nonprofit logo

Cottonwood Institute

Learn about this cause: What are the reviews? Is it Legit? Do I like the mission? What is the CEO's salary?

EIN: 201822172 ✦ Denver, CO ✦ Designated as a 501(c)(3)

Shop smarter and support your favorite cause at the same time! With the Give Freely browser extension, you'll automatically save money with coupons, and partner stores will donate to your chosen charity - at no extra cost to you. Start giving back with a single click. It's safe, free, and spam-free, guaranteed!

Overview

What is Cottonwood Institute?

Cottonwood Institute is a nonprofit organization based in Denver, Colorado. Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing global pandemic, Cottonwood Institute has been actively involved in connecting middle and high school students to nature and inspiring them to protect it. During the 2021-22 school year, they collaborated with 18 educational partners, delivering 34 separate programs and working with 785 youth along the Colorado Front Range. These interactions resulted in 21,475 program contact hours and 7,168 service learning hours for their donor-supported programs. Notably, Cottonwood Institute focuses its efforts on schools and youth organizations that work with students of color, many of whom qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating a focus on underserved communities.


Official website here: www.cottonwoodinstitute.org

What are the reviews and ratings of this charity?

Charity Navigator Rating: 100% (Four-Star out of Four Stars)

Cottonwood Institute has received a perfect score of 100% from Charity Navigator, indicating exceptional standards in accountability and finance. This high rating reflects the organization's commitment to transparency and sound financial management, which is essential for building trust with donors and stakeholders.

The organization boasts an independent board composed entirely of eight members, ensuring unbiased governance. Additionally, Cottonwood Institute demonstrates strong financial practices, with no diversion of assets and a high program expense ratio of 93.84%, highlighting its focus on delivering impactful programs rather than administrative costs.

While the ratings reflect exemplary financial health and governance, the summary does not indicate any specific programmatic achievements or community outcomes. Future evaluations could benefit from insights into the organization’s overall impact in the community it serves.


This AI summary has been generated from information found on Charity Navigator.

Is Cottonwood Institute legitimate?

Cottonwood Institute is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. Cottonwood Institute submitted a form 990, which is a tax form used by tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., indicating its operational transparency and adherence to regulatory requirements. Donations to this organization are tax deductible.


Heare are some key statistics you may want to consider:

Executive Compensation: $80,740
Professional Fundraising Fees: $0
Other Salaries and Wages: $313,090

For more financial information, click here


Official website here: www.cottonwoodinstitute.org

What is the mission statement of Cottonwood Institute?

The Cottonwood Institute is dedicated to fostering a connection between middle and high school students and nature, with the ultimate goal of inspiring them to protect it. During the 2021-22 school year, despite the ongoing global pandemic, the Institute collaborated with 18 educational partners, delivering 34 separate programs and working with 785 youth along the Colorado Front Range. Their efforts resulted in 21,475 program contact hours and 7,168 service learning hours for their donor-supported programs. Notably, the Institute primarily focuses on schools and youth organizations that work with students of color, many of whom qualify for free or reduced lunch, an indicator of poverty.


Official website here: www.cottonwoodinstitute.org

Who is the CEO of Cottonwood Institute?

Ford Church is the Executive Di of Cottonwood Institute.


Official website here: www.cottonwoodinstitute.org

What is the revenue of Cottonwood Institute?

Cottonwood Institute's revenue in 2022 was $665,055.


Official website here: www.cottonwoodinstitute.org

Who are the executives of Cottonwood Institute and what are their salaries?

The average compensation at Cottonwood Institute during 2022 was $15,147. There are 26 employees and 40 volunteers at Cottonwood Institute.


Here are 11 key members and their salaries:


Ford Church (Executive Di)
  • Compensation: $77,005
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $3,420
Allie Cohen (Board Chair)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
D'Andre Curtis (Board Member)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Chris Franks (Board Chair)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
John Wharton Jd (Board Member)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Kevin Lambert (Board Member)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Annie Peuquet (Board Member)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Amy Regnier (Secretary)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Amy Rosenblum (Board Member)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Juan Perez Saez (Board Member)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Sarah Whitson (Board Member)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0


Official website here: www.cottonwoodinstitute.org

Where can I find the form 990 for Cottonwood Institute?

Cottonwood Institute's most recent form 990 was submitted in 2022 and can be accessed here.


Official website here: www.cottonwoodinstitute.org

Learn more at the official website: www.cottonwoodinstitute.org

Mission Statement of Cottonwood Institute

The Cottonwood Institute is an organization dedicated to connecting middle and high school students with nature, inspiring them to protect it. Their mission is to foster a deep connection between young people and the natural world, aiming to instill in them a sense of responsibility towards its preservation.

During the 2021-22 school year, despite the ongoing global pandemic, the Cottonwood Institute made significant strides in achieving its goals. They collaborated with 18 educational partners, delivered 34 separate programs, and worked with 785 youth along the Colorado Front Range. The Institute logged a total of 21,475 program contact hours and recorded 7,168 service learning hours for its donor-supported programs.

Notably, the Cottonwood Institute primarily works with schools and youth organizations that cater to students of color, many of whom qualify for free or reduced lunch, an indicator of poverty. This focus underscores their commitment to ensuring that all young people, regardless of their socio-economic background, have the opportunity to learn about and engage with nature.

Shop smarter and support your favorite cause with the Give Freely browser extension. Save money with coupons and donate to charity with a single click. Download now!

Impact




July, 2024

Cottonwood Institute's impact can be seen through its efforts to connect middle and high school students to nature and inspire them to protect it. Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing global pandemic, in the 2021-22 school year, Cottonwood Institute teamed up with 18 educational partners, delivered 34 separate programs, and worked with 785 youth along the Colorado Front Range. This resulted in 21,475 program contact hours and recorded 7,168 service learning hours for its donor-supported programs. Additionally, Cottonwood Institute primarily works with schools and youth organizations that serve students of color, many of whom qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating a focus on reaching underprivileged communities.




This information is meant to be a general summary of Cottonwood Institute. Please take the time to review official sources before making any decisions based upon the content provided here.


Financials

This financial information is from Propublica.

Revenue
$665,055 (2022)
Expenses
$629,722 (2022)
Efficiency

Other financial information:

This information is from the most recently submitted tax form from this organization, which was in 2022.

  • Investment Income: $5,223
  • Program Service Revenue: $112,801
  • Gross Receipts: $683,273

Assets and Liabilities:

  • Total Assets: $406,243
  • Total Liabilities: $160,048
  • Net Assets: $246,195

Want to help this charity, for free? You can click here to learn more about Give Freely

Programs

Programs are reported by nonprofits in their tax forms and are normally their tax-exempt activities.

COMMUNITY PROJECTS

Revenue

$112,801

Organization Details

Founding Year

2004

Principal Officer

Ford Church

Main Address

PO BOX 7067, DENVER, CO, 802070067

NTEE Category

Code: C60 - Environment

If you are a representative of Cottonwood Institute and wish to learn more about how Give Freely can help you raise funds, please click here: https://givefreely.com/nonprofits/. Our services are offered at no cost to your organization.