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Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy

EIN 23-7412105 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MINNESOTA CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT USES LAW, SCIENCE AND RESEARCH TO PROTECT MINNESOTA'S ENVIRONMENT, ITS NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE HEALTH OF ITS PEOPLE.

Income
$5.5 million
Spending
$3.9 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
10.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
37
Volunteers
46
Highest pay
$186,091, chief executive officer

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 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 96% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 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 (4)
  1. $1.2 million spent. CLEAN ENERGY AND CLIMATE: MCEA'S CLIMATE TEAM STRIVES TO ACHIEVE EQUITABLE, ECONOMY-WIDE GHG REDUCTIONS THAT WILL EXCEED BOTH THE AMOUNT AND TIMELINES IN MINNESOTA'S NEXT GENERATION ENERGY ACT AND 100% CARBON FREE BY 2040 LAW, WHILE ENCOURAGING EQUITABLE COMMUNITY AND INSTITUTIONAL RESILIENCE TO ADAPT TO UNAVOIDABLE CLIMATE CHANGE. MCEA ADVOCATES FOR STATE-LEVEL STRATEGIES AT THE LEGISLATURE, AGENCIES, AND COURTS THAT MAXIMIZE REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM ALL SOURCES, INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION, ELECTRICITY, RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, AND AGRICULTURE. MCEA'S STRATEGY INCLUDES LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOURCES FOR MINNESOTA AND SHIFTING AWAY FOSSIL FUEL USE TO REDUCE CARBON POLLUTION. TO SUPPORT THIS GOAL, MCEA SERVES AS LEGAL COUNSEL FOR SEVERAL MINNESOTA CLEAN ENERGY ORGANIZATIONS.
  2. $571,656 spent. NORTHEAST MINNESOTA PROGRAM: THIS PROGRAM WORKS TO PROTECT THE LAND, WATER, AND PEOPLE OF NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA, AND TO PROMOTE A SAFE AND HEALTHY FUTURE FOR ALL NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTANS. MCEA WORKS TO PROTECT NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES AND WATERS FROM MINING POLLUTION, PARTICULARLY SULFIDE MINING POLLUTION, BY HOLDING STATE AGENCIES ACCOUNTABLE IN PERMITTING AND ENFORCEMENT PROCESSES. MCEA ALSO WORKS TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA LANDS, FORESTS, AND BIODIVERSITY, ESPECIALLY FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE. THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN A STRONG CONNECTION TO NORTHEAST MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES MOST AFFECTED BY HISTORIC POLLUTION, AND BUILD BRIDGES TO NEW PARTNERS, INCLUDING THOSE WITH WHOM OUR VIEWS MAY NOT ALWAYS ALIGN.
  3. $680,240 spent. WATER QUALITY: MCEA'S WATER QUALITY PROGRAM FOCUSES ON PROTECTING MINNESOTA'S GREATEST NATURAL RESOURCE AND ECONOMIC ASSET: ITS WATER. MINNESOTANS RELY ON OUR WATER FOR DRINKING, RECREATION, TRAVEL, A WIDE VARIETY OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, AND WELL-BEING. MCEA WORKS TO PROTECT SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER BY SECURING MORE EFFECTIVE CONTROLS ON AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF AND POLLUTION. MCEA PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT LOCAL DRINKING WATER SOURCES FROM A WIDE RANGE OF THREATS THAT UNDERMINE PUBLIC HEALTH. MCEA ALSO ACTS AS A WATCHDOG TO ASSURE THAT OUR STATE AGENCIES ARE FULFILLING THEIR DUTIES REGULATING SOURCES OF POLLUTION AND ENFORCING THE LAW.
  4. $534,615 spent. HEALTHY COMMUNITIES: ENVIRONMENTAL HARMS FALL MORE HEAVILY ON SOME COMMUNITIES THAT ARE HISTORICALLY AND DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND POLLUTION. IN THESE AREAS, ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS ARE OFTEN IGNORED OR ENFORCED IN SUCH A WAY TO PROTECT POLLUTERS, NOT THE COMMUNITY. MCEA'S ADVOCACY FOCUSES ON BUILDING AND PROTECTING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES FOR ALL. THE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES PROGRAM LEVERAGES MCEA'S LEGAL SKILLS, ORGANIZATIONAL RESOURCES, AND ACCESS TO DECISION-MAKERS TO BUILD POWER FOR COMMUNITIES AND FIGHT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ALONGSIDE OUR PARTNERS. MCEA IS PROUD TO HAVE DEDICATED AND GENERAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE WORK FROM ITS FUNDERS, AND INTEGRATES ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PRINCIPLES INTO EVERY ASPECT OF ITS WORK.

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

  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 November 6, 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 June 2025.

    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 November 1974.

    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 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.