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Childrens Environmental Literacy Foundation

EIN 36-4540146 · Valhalla, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The organization's mission is to establish sustainability as an integral part of every child's PreK-12 learning experience. By integrating sustainability across subjects and grades, we can equip students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will help lead to a sustainable future for everyone. CELF programs use sustainability as an integrating context for teaching and learning, decision-making, civic engagement, community partnerships and campus practices. The lens of sustainability transforms curriculum, school operations, physical surroundings and school-community activities and fosters the cultivation of engaged citizens.

Income
$786,612
Spending
$805,249
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
9
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$128,009, executive director

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

Financial health

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 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

    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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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, 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)
  1. $39,662 spent. Summer Institutes:Multi-day immersive professional development programs for K-12 educators that explore the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainability, and ways of bringing these concepts to life in classrooms through hands-on STEAM activities, case studies, and fieldwork. The Institutes build practical curriculum integration of stewardship perspectives, skills and action to the restoration, rebuilding, and reconnecting of human communities, environmental stewardship and civic life. Participants leave with resources for implementing interdisciplinary, place-based, and inquiry-driven sustainability projects, and receive implementation support from CELF throughout the academic year.
  2. $439,309 spent. Civic ScienceCivic Science is a semester- or year-long program that engages educators and students in project-based STEAM learning outside of the classroom. Using our Inquiry-to-Action framework, this program trains teachers to engage students in hands-on learning to identify, analyze, and solve real-world environmental issues that impact their school communities. Exploring cross-curricular inquiry pathways such as air and water quality, biodiversity, waste, and infrastructure, students visit local green spaces to collect data, develop action plans, and share findings and solutions with field experts and decision-makers during our culminating annual Student Symposium events.
  3. $140,733 spent. Professional development and TrainingThe concepts of sustainability are universal, but every district and school starts from a different place in implementing sustainability education. CELF customized professional development (PD) helps schools infuse curriculum and school culture with education for a sustainable future. PD services include: gap analyses of curriculum; on-site Education for Sustainability training and resources (specific to grade level and school or district needs and interests); and review of facilities green infrastructure improvements to help infuse projects into curriculum. Through half-day workshops to multi-year engagements, we provide a framework for integrating sustainability concepts into curricula, community, and culture, helping teachers connect students to place-based learning opportunities in the community, create whole-school action plans, and activate student civic engagement.Green Careers Speaker SeriesAs student interest in sustainability grows, CELF helps students see how their interests and community concerns can be channeled into potential career pathways by connecting them with professionals working in a wide array of sustainability focused careers. CELF connects classrooms directly with industry professionals across sectors to explore opportunities for applying sustainability and systems thinking in their career planning and aspiration.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 2025.

    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 February 2004.

    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.

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.