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Environmental Leadership Program

EIN 04-3521791 · Washington, DC

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SUPPORT VISIONARY, ACTION-ORIENTED, AND DIVERSE LEADERSHIP FOR A JUST AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 46%
Employees
21
Volunteers
27
Highest pay
$140,492, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $933,070 spent. RAY PROGRAM - THE ROGER AIRLINER YOUNG ("RAY") FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES AND TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE OF COLOR WORKING IN CONSERVATION, CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CLEAN ENERGY, THROUGH A PAID TWO-YEAR FELLOWSHIP. IN ADDITION TO THE SUPPORT PROVIDED TO RAY FELLOWS, ELP INVESTS IN THE SUPERVISORS OF RAY FELLOWS THROUGH MULTI-DAY TRAININGS AND MONTHLY 1:1 COACHING. DURING THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024, EIGHT NEW RAY FELLOWS WERE SELECTED AND PLACED WITHIN THE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS FOR A TWO-YEAR FELLOWSHIP WHILE NINE NEW RAY FELLOWS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR CONTINUED THEIR FELLOWSHIP FOR A TOTAL OF 17 RAY FELLOWS IN 2024.
  2. $220,283 spent. DORIS DUKE CONSERVATION SCHOLARSHIP ALUMNI PROGRAM (DORIS DUKE PROGRAM) - IN 2024, ELP MANAGED THE ALUMNI PROGRAM OF THE DORIS DUKE CONSERVATION SCHOLARS PROGRAM ("DDCSP"). WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DORIS DUKE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AND THE FOUR PARTNER UNIVERSITIES RUNNING DDCSP PROGRAMS; UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA CRUZ, THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, ELP CREATED ONLINE CONTENT, A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM AND ONLINE LEADERSHIP TRAININGS TO BUILD AND SUPPORT A THRIVING NETWORK OF EMERGING UNDER-REPRESENTED CONSERVATION PROFESSIONALS. THE ALUMNI NETWORK MAKES THESE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO 600 ALUMNI.
  3. $161,609 spent. CORE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (FORMERLY, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS) - FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024, ELP SELECTED 16 INDIVIDUALS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DELAWARE WATERSHED REGIONAL NETWORK OF THE CORE TRAINING FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. THE CORE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS OFFER INTENSIVE LEADERSHIP AND SKILL TRAININGS AS WELL AS PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL REFLECTION. THROUGH RETREATS, ADDITIONAL TRAININGS, AND GATHERINGS, THE CURRICULUM HELPS EMERGING LEADERS HONE THEIR LEADERSHIP STYLES, IMPROVE THEIR STRATEGY AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND STRENGTHEN THEIR ABILITY TO ENGAGE DIVERSE CONSTITUENCIES.
  4. $133,511 spent. GENERAL PROGRAMS - INCLUDES GENERAL PROGRAM WORK AND SUPPORT TO REGIONAL AND NATIONAL FELLOWS. THE GENERAL PROGRAM ACTIVITIES PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO ELP'S REGIONAL AND NATIONAL FELLOWS AS WELL AS ITS SENIOR FELLOWSHIP COMMUNITY, INCLUDING MORE THAN 2,000 PROGRAM GRADUATES.
  5. GREAT LAKES PROGRAM - THE GREAT LAKES REGIONAL NETWORK PROVIDES INTENSIVE LEADERSHIP AND SKILL TRAINING, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AND TIME FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION TO LEADERS LIVING AND/OR WORKING IN IL, IN, MI, MN, NY, OH AND PA. THROUGH RETREATS AND OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL TRAININGS, ELP'S CURRICULUM HELPS EMERGING LEADERS HONE THEIR LEADERSHIP STYLES, IMPROVE THEIR STRATEGY AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND STRENGTHEN THEIR ABILITIES TO WORK WITH DIVERSE CONSTITUENCIES. THIS PROGRAM WAS DISCONTINUED DURING THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2000.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Caution.

    California's Attorney General lists its registration as revoked as of December 31, 2004. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.