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Environmental Health Watch Inc

EIN 34-1443935 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH'S MISSION IS TO CREATE HEALTHY HOMES AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES BY IDENTIFYING AND REMOVING HAZARDS, ENGAGING PEOPLE, AND ADVANCING ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 70%
Employees
18
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$137,250, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 46% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 March 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 (1)
  1. $3.7 million spent. EHW HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON BUILDING CAPACITY, EXPANDING OUR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AND FOCUSING ON BOARD AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE HIRED A DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR WHO HAS SECURED OVER 300K IN FOUNDATION GRANTS AND TWO PROGRAM MANAGERS ALLOWING THE CEO TO SPEND MORE TIME ON DEVELOPMENT AND REDUCING TIME ON PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION, WHILE ALSO DEVELOPING AND ELEVATING OUR CLIMATE JUSTICE APPROACH. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CULTIVATE AND STRENGTHEN EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH FUNDERS AND ENGAGE NEW FUNDING PARTNERS- MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION. DUE TO THE GROWTH, WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE LEAD SAFE CLEVELAND COALITION TO SUPPORT OUR OFFICE EXPANSION, WHICH INCLUDES SOME SUPPORT FROM OUR GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET TO COVER INCREASED RENT/UTILITIES. WITH MULTI-YEAR SUPPORT, MOST RECENTLY, THE CEO AND CONTRACTORS HAVE APPLIED FOR A 20-MILLION-DOLLAR COMMUNITY CHANGE GRANT (PENDING) , WITH SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL FUNDERS AND MAYORS OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2024, THE CEO AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND CLIMATE PROGRAM MANAGER ATTENDED NYC CLIMATE WEEK FOR THE FIRST TIME. - HIRED DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, HEALTHY PEOPLE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES PROGRAM MANAGERS - SUBMITTED OVER 6 GRANT APPLICATIONS - ENGAGED ADDITIONAL CONSULTANT TO SUPPORT GRANT WRITING, LEVERAGED SUPPORT FROM ELEVATE TO PAY 20K - ENGAGED 4 COMMUNITIES WITHIN REGION 5 THROUGH THE EPA REGIONAL THRIVING COMMUNITIES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER - INVITED TO PARTICIPATE AS ADVISORS AND PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF CLEVELAND BLOOMBERG AMERICAN SUSTAINABLE CITIES- SECURING 80K GENERAL OPERATING - SECURED 200K IN FUNDING FROM MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION- NEW RELATIONSHIP - EXPANDED OFFICES - FORMED A RESIDENT LED STEERING COMMITTEE IN BUCKEYE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT AN ECOVILLAGE BUCKEYE INITIATIVE - SECURED 300K FROM BUILDHEALTH CHALLENGE TO SUPPORT CENTRAL KINSMAN FOOD JUSTICE WORK, PLUS 225K FROM SISTERS OF CHARITY FOUNDATION OVER 3 YEARS - FRESH FEST HAD OVER 11,100 ATTENDEES - EHW IS HOLDS 2 ADMINISTRATOR POSITIONS FOR THE LEAD SAFE CLEVELAND COALITION; LEAD RESOURCE CENTER ADMINISTRATOR AND NEWLY ADDED RELOCATION SUPPORT ADMINISTRATOR - DEPLOYED OVER 300K IN INCENTIVES FOR LANDLORDS THROUGH THE LEAD SAFE RESOURCE CENTER - SECURED 40K IN HEALTHY HOMES DOLLARS FROM EPA - SECURE 150K FROM JOYCE FOUNDATION FOR POWER AND POLICY - SELECTED TO RECEIVE A 500K GIFT FROM GUND FOUNDATION, KIM FOREMAN CEO IS NOW A GUND FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER EHW HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON BUILDING CAPACITY, EXPANDING OUR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AND FOCUSING ON BOARD AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE HIRED A DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR WHO HAS SECURED OVER 300K IN FOUNDATION GRANTS AND TWO PROGRAM MANAGERS ALLOWING THE CEO TO SPEND MORE TIME ON DEVELOPMENT AND REDUCING TIME ON PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION, WHILE ALSO DEVELOPING AND ELEVATING OUR CLIMATE JUSTICE APPROACH. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CULTIVATE AND STRENGTHEN EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH FUNDERS AND ENGAGE NEW FUNDING PARTNERS- MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION. DUE TO THE GROWTH, WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE LEAD SAFE CLEVELAND COALITION TO SUPPORT OUR OFFICE EXPANSION, WHICH INCLUDES SOME SUPPORT FROM OUR GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET TO COVER INCREASED RENT/UTILITIES. WITH MULTI-YEAR SUPPORT, MOST RECENTLY, THE CEO AND CONTRACTORS HAVE APPLIED FOR A 20-MILLION-DOLLAR COMMUNITY CHANGE GRANT (PENDING) , WITH SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL FUNDERS AND MAYORS OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2024, THE CEO AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND CLIMATE PROGRAM MANAGER ATTENDED NYC CLIMATE WEEK FOR THE FIRST TIME. - HIRED DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, HEALTHY PEOPLE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES PROGRAM MANAGERS - SUBMITTED OVER 6 GRANT APPLICATIONS - ENGAGED ADDITIONAL CONSULTANT TO SUPPORT GRANT WRITING, LEVERAGED SUPPORT FROM ELEVATE TO PAY 20K - ENGAGED 4 COMMUNITIES WITHIN REGION 5 THROUGH THE EPA REGIONAL THRIVING COMMUNITIES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER - INVITED TO PARTICIPATE AS ADVISORS AND PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF CLEVELAND BLOOMBERG AMERICAN SUSTAINABLE CITIES- SECURING 80K GENERAL OPERATING - SECURED 200K IN FUNDING FROM MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION- NEW RELATIONSHIP - EXPANDED OFFICES - FORMED A RESIDENT LED STEERING COMMITTEE IN BUCKEYE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT AN ECOVILLAGE BUCKEYE INITIATIVE - SECURED 300K FROM BUILDHEALTH CHALLENGE TO SUPPORT CENTRAL KINSMAN FOOD JUSTICE WORK, PLUS 225K FROM SISTERS OF CHARITY FOUNDATION OVER 3 YEARS - FRESH FEST HAD OVER 11,100 ATTENDEES - EHW IS HOLDS 2 ADMINISTRATOR POSITIONS FOR THE LEAD SAFE CLEVELAND COALITION; LEAD RESOURCE CENTER ADMINISTRATOR AND NEWLY ADDED RELOCATION SUPPORT ADMINISTRATOR - DEPLOYED OVER 300K IN INCENTIVES FOR LANDLORDS THROUGH THE LEAD SAFE RESOURCE CENTER - SECURED 40K IN HEALTHY HOMES DOLLARS FROM EPA - SECURE 150K FROM JOYCE FOUNDATION FOR POWER AND POLICY - SELECTED TO RECEIVE A 500K GIFT FROM GUND FOUNDATION, KIM FOREMAN CEO IS NOW A GUND FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 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 October 13, 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 March 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 September 1984.

    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 October 21, 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.