS, THE ECOLOGY CENTER CONNECTS PEOPLE TO HEALTHY LANDSCAPES AND EQUITABLE FOOD SYSTEMS WHILE ADVANCING RESILIENT AND REGENERATIVE COMMUNITY PRACTICES.

  • Education Designed for families in search of a holistic framework for their education, our education programs are an exceptional outlet for learning core academic subjects through the lens of nature. Under the guidance of our Waldorf-inspired teachers, with input from experts and artisans in our Village, TEC uses the patterns of nature, the philosophy of regenerative agriculture, and the practices of our 4 seasonal rotations to instruct and illustrate on a variety of topics.

    Expenses $2,960,987

  • Design and OthersCapital Campaign - Development The Ecology Center's infrastructure build-out towards our forthcoming Eco-Village. This 5+ year program is designed to increase the educational and farming capacity of the property, creating more public engagement opportunities, improving infrastructure, and building necessary structures to accommodate our future farming, culinary, and educational needs.Community Engagement From our Seasonal Taste Festivals to weekend Farm Tours to our Membership Program, we are open to the public 7-days each week with a variety of educational, DIY, tours, speaker series, volunteerism, and deeper engagement opportunities.

As filed on the 2024 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • Evan Marks

    EXEC DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $235,698
    From this org
    $235,698
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $235,698
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    not reported
    Nontaxable benefits
    not reported
    Filer's total
    $235,698
  • Erin Browne

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Adam Hiner

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jennifer Segerstrom

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Scott Olivet

    Chairman

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Roget Wyett

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Marco Guido

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Randy Hild

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Caitlin Wege

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dave Winslow

    VICE CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Adelia Sandoval

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

None.

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
17 November 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202533219349312813

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