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Alliance for the Great Lakes

EIN 23-7104524 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROTECT, CONSERVE, AND RESTORE THE GREAT LAKES, ENSURING HEALTHY WATER IN THE LAKES AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES FOR ALL GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE.

Income
$7.8 million
Spending
$6.3 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
15 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
28
Volunteers
11,487
Highest pay
$277,165, president & ceo

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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 108% 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 (3)
  1. $1.5 million spent. ADVOCACY & LEADERSHIP: ADVOCACY & LEADERSHIP DRIVES ALLIANCE STAFF MEMBERS TO FORM PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, CIVIC GROUPS AND DECISION-MAKERS TO DEVELOP ACTIONABLE SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT OUR LAKES AND COMMUNITIES. WE DO THIS BY WORKING AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVELS TO ENSURE PROGRAMS AND FUNDING RESTORE OUR GREAT LAKES AND REFLECT A STRONGER FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. THIS WORK ALSO INCLUDES ADVOCATING TO PREVENT THE ONSLAUGHT OF INVASIVE SPECIES, REDUCING SOURCE WATER POLLUTION FROM AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF, STEMMING THE TIDE OF PLASTIC POLLUTION BEING INTRODUCED INTO THE LAKES, AND ENSURING OUR REGION'S WATER SUPPLIES ARE PROTECTED.
  2. $987,571 spent. EDUCATION & ACTION: EDUCATION & ACTION IS THE ALLIANCE'S INITIATIVE TO PROVIDE ACTION-ORIENTED INFORMATION AND PROGRAMS TO COMMUNITIES INTERESTED IN PROTECTING THE LAKES. THIS YEAR, OUR CONSTITUENTS SENT MORE THAN 13,000 MESSAGES TO LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL DECISION-MAKERS TO TAKE ACTION ON MEASURES PROTECTING THE GREAT LAKES AND THOSE WHO RELY ON THEM. NEARLY 10,000 VOLUNTEERS HELPED REMOVE LITTER FROM BEACHES ON ALL FIVE GREAT LAKES AND ALLOWED US TO SURPASS MORE THAN 10 MILLION PIECES OF LITTER REMOVED THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THE ADOPT-A-BEACH PROGRAM. THROUGH OUR FACILITATION, THE STATE REVOLVING FUND ADVOCATES FORUM HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN 200 MEMBERS, PROVIDING VALUABLE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO COMMUNITIES IN CRITICAL NEED OF SAFE DRINKING WATER AND PROTECTION FROM FLOODING AND SEWAGE OVERFLOWS.
  3. $2.6 million spent. RESEARCH & ANALYSIS: RESEARCH & ANALYSIS ENABLES THE ALLIANCE TO LEVERAGE THE WEALTH OF DATA AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ABOUT THE LAKES TO DRIVE PROTECTION AND CLEANUP ACTION. IN APRIL OF 2024, WE RELEASED A REPORT TITLED 20 YEARS OF GREAT LAKES LITTER DATA, WHICH ANALYZED THE LITTER DATASET THE ALLIANCE HAS MAINTAINED THROUGH ITS ADOPT-A-BEACH PROGRAM AND DRAMATICALLY BOOSTED OUR ADVOCACY TO REDUCE THE SOURCES OF PLASTIC POLLUTION. ALSO IN 2024, WE LAUNCHED A 5-YEAR PROJECT CONDUCTING INNOVATIVE WATER TESTING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL POLLUTION IN WESTERN LAKE ERIE. WE BELIEVE THIS DATA WILL INFLUENCE DECISION MAKERS TO INCREASE FUNDING AND TARGETING TO REDUCE AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF AND WILL ACT AS A MODEL FOR OTHER STATES TO CONDUCT SIMILAR PROGRAMS. THE ALLIANCE ALSO BEGAN A 2-YEAR PROJECT WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO TO DEVELOP A FLOODING VULNERABILITY TOOL AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT ROADMAP TO IMPROVE DRINKING WATER QUALITY, REDUCE FLOODING, AND ENHANCE PUBLIC HEALTH OUTCOMES.

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 1971.

    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.

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.