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Environmental Law & Policy Center of the Midwest

EIN 36-3866530 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & POLICY CENTER (ELPC) IS THE MIDWEST'S LEADING PUBLIC INTEREST ENVIRONMENTAL LEGAL ADVOCACY AND ECOBUSINESS INNOVATION ORGANIZATION, AND AMONG THE NATION'S LEADERS. WE DEVELOP AND LEAD SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS TO IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. WE ARE PUBLIC INTEREST ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRENEURS WHO ENGAGE IN CREATIVE BUSINESS DEAL MAKING WITH DIVERSE INTERESTS TO PUT INTO PRACTICE OUR BELIEF THAT ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CAN BE ACHIEVED TOGETHER. ELPC'S MULTIDISCIPLINARY STAFF OF TALENTED AND EXPERIENCED PUBLIC INTEREST ATTORNEYS, ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS SPECIALISTS, POLICY ADVOCATES, AND COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALISTS BRING A STRONG AND EFFECTIVE COMBINATION OF SKILLS TO SOLVE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.

Income
$12.1 million
Spending
$9.3 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
49.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
64
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$613,135, president and executive director

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 49.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 20 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. $2.5 million spent. ENERGY PROJECT - ELPC PROMOTES CLEAN ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE WATER AND CLIMATE CHANGE SOLUTIONS BY REDUCING POLLUTION FROM CONVENTIONAL POWER PLANTS.
  2. $2.7 million spent. GREAT LAKES/GREAT PLACES - ELPC ENGAGES IN LITIGATION AND POLICY ADVOCACY WITH SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT TO PROTECT: THE GREAT LAKES AND MIDWEST RIVERS; NATIONAL FORESTS, WILDLIFE HABITAT AND BIODIVERSITY; SPECIAL CONSERVATION LANDS AND WATERWAYS; SCENIC LANDSCAPES AND OTHER VITAL NATURAL RESOURCES; AND OUTDOOR RECREATION AND FISHERIES. ELPC ADVOCATES SOUND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT PRESERVE NATURAL RESOURCES AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
  3. $868,298 spent. CLEAN WATER - ELPC ATTORNEYS AND ADVOCATES IMPLEMENT, ENFORCE, AND DEFEND THE CLEAN WATER ACT. WE HOLD POLLUTERS ACCOUNTABLE AND FIGHT TO CLEAN UP MIDWEST WATER, FROM THE GREAT LAKES AND BIG RIVER SYSTEMS TO THE COMMUNITY WATERSHEDS AND SMALL-TOWN WELLS THAT PROVIDE DRINKING WATER, WILDLIFE HABITAT, JOBS, AND RECREATIONAL ENJOYMENT FOR MILLIONS.
  4. $1.5 million spent. TRANSPORTATION AND LAND USE REFORM - ELPC PROMOTES INNOVATIVE TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT OF A MIDWEST HIGH-SPEED RAIL NETWORK, WHICH WILL LEAD TO CLEANER AIR AND MORE JOBS.CLEAN CLIMATE - ELPC WORKS TO ACCELERATE SMART SOLUTION IN THE BATTLE AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE. ELPC IS FOCUSED ON ACCELERATING SOLAR ENERGY, WIND POWER, BATTERY STORAGE, AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY TO REPLACE CONVENTIONAL POLLUTING POWER PLANTS. CLEAN AIR - ELPC ATTORNEYS AND ADVOCATES IMPLEMENT, ENFORCE, AND DEFEND THE CLEAN AIR ACT. WE WORK TO REDUCE POLLUTANTS LIKE SMOG, MERCURY, PARTICULATE MATTER, AND GREENHOUSE GASES THAT HARM HUMAN HEALTH AND WILDLIFE.

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 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 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 February 1993.

    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.