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ROMERO INSTITUTE

EIN 95-3527131 SANTA CRUZ, CA

Revenue 2024
$2,005,493
Expenses 2024
$2,894,634

Program services were 80.8% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
Classification
1000
Street
210 HIGH ST 2ND FLOOR

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

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.

Activities or mission (Part I)

EXPOSE SYSTEMIC INJUSTICE AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS FOR GLOBAL WARMING, ECONOMIC INEQUALITY, HUMAN AND INDIGENOUS RIGHTS. THE ORGANIZATION USES IMPACT LITIGATION, INVESTIGATION, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING AND PUBLIC EDUCATION TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE GOALS.

  • 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

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • Markell Brooks

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Gwendolyn Grace

    AUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Chase Iron Eyes

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $87,418
    From this org
    $87,418
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    45

  • Daniel Sheehan

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $145,011
    From this org
    $139,050
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $5,961
    Hours/week
    50

  • Sara Nelson

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $145,011
    From this org
    $139,050
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $5,961
    Hours/week
    50

  • Eric Thiermann

    BOARD CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • James Garrison

    EMPLOYEE

    Total calculated
    $107,011
    From this org
    $107,011
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Karen K Juarez

    EMPLOYEE

    Total calculated
    $108,786
    From this org
    $108,786
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $2,005,493
    Expenses
    $2,894,634
    Contributions
    $1,880,941
    Grants paid
    $131,610
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $2,310,390
    Expenses
    $2,647,278
    Contributions
    $2,353,513
    Grants paid
    $105,660
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $1,876,523
    Expenses
    $3,188,901
    Contributions
    $2,030,333
    Grants paid
    $56,500

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $4,211,706
    Expenses
    $2,734,632
    Assets (EOY)
    $3,321,846

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,012,582
    Expenses
    $2,017,667
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,830,139

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,651,432
    Expenses
    $1,742,912
    Assets (EOY)
    $525,848

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,746,706
    Expenses
    $1,846,793
    Assets (EOY)
    $526,588

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all.

Form 990-N e-Postcard, tax year 2021

Tax period
1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021
Principal officer
Ethridge Darlene
Mailing address
210 High St Fl 2Santa Cruz CA 95060
Website
www.romeroinstitute.com

As filed, from the IRS e-Postcard file of 26 October 2026. The IRS publishes only each organization's most recent postcard, so earlier years are not shown. A 990-N carries no financial detail. The postcard also gives the principal officer's address, which is not shown here.

Grants made

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 29 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.