Overview
What is The Community Ecology Institute?
The Community Ecology Institute, situated in Columbia, Maryland, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering harmonious relationships between people and nature. They offer a variety of experiential education programs aimed at engaging families, children, students, and the community at large. Their initiatives include "A Community of Families in Nature," which provides fun, nature-based experiences for families; "Roots & Wings Learning Community," a supplemental program for home-schooled children promoting self-discovery, community connections, and environmental exploration; "Green Seeds Internship," offering work experience and education to high school, college, and graduate students on various ecological and social themes; and "Nourishing Gardens," transforming lawns into nutritious gardens that benefit families, the community, and the environment. The institute's mission is to enhance community health and well-being by fostering diverse connections with the natural world, and it currently employs 15 individuals.
Official website here: www.communityecologyinstitute.org
What are the reviews and ratings of this charity?
Charity Navigator Rating: 93% (Four-Star out of Four Stars)
The Community Ecology Institute has achieved a high rating of 93%, reflecting strong performance in multiple areas, particularly in impact measurement and leadership adaptability where it scored 100. This indicates a robust commitment to evaluating its programs and adjusting strategies to maximize effectiveness. The organization also demonstrates a healthy financial structure with a program expense ratio of 74.42%, suggesting that a significant portion of its funding is directed towards its programs.
The charity is noted for its strong governance, with 92% of board members being independent. It has implemented various policies to ensure accountability, such as a conflict of interest policy and a whistleblower policy, which further enhance its credibility. However, its accountability and finance score of 81 indicates there is room for improvement in financial management practices, despite its overall strong performance.
Additionally, The Community Ecology Institute exhibits a commendable commitment to equity strategies, scoring 89 out of 100. The organization actively collects and utilizes feedback effectively, scoring a perfect 100 in both feedback collection and usage, which shows its dedication to community engagement and continuous improvement. Overall, the Institute presents itself as a well-managed nonprofit with a solid focus on impact and adaptability, albeit with some areas for financial enhancement.
This AI summary has been generated from information found on Charity Navigator.
Is The Community Ecology Institute legitimate?
The Community Ecology Institute is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. The Community Ecology 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: $136,442
Professional Fundraising Fees: $125
Other Salaries and Wages: $78,012
For more financial information, click here
Official website here: www.communityecologyinstitute.org
What is the mission statement of The Community Ecology Institute?
The Community Ecology Institute's mission is centered around enhancing community health and well-being by fostering diverse connections between people and the natural world. In pursuit of this goal, the institute offers various experiential education programs. One such program, Community of Families in Nature, aims to provide nature-based educational experiences for families with children of all ages and their caregivers. Another program, Roots & Wings Learning Community, offers supplemental experiential education for home-schooled children, focusing on creativity, social and emotional learning, and hands-on exploration. The Green Seeds Internship provides experiential education and work experience for high school, college, and graduate students across various social and ecological themes. Lastly, the Nourishing Gardens program aims to transform lawns into gardens that nourish families, communities, and the environment, also offering a green-infrastructure jobs training program.
Official website here: www.communityecologyinstitute.org
Who is the CEO of The Community Ecology Institute?
Chiara D'Amore is the Executive Director of The Community Ecology Institute.
Official website here: www.communityecologyinstitute.org
What is the revenue of The Community Ecology Institute?
The Community Ecology Institute's revenue in 2022 was $1,780,394.
Official website here: www.communityecologyinstitute.org
Who are the executives of The Community Ecology Institute and what are their salaries?
The average compensation at The Community Ecology Institute during 2022 was $14,297. There are 15 employees and 950 volunteers at The Community Ecology Institute.
Here are 14 key members and their salaries:
- Compensation: $96,000
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- Other: $1,737
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- Compensation: $21,945
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- Other: $0
- Compensation: $1,000
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- Other: $0
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- Compensation: $7,500
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- Compensation: $7,500
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- Other: $0
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- Compensation: $0
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- Other: $0
Official website here: www.communityecologyinstitute.org
Where can I find the form 990 for The Community Ecology Institute?
The Community Ecology Institute's most recent form 990 was submitted in 2022 and can be accessed here.
Official website here: www.communityecologyinstitute.org
Learn more at the official website: www.communityecologyinstitute.org
Mission Statement of The Community Ecology Institute
The Community Ecology Institute, with a mission to foster diverse connections between people and nature, strives to enhance community health and well-being. Their primary objective is to cultivate communities where both people and the environment thrive harmoniously. To achieve this, the institute offers a range of experiential education programs.
One of their core initiatives is the Community of Families in Nature (CFIN), which provides nature-based educational activities suitable for the entire family, including children of all ages and their caregivers. The aim is to offer frequent, enjoyable, and friendly experiences that strengthen the bond between people and nature.
Another program offered by the Community Ecology Institute is Roots & Wings Learning Community, designed for home-schooled children. This initiative nurtures a deep connection between individuals, their community, and the environment, emphasizing creativity, social and emotional learning, and hands-on, nature-based exploration.
The Green Seeds Internship is another experiential education program aimed at providing high-school, college, and graduate students with work experience across various social and ecological themes. This program allows students to gain practical knowledge in these areas, contributing to their personal development and future careers.
Lastly, the Nourishing Gardens program aims to transform lawns into gardens that nourish families, the community, and the environment. The program installs food and pollinator gardens in yards, community spaces, and with community-based organizations and businesses. Additionally, it provides a green-infrastructure jobs training program, bringing the benefits, learning, and experience of Freetown Farm directly to the front doors of neighbors.
In summary, The Community Ecology Institute's mission is to foster connections between people and nature, ultimately enhancing community health and well-being. They achieve this by offering experiential education programs, such as the Community of Families in Nature, Roots & Wings Learning Community, Green Seeds Internship, and Nourishing Gardens, which aim to strengthen bonds with nature, nurture personal growth, and promote sustainable practices within communities.
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Impact
July, 2024
The Community Ecology Institute cultivates communities where people and nature thrive together through their various experiential education programs. These programs, including A Community of Families in Nature, Roots & Wings Learning Community, Green Seeds Internship, and Nourishing Gardens, aim to foster connections between individuals and the natural world. By providing opportunities for hands-on learning, creativity, and community engagement, The Community Ecology Institute positively impacts community health and well-being in Columbia, MD. Their efforts not only benefit individuals and families but also contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally conscious society.
This information is meant to be a general summary of The Community Ecology 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.
Other financial information:
This information is from the most recently submitted tax form from this organization, which was in 2022.
- Investment Income: $185
- Program Service Revenue: $244,780
- Gross Receipts: $1,780,394
Assets and Liabilities:
- Total Assets: $1,964,787
- Total Liabilities: $180,021
- Net Assets: $1,784,766
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Programs
Programs are reported by nonprofits in their tax forms and are normally their tax-exempt activities.
TUITION
Revenue
$244,780
Organization Details
Founding Year
2016
Phone
(443) 832-3824Principal Officer
Chiara D'Amore
Main Address
8000 HARRIET TUBMAN LANE, COLUMBIA, MD, 21044
NTEE Category
Code: W99 - Public benefit
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