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Clean Fuels Ohio

EIN 04-3595329 · Lakewood, OH

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak8 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

CLEAN FUELS OHIO IS A STATEWIDE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROMOTING THE USE OF CLEANER, DOMESTIC FUELS AND EFFICIENT VEHICLES TO THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WE PROVIDE HANDS ON TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO TRANSPORTATION PROFESSIONALS, CONDUCT OUTREACH ON SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION ENERGY POLICIES, AND SERVE AS AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE CLEARINGHOUSE FOR FLEETS, POLICYMAKERS, AND THE PUBLIC.

Income
$321,408
Spending
$470,501
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
-2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 65%
Employees
6
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$56,337, chief executive officer

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

Weak: 8 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 199% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 46% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 81% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. $6,883 spent. CONSULTING: CLEAN FUELS OHIO PROVIDES FEE FOR SERVICE WORK FOR FLEETS AND ORGANIZATIONS LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE IN EVALUATING THEIR FUEL AND TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS TO REDUCE THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT AND ECONOMIC BURDEN. CLEAN FUELS OHIO ASSISTS IN DEVELOPING FLEET PLANNING, SUSTAINABILITY PLANTS, AND GRANT WRITING FOR PROJECTS THAT PROVIDE LONG TERM COST SAVINGS AND FUEL REDUCTIONS FOR VEHICLE FLEETS.
  2. $38,747 spent. EDUCATION & OUTREACH: AS UNBIASED SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AROUND ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND EFFICIENCY TECHNOLOGIES, CLEAN FUELS OHIO PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FLEETS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS. THROUGH EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, WEBINARS,MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS, AND VARIOUS REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS, CLEAN FUELS OHIO KEEPS ALL STAKEHOLDERS UP TO DATE ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ALTERNATIVE FUELS INDUSTRY, PROVIDING A FUEL-NEUTRAL PERSPECTIVE. CLEAN FUELS OHIO REGULARLY MEETS WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO PROVIDE EXPERTANALYSIS AND OPINION, AND PERFORMS OUTREACH THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, TRADITIONAL MEDIA, AND REGULAR EVENTS HELD ACROSS THE STATE.
  3. $203,962 spent. GREEN FLEETS: THE OHIO GREEN FLEETS PROGRAM RECOGNIZES AND ASSISTS OHIO FLEETS IN TAKING STEPS TOWARDS REDUCING THEIR PETROLEUM USAGE AND VEHICLE EMISSIONS. THROUGH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, TRAININGS, EVENTS, AND CONNECTIONS WITH STAKEHOLDERS, CLEAN FUELS OHIO GUIDES FLEETS THROUGH THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF VARIOUS TECHNOLOGIES AND FUELS. AFTER IMPLEMENTATION, THE OHIO GREEN FLEETS PROGRAM CERTIFIES AND RECOGNIZES FLEETS WHO HAVE ACHIEVED EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS, FUEL USAGE REDUCTIONS, AND COST SAVINGS THROUGH USE OF SUCH TECHNOLOGIES. CLEAN FUELS OHIO REGULARLY HOSTS THE OHIO GREEN FLEETS AWARDS, RECOGNIZING THE ANNUAL CLASS FOR THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENTS. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED ON A PERFORMANCE-BASED METRIC, AND ENCOMPASSES ALL FUEL AND TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS INCLUDINGBIODIESEL, NATURAL GAS, PROPANE, ELECTRIC, CLEAN DIESEL, IDLE-REDUCTION AND FUEL ECONOMY STRATEGIES.
  4. $41,318 spent. POLICY: AS A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT AND UNBIASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, CLEAN FUELS OHIO WORKS TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO THE ADOPTION OF ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION FUEL BY WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. CLEAN FUELS OHIO REGULARLY MEETS WITH LEGISLATORS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND STAKEHOLDERS TO EDUCATE AROUND ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND TO IDENTIFY ANY POLICY RELATED CHALLENGES THAT MAY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2000.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 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.