Foundation for Environmental Education
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Solar Schools-Donate solar electricity systems to schools for use as educational tools. The solar electricity systems are installed in high profile locations at each school with high visibility and installed by certified solar installers and certified electricians. Solar Data is collected at each school for use for all of the schools as teaching tools. We donate data collection systems for use in classrooms and provide help with maintaining the PV systems at each school. We provide teacher training to schools without charge or cost to districts, schools, or teachers. Most of our current work is in Illinois but we have been working in Ohio, Kentucky, Washington DC, California, Texas, Washington (state), Pennsylvania, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, New Mexico, Louisiana, Maine and Florida.
- Income
- $26,086
- Spending
- $68,155
- Reserves
- 69.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 73%
- Highest pay
- $25,000, president
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 69.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 161% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (3)
- $19,975 spent. We are supporting another 501(c)(3). Streetlight Guild that promotes artists weh are Black including painters, musicians, poets, etc. We provided that non-profit the funds to create a center on East Main Street in Columbus, Ohio as part of our Wilson Avenue energy efficiency project. AEP and Columbia Gas were also involved in the project.
- $22,090 spent. Over the last 3+ decades we have put in over 1,000 solar electricity systems at schools across the country with around 500 in Illinois alone. During the time, we also trained thousands of teachers and impacted tens of thousands of students and that work is still having an impact in most if not all of those school districts. But times have changed. Those projects we completed involved the teaching/education side of schools. Today, solar electricity is no longer the mysterious source of energy that made school districts want to learn more about it and use the data in their classrooms. Today, school districts want larger solar electricity systems that benefit BOTH the teaching side of their district and the business side. Solar electricity systems can lower electricity bills and almost always do. Larger systems can still have a positive impact on classrooms if the district goes in that direction. The data from these systems can help teach students about the science of energy and a lot about math and statistics and spreadsheets. BUT there are a lot of vendors/companies out there that are taking advantage of a lack of experience on the part of school districts that want to buy large solar electricity systems that may cost more than a $1 million and those vendors have them sign contracts to finance the systems that are not financially good for those districts. Some districts assume that all vendors are the same. Plus, even smart districts usually have zero experience with power purchase agreements (PPAs). We are helping these districts understand the terms better so they make fewer mistakes.
- $2,975 spent. We continued to support our existing schools mainly in Illinois and in other states around the country and the District of Columbia. I have been driving to Illinois and to DC to "fix" our systems that are not working. Sometimes, I can do that on the phone, but often I just drive there. Maybe 3 or 4 times to Illinois mainly Chicago and to DC and even our California Schools. Also, I go to DC to meet with NEED.org which is also a 501c3 organization. Mary Spruill of NEED is helping with the Handbook which will be distributed through their website.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1996.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.