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Sustainable Pittsburgh

EIN 20-3575951 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROVIDE INFORMATION TO DECISION MAKER IN THE PITTSBURGH REGION TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, SOCIAL EQUITY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY FOR SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES.

Income
$682,371
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
11
Volunteers
2
Highest pay
$114,420, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 75% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 52% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 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, 2025, 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 (1)
  1. $924,149 spent. POLICY ADVOCACY - ENGAGE PARTNERS IN DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND BUILD COALITIONS TO ORGANIZE FOR POSITIVE CHANGES (SMART GROWTH, FIX IT FIRST, TARGETED INVESTMENTS, INTEGRATED INFRASTRUCTURE, EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT). GAIN RAPPORT WITH KEY DECISION- MAKING BODIES AND PARTNER AT THE DECISION-MAKING TABLE. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE - ASSIST COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES TO IMPLEMENT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES WITH AN EYE TOWARD DEMONSTRATING BOTTOM- LINE BENEFITS/WINS AND LINKING TO SP'S POLICY AGENDA. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT - DEMYSTIFY REGIONAL PLANNING AND INVESTMENT PROCESSES AND BUILD CAPACITY FOR DIVERSE CIVIC LEADERS TO GAIN A SEAT AT DECISION-MAKING TABLES FOR LOCAL AND REGIONAL PLANNING AND VISIONING. EDUCATE - CONTIBUE TO INNOVATE A WIDE RANGE OF MEANS TO REACH CIVIC LEADERS REGARDING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BEST PRACTICE AND POLICY OPPORTUNITIES WHILE GROWING THE ORGANIZATION'S NETWORK OF PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. POLICY ADVOCACY - ENGAGE PARTNERS IN DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND BUILD COALITIONS TO ORGANIZE FOR POSITIVE CHANGES (SMART GROWTH, FIX IT FIRST, TARGETED INVESTMENTS, INTEGRATED INFRASTRUCTURE, EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT). GAIN RAPPORT WITH KEY DECISION- MAKING BODIES AND PARTNER AT THE DECISION-MAKING TABLE. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE - ASSIST COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES TO IMPLEMENT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES WITH AN EYE TOWARD DEMONSTRATING BOTTOM- LINE BENEFITS/WINS AND LINKING TO SP'S POLICY AGENDA. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT - DEMYSTIFY REGIONAL PLANNING AND INVESTMENT PROCESSES AND BUILD CAPACITY FOR DIVERSE CIVIC LEADERS TO GAIN A SEAT AT DECISION-MAKING TABLES FOR LOCAL AND REGIONAL PLANNING AND VISIONING. EDUCATE - CONTIBUE TO INNOVATE A WIDE RANGE OF MEANS TO REACH CIVIC LEADERS REGARDING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BEST PRACTICE AND POLICY OPPORTUNITIES WHILE GROWING THE ORGANIZATION'S NETWORK OF PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.

    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 January 2024.

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

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