Ohio Environmental Council
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH OF ALL OHIO COMMUNITIES THROUGH LEGAL AND POLICY ADVOCACY, DECISION-MAKER ACCOUNTABILITY, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
- Income
- $3.8 million
- Spending
- $3.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 8.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 36
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $168,210, ceo
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
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 2515 of 15 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 (6)
- $1.3 million spent. THE OEC ADVANCED SCIENCE-BASED, PEOPLE-CENTERED ADVOCACY THAT DELIVERED MEASURABLE POLICY OUTCOMES FOR OHIO'S LAND, WATER, ENERGY, AND DEMOCRACY. THROUGH SUSTAINED LEGISLATIVE ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION, COALITION LEADERSHIP, AND RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING, OEC FOCUSED MUCH OF ITS WORK ON ENERGY POLICY REFORM. THE RESULTING POLICY ELIMINATED LEGACY COAL SUBSIDIES, STRENGTHENED UTILITY OVERSIGHT, AND IMPROVED GRID TRANSPARENCY, REPRESENTING BIPARTISAN PROGRESS GROUNDED IN DATA AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY. FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF A MAJOR ENERGY BILL, OEC EDUCATED OHIOANS ABOUT ITS IMPACTS AND ENGAGED WITH THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF OHIO ON IMPLEMENTATION OF KEY ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION UTILITY TRANSPARENCY PROVISIONS.(PROGRAM NARRATIVE CONTINUES IN SCHEDULE O)OEC PROVIDED CONSISTENT ADVOCACY BEFORE REGULATORY STATE AGENCIES AND IN OTHER PUBLIC FORUMS TO DEFEND CLEAN WATER PROTECTIONS, SAFEGUARD PUBLIC LANDS, ADVANCE EQUITABLE CLEAN ENERGY SOLUTIONS, AND INCREASE DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION-MAKING. OUR TEAM PAIRED POLICY EXPERTISE WITH COMMUNITY VOICES, ENSURING THAT THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY DECISIONS WERE REPRESENTED IN THE POLICYMAKING PROCESS.OEC'S ADVOCACY MODEL EMPHASIZES DURABLE CHANGE: ALIGNING RESEARCH, GRASSROOTS ENGAGEMENT, AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS TO MOVE POLICY FORWARD WHILE BUILDING LONG-TERM CAPACITY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP ACROSS OHIO.
- $964,483 spent. OUR REGIONAL FIELD TEAM SUPPORTED COMMUNITY-DRIVEN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY ACROSS OHIO, ENSURING LOCAL PRIORITIES SHAPED STATEWIDE POLICY OUTCOMES. IN SOUTHWEST OHIO, OEC LEVERAGED PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE CINCINNATI REGION TO ADVANCE CLEAN ENERGY, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT, ELEVATING COMMUNITY VOICES ON ENERGY AFFORDABILITY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE. IN CLEVELAND, WE UNITED PARTNERS AND AMPLIFIED COMMUNITY VOICES TO ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES SHAPED THE CITY'S SUSTAINABILITY AGENDA. THE YEAR ALSO INCLUDED THE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT EVENT, CONVENING COALITION MEMBERS, MAYOR JUSTIN BIBB, AND LOCAL ADVOCATES TO STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION AND SHARED ACCOUNTABILITY IN ADVANCING CLEVELAND'S SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.(PROGRAM NARRATIVE CONTINUES IN SCHEDULE O)IN CENTRAL OHIO, OEC MOBILIZED ADVOCATES TO ENGAGE IN UTILITY ACCOUNTABILITY, GRID TRANSPARENCY, AND CLEAN ENERGY POLICY, SUPPORTING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND LEGISLATIVE OUTREACH FOR MAJOR REFORMS. IN SOUTHEAST OHIO, OEC WORKED WITH RURAL AND APPALACHIAN COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT PUBLIC LANDS AND WATERWAYS, ADDRESS EXTRACTION-RELATED CONCERNS, AND BUILD DURABLE, PLACE-BASED ADVOCACY CAPACITY. TOGETHER, OEC'S FIELD PROGRAM TRANSLATED LOCAL ENGAGEMENT INTO LASTING STATEWIDE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS.
- $126,676 spent. THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM EXPANDED STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL VISIBILITY FOR OHIO'S ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES THROUGH STRATEGIC MEDIA ENGAGEMENT AND DIRECT AUDIENCE OUTREACH. OEC REACHED MORE THAN 39,000 DEDICATED SUBSCRIBERS THROUGH DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS, EXPANDING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVOCACY ACROSS THE STATE.THE ORGANIZATION SECURED SIGNIFICANT MEDIA PLACEMENTS, MENTIONS, AND INTERVIEWS, INCLUDING COVERAGE IN TOP OUTLETS SUCH AS THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH, GONGWER, YAHOO! NEWS, MSN, CRAIN'S CLEVELAND BUSINESS, OHIO CAPITAL JOURNAL, COLUMBUS BUSINESS FIRST, CANARY MEDIA, AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, CLEVELAND.COM, AND THE GUARDIAN, ALONGSIDE REGIONAL MASS MEDIA(PROGRAM NARRATIVE CONTINUES IN SCHEDULE O)PRESS. THIS COVERAGE GENERATED MORE THAN NINE MILLION EARNED MEDIA IMPRESSIONS, ELEVATING OEC AS A TRUSTED VOICE ON CLEAN ENERGY REFORM, WATER PROTECTION, PUBLIC LANDS, AND DEMOCRATIC ACCOUNTABILITY. ACROSS EARNED AND DIRECT COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS, OEC'S MESSAGING EMPHASIZED CLARITY, CREDIBILITY, AND IMPACT - CONNECTING COMPLEX POLICY ISSUES TO REAL-WORLD OUTCOMES.
- $210,492 spent. THE OEC EXECUTED A DYNAMIC SLATE OF EVENTS AND OUTREACH INITIATIVES THAT EXPANDED PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, ELEVATED ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY, AND FOSTERED COMMUNITY-DRIVEN ACTION ACROSS OHIO. WE CONVENED HUNDREDS OF ADVOCATES, PARTNERS, AND RESIDENTS AT THE 2025 GREEN GALA IN COLUMBUS, CELEBRATING ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPIONS WHILE STRENGTHENING STATEWIDE NETWORKS AND PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT. THE OHIO PUBLIC INTEREST ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CONFERENCE AT THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY BROUGHT TOGETHER LAWYERS, POLICYMAKERS, STUDENTS, AND ADVOCATES TO EXPLORE EMERGING LEGAL AND POLICY SOLUTIONS, FOSTERING CROSS-SECTOR LEARNING AND COLLABORATION.THROUGH OUR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT SERIES: ADVOCACY LESSONS FROM THE FIELD, OEC EQUIPPED COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH PRACTICAL TOOLS TO ENGAGE EFFECTIVELY IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND DEMOCRATIC ADVOCACY. GRASSROOTS OUTREACH ALSO INCLUDED SUN DAY: CENTRAL OHIO, A COMMUNITY-CENTERED CLEAN ENERGY CELEBRATION. ACROSS IN-PERSON, HYBRID, AND VIRTUAL FORMATS, OEC'S EVENTS AND OUTREACH ENHANCED PARTNERSHIPS AND EMPOWERED OHIOANS STATEWIDE TO LEAD WITH KNOWLEDGE, PURPOSE, AND SHARED COMMITMENT.
- WE DEEPENED OUR JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION EFFORTS BY EMBEDDING EQUITY PRINCIPLES ACROSS OUR ADVOCACY, FIELD ENGAGEMENT, AND PUBLIC-FACING WORK. WE ENGAGED WITH COMMUNITIES MOST AFFECTED BY ENVIRONMENTAL HARM, ENSURING THAT LIVED EXPERIENCE AND LOCAL KNOWLEDGE INFORM POLICY PRIORITIES AND SOLUTIONS.ACROSS ALL POLICY AREAS, OEC APPLIED AN EQUITY LENS TO DEVELOPMENT AND COALITION-BUILDING. LAND-FOCUSED WORK EMPHASIZED EQUITABLE ACCESS TO AND PROTECTION OF PUBLIC LANDS, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO COMMUNITIES FACING DISPROPORTIONATE ENVIRONMENTAL BURDENS FROM EXTRACTION AND DEVELOPMENT. WATER ADVOCACY PRIORITIZED SAFE, AFFORDABLE DRINKING WATER AND THE PROTECTION OF WATERWAYS IN COMMUNITIES HISTORICALLY EXPOSED TO POLLUTION AND UNDERINVESTMENT. ENERGY EQUITY EFFORTS FOCUSED ON CLEAN ENERGY ACCESS, AFFORDABILITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY, ELEVATING CONCERNS ABOUT UTILITY PRACTICES, HOUSEHOLD ENERGY COSTS, AND THE FAIR DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS FROM OHIO'S ENERGY TRANSITION. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, OEC SUPPORTED INCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES THAT EXPANDED PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION-MAKING.INSIDE OUR ORGANIZATION, WE MADE PROGRESS AS WELL. THIS INCLUDES ROLLING OUT SHARED DEFINITIONS FOR JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION, AND THE CREATION OF A "PLACE-SPACE" SLACK CHANNEL SO STAFF MEMBERS CAN ACKNOWLEDGE PUBLIC LAND, SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT THE LAND, AND HIGHLIGHT THE NATIVE PLANTS AND ANIMALS THAT INHABIT OUR STATE. OUR JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS MET WITH EACH PROGRAM TEAM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF THEIR WORK THROUGH THE JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION LENS, WITH THE INFORMATION COLLECTED BEING CATALOGUED FOR USE IN A FORTHCOMING REPORT. WE LAUNCHED OUR "COMMON CONNECTIONS" PROGRAM WHICH PAIRS STAFF MEMBERS UP WITH ONE ANOTHER FOR THE PURPOSES OF GETTING TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER BETTER INTERPERSONALLY TO ENSURE OUR CULTURE CONTINUES TO BE WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE. FINALLY, WE HAVE BEEN EXPLORING WHAT IT MEANS TO EXPAND OUR DEFINITIONS OF INCLUSIVITY TO BE MORE ACCOUNTABLE TO INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS WHO MAY HAVE SPECIFIC ACCESSIBILITY NEEDS. IN PARTICULAR, WE ARE WORKING ON WAYS TO ENCOURAGE OUR STAFF TO THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY AND ACCOUNT FOR IT IN OUR WORK PRODUCTS.
- $9,313 spent. THE OEC HAS INVESTED IN CULTIVATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS BY CREATING ACCESSIBLE PATHWAYS FOR LEARNING, ENGAGEMENT, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS OHIO. THROUGH TRAININGS, CONVENINGS, AND ISSUE-FOCUSED EVENTS, OEC EQUIPPED STUDENTS, EARLY-CAREER PROFESSIONALS, AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES WITH THE SKILLS AND RELATIONSHIPS NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE MEANINGFULLY IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND DEMOCRATIC DECISION-MAKING.OEC'S EMERGING LEADERS EFFORTS EMPHASIZED HANDS-ON EXPOSURE TO ADVOCACY, POLICY, AND COALITION WORK, CONNECTING PARTICIPANTS TO REAL-WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES ACROSS LAND, WATER, ENERGY, AND DEMOCRACY. BY CENTERING INCLUSIVITY AND GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY, OEC ENSURED EMERGING LEADERS FROM URBAN, RURAL, AND APPALACHIAN COMMUNITIES COULD ACCESS LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND CONTRIBUTE THEIR PERSPECTIVES.FULL DETAILS OF OUR PROGRAMMATIC WORK CAN BE FOUND IN OUR ANNUAL REPORT: HTTPS://THEOEC.ORG/NEWS-AND-INFORMATION/2025-ANNUAL-REPORT/
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 January 1972.
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.