Clean Air Council
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Clean Air Council is a member-supported environmental organization serving the Mid-Atlantic Region. The Council is dedicated to protecting and defending everyones right to a healthy environment.
- Income
- $4.2 million
- Spending
- $3.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 6.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 84%
- Employees
- 43
- Highest pay
- $135,822, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 34% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (5)
- $1.4 million spent. Healthy Communities: Stopping harmful pollution in all communities is one of the Councils impact areas in its 2024-2030 Strategic Plan. This year, Clean Air Council held existing and proposed polluting facilities accountable for their pollution. Among other things, the Council petitioned US EPA to reject Pittsburgh-area Edgar Thomson steel mills inadequate air permit and to replace it with a stronger one; successfully pushed for US EPA to pass stronger air quality standards for coke-making facilities to protect communities; supported residents to convince the City of Philadelphia to take enforcement action against illegal auto-repair operations in Southwest Philadelphia; held four events in Philadelphia greenspaces and trails that attracted over 1,000 people; and guided the Philadelphia Technicians Institute to make their campus smoke-free.
- $848,718 spent. Petrochemicals: Stopping dangerous petrochemical projects is one of the Councils impact areas in its 2024-2030 Strategic Plan. This year, the Council worked to prevent proposals for harmful petrochemical facilities from advancing. This work was best exemplified when earlier in 2024 the Council organized impacted communities to successfully prevent the building of Encinas toxic plastics recycling facility in Northumberland County. The Council continued the past year to monitor and organize around similar proposed facilities. The Council also sought the reduction of single-use plastic bags and over the years has supported Pennsylvania municipalities in passing ordinances to limit the use of such bags.
- $480,461 spent. Biking/Walking/Transit/EVs: Promoting walking, biking, transit, and electric vehicles (EV) as the primary way people get around is one of the Councils impact areas in its 2024-2030 Strategic Plan. This year, the Council worked to ensure public transit is convenient, safe, and well-funded. It participated in a coalition to ensure Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) was adequately funded and to prevent cancelled transit services and fare hikes as a result. The Council worked to ensure biking and walking is safe and enjoyable. As in prior years, it organized Love to Ride cycling challenges resulting in over 80,000 miles biked and ran Feet First Philly to make neighborhoods better and safer for walking.
- $364,606 spent. Energy: Phasing out fracking and related operations is one of the Councils impact areas in its 2024-2030 Strategic Plan. So is achieving greater renewable energy in Pennsylvania as the flip side of the same objective of cleaning energy usage in the Commonwealth. This year the Council mobilized grassroots opposition to gas infrastructure and promoted no-drill zones near communities. It petitioned the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to establish mandatory setbacks between wells and homes, schools, hospitals and drinking water wells. The Council also secured ambitious local renewable energy policies that will lead to new renewable energy projects in Pennsylvania. Because of the Councils efforts, three counties adopted solar laws that could result in over 1,000 megawatts of electricity-generating solar projects.
- 4d) Energy: Phasing out fracking and related operations is one of the Councils impact areas in its 2024-2030 Strategic Plan. So is achieving greater renewable energy in Pennsylvania as the flip side of the same objective of cleaning energy usage in the Commonwealth. This year the Council mobilized grassroots opposition to gas infrastructure and promoted no-drill zones near communities. It petitioned the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to establish mandatory setbacks between wells and homes, schools, hospitals and drinking water wells. The Council also secured ambitious local renewable energy policies that will lead to new renewable energy projects in Pennsylvania. Because of the Councils efforts, three counties adopted solar laws.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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 November 6, 2026.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1968.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 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.