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Mission Statement
The Ecology Center models creative solutions for thriving on planet Earth. Our non-profit organization believes in a culture that gives more than it takes. We believe everyone should have access to the tools, knowledge, and skills that promote healthy communities in the 21st century. Our farm is designed to inspire interaction with our ecosystem and transform our relationship with each other.
Background Statement
The Ecology Center’s headquarters is located in the 140 year old, historic Congdon Farmhouse in San Juan Capistrano, CA. For 15 years, The Ecology Center has successfully served many thousands of children and families; hundreds of progressive educators; and dozens of farmers from Orange County and surrounding areas. In 2018, the San Juan Capistrano City Council unanimously voted to allow the Center to extend operations from its original 1-acre facility to encompass the city’s entire parcel of 28-acres, granting us both the opportunity and responsibility to become the long-term stewards of the city’s last remaining farmland. This larger lease holding allows the Center to greatly expand its educational offerings and capacity while ensuring the future of organic farming in this region. The Ecology Center then became the first farm to receive the new Regenerative Organic Certification by the ROA. In 2022, The Ecology Center signed a 40 year license agreement with the city, ensuring a legacy of Regenerative Organic Agriculture and a dedicated space for our community to Grow, Eat, and Make for generations to come.
Impact Statement
The Ecology Center seeks to provide a blueprint for living abundantly on planet Earth - to explore what it looks, tastes, and feels like when humans live in harmony with nature and one another. We are in business to shift culture. By curating ecological experiences for everyone, we provide creative yet achievable solutions for thriving on planet Earth.
Needs Statement
Our culture has become disconnected from our environment and the ecosystems that surround us. It is increasingly harder to know where food comes from, how food is grown, how products are made, or what it means to support a local economy. The Ecology Center aims to reconnect people and our community to our natural ecosystem. To build a thriving, abundant future, our communities need the skills, knowledge, and education to work with nature and not against it. The challenges our organization aims to solve fall under three main categories. Environment: The industrialization of our agricultural systems has brought disease to humans, our planet, waterways, and wildlife. Agricultural practices are among the largest contributors to climate change. Access: As a nation, we have never grown more food, yet food and nutritional insecurity are at an all-time high. People are living outside of their relationship to real food, subsisting on chemically processed foods. 9% of people in Orange County are living below the poverty level. Agriculture: Our community of farmers are aging and skills are not being handed down intergenerationally. Those who remain in agricultural jobs lack job security and living wages. Large Monocrop farms use extractive practices leading to damage to our waterways, soil, and wildlife.
Geographic Areas Served
Located in San Juan Capistrano, The Ecology Center primarily serves residents and students in the Orange County area, with additional members and visitors from San Diego, Los Angeles, and Riverside counties.
Top Three Populations Served
Farm workers
Seniors/Older Adults
Children ages 0-5
Statement from the CEO/Executive Director
Our goal is to create a culture of sustainability where together we work to ensure the health of our environment and community. To do this, we've created a regional hub to gather and share progressive ideas and skills in building a healthy household and community. Please join us!
Statement from the Board Chair/President
--
Farm Stand and Farm Share
| Nourishes our community with organic produce sourced from our farm or from farmers within 250 miles. Our Farm Stand is open daily with an offering of local organic fruits and vegetables, artisan bread and tortillas, bulk organic pantry and housecare products, and organic seedlings. We offer a 100% match to CalFresh/EBT dollars spent in the Farm Stand. In our Farm Share program, subscribers receive a bi-weekly Harvest Box with an abundance of organic produce, an artisinal pantry item made in our Fermentation Lab, and a recipe card created by our world-class culinary team. | |
| Budget | $2,560,000 |
|---|---|
| Outcomes | Safe, accessible, and affordable produce to nourish families and support our thriving ecosystem. |
Eco-Tots
| A sensory, hands-on learning experience of the wonders of the garden for children and their parents. Participants help care for our gardens, save and plant seeds, enjoy a taste from the farm, protect indigenous plants, build shelters and fairy houses, and make beautiful arts and crafts from nature’s bounty. | |
| Budget | $69,904 |
|---|---|
| Outcomes | Children develop a love for learning, while actively nourishing the community, catalyzing a profound and lasting change in our relationship between people and the planet. |
Engagement
| The Ecology Center offers a multitude of engagement opportunities for our community members to connect with the farm and village. Current offerings include farm tours, workshops, seasonal festivals, Community Table dinners, Peace Pizza days, and Strawberry U-Pick. | |
| Budget | $864,011 |
|---|---|
| Outcomes | Explore, learn, and get inspired by happenings on the farm; and acquire new skills for thriving in the modern world. |
Feast Verde and Field Trips
| Our Grow–Eat–Make field trips serve as a collaborative opportunity to come and safely explore our eco-agricultural oasis. We invite school groups and homeschooling pods for an in-depth, hands-on experience of meaningful work on our organic farm, with the aim of fostering co-creation of a thriving, healthy community. During our field trips, students walk in the footsteps of our designers, farmers, cultivators, seed savers, and chefs, partaking of the natural beauty and collective labor of a thoughtfully cultivated ecosystem. | |
| Budget | $200,000 |
|---|---|
| Outcomes | Through unique and meaningful experiences, connect children and their families to food, agriculture, and culture; and inspire our next generation to be stewards for a healthy future. |
Farm Raised
| Farm Raised is The Ecology Center’s suite of homeschooling enrichment experiences for children in grades 1 to 8. Designed for families in search of a holistic framework for their child’s education, Farm Raised is an exceptional program for learning through the lens of nature. | |
| Budget | $255,347 |
|---|---|
| Outcomes | Under the guidance of our village teachers, farmers, chefs, parents, and artisans, children learn from the patterns of nature, the philosophy of regenerative agriculture, and the practices of our four seasonal crop rotations to instruct and illustrate foundational curriculum. |
Rad! Traditions
| A once-a-week after-school program lasting 5 weeks, Rad Traditions is guided by our Grow-Eat-Make principles and offers a holistic experience of The Ecology Center through the lens and tools of the farmer, the chef, and the artist. | |
| Budget | $213,609 |
|---|---|
| Outcomes | Students discover what it’s like to be a farmer and chef while exploring the possibilities of connecting with nature and Regenerative Farming. |
Microgreens
| Inspired by the seasonal rhythms that guide our life here on the farm, this 12-week series of parent-child classes are designed to provide the ideal ecosystem to support our growing children. Babies and children up to age six, together with their parents and caregivers, will gather in our beautifully designed Children’s Garden to spend time in nature while enjoying the nourishment and support of our community. | |
| Budget | $76,194 |
|---|---|
| Outcomes | Children and their parents will engage in many experiential activities surrounded by nature, including games, music, studies, and other group activities, as well as individual time for families to explore nature while building conscious connection with each other. |
CEO/Executive Director
Evan Marks
CEO/Executive Director Experience
Evan Mark is the Founder, Executive Director, and visionary behind The Ecology Center. With a degree from University of California Santa Cruz in Agro-Ecology (sustainable agriculture), Evan spent nine years working in a professional capacity in Ecological Design in California, Hawaii, and internationally in Costa Rica, Peru, Mexico, Ghana and Nigeria. His vision to transform modern agriculture into an integrated, organic management system manifested in Evan building The Ecology Center from a dirt lot into a robust and regional hub for eco-education. Evan continues to develop programs that inspire people to be active participants in sustainable environmental change.
Staff Information
| Number of Full-Time Staff | 54 |
|---|---|
| Number of Part-Time Staff | 8 |
| Number of Volunteers | 1,500 |
| Number of Contract Staff | 3 |
Staff Demographics - Ethnicity
| African American/Black | -- |
|---|---|
| Asian American/Pacific Islander | -- |
| Caucasian | -- |
| Hispanic/Latino | -- |
| Native American/American Indian | -- |
| Other (Please Specify) | -- |
| Other | -- |
Staff Demographics - Gender
| Female | -- |
|---|---|
| Male | -- |
| Not Specified | -- |
Awards
| Award | Awarding Organization | Year |
|---|
Board Chair
| First Name | Last Name | Company Affiliation | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dave | Winslow | Epic Media | January 1, 2022 | -- |
Board Members
| Name | Company Affiliation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Marco Guido | DG Management | Voting |
| Kaitrin Cooper | Entrepreneur/ Philanthropist | Voting |
| Evan Marks | The Ecology Center | NonVoting |
| Caitlin Wege | Venture Capitalist/ Philanthropist | Voting |
| Erin Browne | PIMCO | Voting |
| Dave Winslow | Epic | Voting |
| Randy Hild | Quicksilver | Voting |
| Sara Lowell | Marisla | Voting |
| Adelia Sandoval | Acjachemen Elder | NonVoting |
| Adam Hiner | Boochcraft | Voting |
| Scott Olivet | Corporate Leadership | Voting |
| Roger Wyett | Corporate Leadership | Voting |
Board Demographics - Ethnicity
| African American/Black | 0 |
|---|---|
| Asian American/Pacific Islander | 0 |
| Caucasian | 11 |
| Hispanic/Latino | 0 |
| Native American/American Indian | 1 |
| Other (Please Specify) | -- |
| Other | -- |
Board Demographics - Gender
| Female | 5 |
|---|---|
| Male | 7 |
| Not Specified | 0 |
Board Stats
| Number of times full board meets in a year | 4 |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Board Members Making Monetary Contributions | 100% |
Current Fiscal Year
| Fiscal Year Start Date | January 1, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Fiscal Year End Date | December 31, 2024 |
| Projected Revenue | $8,590,107 |
| Projected Expense | $7,341,217 |
Revenue vs. Expense ($)
Expense Breakdown: 2022 (%)
Expense Breakdown: 2021 (%)
Expense Breakdown: 2020 (%)
990 Tax Form - Newest 990 Year opens each July
| Tax Year 2023 Form 990 (Fiscal Year ending in 2023) | |
|---|---|
| Tax Year 2022 Form 990 (Fiscal Year ending in 2022) | Download |
| Tax Year 2021 Form 990 (Fiscal Year ending in 2021) | Download |
| Tax Year 2020 Form 990 (Fiscal Year ending in 2020) | Download |
Prior Three Years Total Revenue and Expense Totals
| Fiscal Year | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $4,289,247 | $4,544,260 | $4,248,288 |
| Total Expenses | $4,219,348 | $4,802,035 | $3,356,532 |
Prior Three Years Revenue Sources
| Fiscal Year | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation and Corporation Contributions | $2,665,403 | $2,912,856 | $3,421,111 |
| Government Contributions | -- | $17,923 | $329,034 |
| Federal | -- | -- | -- |
| State | -- | -- | -- |
| Local | -- | -- | -- |
| Unspecified | -- | -- | -- |
| Individual Contributions | -- | -- | -- |
| Indirect Public Support | -- | -- | -- |
| Earned Revenue | $1,344,790 | $1,300,133 | $378,481 |
| Investment Income, Net of Losses | -$1,377 | $11,395 | $6,066 |
| Membership Dues | $111,916 | $37,700 | $53,705 |
| Special Events | $131,515 | $256,923 | $56,226 |
| Revenue In-Kind | $37,000 | $7,330 | $2,677 |
| Other Revenue | $0 | $0 | $5,744 |
Prior Three Years Expense Allocations by Type
| Fiscal Year | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program Expense | $3,012,042 | $3,439,370 | $2,639,349 |
| Administration Expense | $737,122 | $914,026 | $408,354 |
| Fundraising Expense | $470,184 | $448,639 | $308,829 |
| Payments to Affiliates | -- | -- | -- |
| Total Revenue/Total Expenses | 1.02 | 0.95 | 1.27 |
| Program Expense/Total Expenses | 71% | 72% | 79% |
| Fundraising Expense/Total Revenue | 11% | 10% | 7% |
Prior Three Years Assets and Liabilities
| Fiscal Year | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,265,802 | $2,699,714 | $2,908,021 |
| Current Assets | $2,742,395 | $2,113,400 | $2,271,870 |
| Long-Term Liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Current Liabilities | $1,142,694 | $646,505 | $597,037 |
| Total Net Assets | $2,123,108 | $2,053,209 | $2,310,984 |
Short Term Solvency
| Fiscal Year | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Assets/Current Liabilities | 2.4 | 3.27 | 3.81 |
Long Term Solvency
| Fiscal Year | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-Term Liabilities/Total Assets | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Endowment/Capital Campaigns
| Endowment Value | -- |
|---|---|
| Spending Policy | -- |
| Percentage | -- |
| Are you currently in a Capital Campaign? | Yes |
| Capital Campaign Purpose | Imagine that by creating a space for collaboration and creative problem solving, a farm could become the classroom for the next generation, while nourishing the community and catalyzing a profound and lasting change in our relationship between food and agriculture. When our children have a space to put their hands in the soil, they learn compassion for nature, while experiencing the joy of tasting food directly from the Earth. We are building a farm and community center that will promote the values and share the knowledge needed for a healthy future. We will welcome visitors every day into our classrooms for real-world educational experiences that will enable all of us to be more innovative, entrepreneurial, and better connected to the greater community and environment. Our multidimensional training will combine ecologically focused food production with food preparation and service, science, education, and related arts. |
| Campaign Goal | $20,000,000 |
| Capital Campaign Start Date | January 1, 2018 |
| Capital Campaign End Date | December 31, 2026 |
| Capital Campaign Raised-to-Date Amount | $7,000,000 |
Legal
| Year of Incorporation | 2009 |
|---|---|
| EIN | 80-0308638 |
| California State Charity Registration Number* | CT0179033 |
| Organization's type of tax exempt status | 501(c)(3) |
| IRS Letter of Determination | Download |
| Legal Name | Eco Center, Inc. |
| Year Founded | 2008 |
| Organization DBA | The Ecology Center |
| Former Names | Eco Center, Inc. |
| Status of IRS required filings including 990s | Current |
| Status of CA required filings including form RRF-1 | Current |
| Date form RRF-1 filed | November 20, 2023 |
Contact
| Fax Number | -- |
|---|---|
| Other Website | -- |
| theecologycenter | |
| -- |
Our Story
The Ecology Center’s headquarters is located in the 140 year old, historic Congdon Farmhouse in San Juan Capistrano, CA. For 15 years, The Ecology Center has successfully served many thousands of children and families; hundreds of progressive educators; and dozens of farmers from Orange County and surrounding areas.
In 2018, the San Juan Capistrano City Council unanimously voted to allow the Center to extend operations from its original 1-acre facility to encompass the city’s entire parcel of 28-acres, granting us both the opportunity and responsibility to become the long-term stewards of the city’s last remaining farmland. This larger lease holding allows the Center to greatly expand its educational offerings and capacity while ensuring the future of organic farming in this region. The Ecology Center then became the first farm to receive the new Regenerative Organic Certification by the ROA. In 2022, The Ecology Center signed a 40 year license agreement with the city, ensuring a legacy of Regenerative Organic Agriculture and a dedicated space for our community to Grow, Eat, and Make for generations to come.
The Ecology Center seeks to provide a blueprint for living abundantly on planet Earth - to explore what it looks, tastes, and feels like when humans live in harmony with nature and one another. We are in business to shift culture. By curating ecological experiences for everyone, we provide creative yet achievable solutions for thriving on planet Earth.
Contact
The Ecology Center
32701 Alipaz Street
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Evan Marks
info@theecologycenter.org
Phone: 949-443-4223
https://www.theecologycenter.org
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