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Pennsylvania Environmental Council Inc

EIN 23-7286159 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL (PEC) PROTECTS AND RESTORES THE NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENTS THROUGH INNOVATION, COLLABORATION, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY. PEC BELIEVES IN THE VALUE OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, GOVERNMENT, COMMUNITIES, AND INDIVIDUALS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL PENNSYLVANIANS.

Income
$7.0 million
Spending
$5.2 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
32
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$219,591, president

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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 59% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 16 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 (4)
  1. $3.1 million spent. TRAILS AND OUTDOOR RECREATION: PEC PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR PLANNING, DEVELOPING, AND PROMOTING REGIONAL TRAIL NETWORKS ACROSS THE STATE, MARKETING STATEWIDE WATER TRAILS, AND BUILDING A RECREATION CONSTITUENCY AND PARTNERSHIP NETWORK. OUR PURPOSE IS TO BRING SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY TO EVERY COMMUNITY IN PENNSYLVANIA, AND GIVE CITIZENS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.PECPA.ORG.
  2. $924,929 spent. WATER RESOURCES: PEC WORKS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE COMMONWEALTH'S WATER RESOURCES, INCLUDING PROMOTING COMMUNITY RESTORATION EFFORTS, IMPROVING WATERSHED FUNCTION BY REDUCING FLOODING AND POLLUTION THROUGH ADOPTION OF LEADING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES, STRENGTHENING PENNSYLVANIA'S OVERALL WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS, AND RECOGNIZING THE WORK OF OTHERS TO IMPROVE WATER RESOURCES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.PECPA.ORG.
  3. $396,961 spent. AIR AND CLIMATE: PEC WORKS TO ADDRESS DECARBONIZATION, ENERGY RELIABILITY, AND RESILIENCY ISSUES THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE AND 'ALL OF THE ABOVE' APPROACH. OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE PENNSYLVANIA A LEADER IN TECHNOLOGIES THAT BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMY, AND COMMUNITIES. IN ADDITION, PEC CREATES PARTNERSHIPS TO REMEDIATE LEGACY ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES IN THE COMMONWEALTH. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.PECPA.ORG.
  4. $71,406 spent. POLICY: PEC WORKS WITH PA LEGISLATORS TO LOBBY NEW POLICIES AND REGULATIONS AFFECTING ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSERVATION EFFORTS WITHIN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.

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 October 1973.

    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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