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Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition

EIN 34-1636766 · Akron, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OHIO & ERIE CANALWAY COALITION SHALL STIMULATE PUBLIC INTEREST AND SUPPORT FOR THE PROTECTION, PRESERVATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND ENHANCEMENT OF THE HISTORICAL, NATURAL, AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES ALONG THE ROUTE OF THE OHIO & ERIE CANAL.

Income
$12.6 million
Spending
$14.9 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 48%
Employees
32
Volunteers
377
Highest pay
$181,155, president and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 37% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 26 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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, 2024, 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. $14.5 million spent. FOUNDED IN 1989, THE OHIO & ERIE CANALWAY COALITION (OECC) SEEKS TO PRESERVE, INTERPRET, AND DEVELOP THE NATURAL, HISTORICAL, AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES ALONG THE OHIO & ERIE CANALWAY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA. THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, EVENTS, AND PUBLICATIONS, INCLUDING FISHING DERBIES, TOWPATH TREK, HEALTHY STEPS, TOWPATH CENTURY RIDE, AND THE TOWPATH COMPANION, OECC BUILDS COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THE OHIO & ERIE CANAL AND TOWPATH TRAIL. OECC PARTNERS AND COLLABORATES WITH MORE THAN 150 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN SUMMIT, STARK, TUSCARAWAS, HARRISON, AND CUYAHOGA COUNTIES, PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, EVENTS AND PUBLICATIONS TO CITIZENS OF NORTHEAST OHIO. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE INCLUDES ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, FUNDRAISING, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, TRAIL AND GREENWAY PLANNING, AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS. SINCE 1989, OECC HAS WORKED ON VARIOUS RESOURCE CONSERVATION PROJECTS INCLUDING THE RICHARD HOWE HOUSE RESTORATION, LIMBACH BUILDINGS IN THE VILLAGE OF CANAL FULTON, BOTH SUMMIT AND TUSCARAWAS COUNTY TRAIL & GREENWAY PLANS, AND THE BUCKHORN CREEK TRAIL DEVELOPMENT IN TUSCARAWAS COUNTY. IN 2015, OECC WAS SELECTED BY JOHN S. & JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION TO IMPLEMENT THE TOWPATH PROJECT TO IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY, ACCESSIBILITY, SAFETY, AND AESTHETICS OF THE TOWPATH TRAIL IN AKRON, OHIO. IN 2016, OECC WAS SELECTED BY THE MIAMI FOUNDATION TO RECEIVE A THREE-YEAR, $4 MILLION GRANT FOR REIMAGINING THE CIVIC COMMONS (RCC). RCC IS FOCUSED ON ENHANCING AND ACTIVATING PUBLIC SPACES TO PROMOTE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC INTEGRATION, FOSTER VALUE CREATION, AND STIMULATE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. IN 2020, OECC RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL GRANT FROM THE MIAMI FOUNDATION TO FURTHER THE RCC PROJECTS ALONG THE TOWPATH INCLUDING AT SUMMIT LAKE AND LOCK 3 IN AKRON. IN 2021 OECC BEGAN THE DESIGN AND FUNDRAISING PROCESS FOR THE REVITALIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF SUMMIT LAKE AND LOCK 3.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.

    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 1990.

    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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