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Ecology Action Center

EIN 37-1157100 · Normal, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND EDUCATION

Income
$846,546
Spending
$709,134
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
7.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 62%
Employees
17
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$111,724, 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $136,574 spent. SOLID WASTE: THE ECOLOGY ACTION CENTER IS THE SOLID WASTE AGENCY FOR MCLEAN COUNTY, THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON, AND THE TOWN OF NORMAL, AND RECEIVES FUNDING THROUGH THE MCLEAN COUNTY SOLID WASTE FUND. THE EAC HELPS RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES REDUCE WASTE, INCREASE RECYCLING, AND PROPERLY DISPOSE OF HAZARDOUS WASTE THROUGH NUMEROUS EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS. OUR RECYCLE COACH APP HELPS PEOPLE PROPERLY DISPOSE OF WASTE, SENDS ALERTS ABOUT UPCOMING SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, AND CAN SYNC TO RESIDENTS' CURBSIDE COLLECTIONS TO REMIND THEM WHEN TO PUT THEIR BINS OUT. THE APP HAS OVER 10,000 USERS AND 419,000+ INTERACTIONS ANNUALLY. EAC STAFF PRESENT RECYCLING PROGRAMS TO ALL THE 4TH GRADE CLASSROOMS IN THE COMMUNITY, REACHING AROUND 1,200 YOUTH A YEAR. WE PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS ON BACKYARD COMPOSTING, AND A COMMUNITY COMPOSTING PROGRAM WITH 334 SUBSCRIBERS.
  2. $115,139 spent. BNCARE: IN THE LATE SUMMER OF 2024, THE ECOLOGY ACTION CENTER STARTED COLLECTING DATA FOR THE BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL COMMUNITY AIR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION (BNCARE) PROGRAM, FUNDED BY A U.S. EPA GRANT AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY. THROUGH FY 2025, THREE STATIONARY MONITORS WERE PLACED THROUGHOUT THE BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL AREA, WITH A FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AREAS. THESE MONITORS MEASURE AIR POLLUTANTS INCLUDING PARTICULATE MATTER, OZONE, AND VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, WITH THE GOAL OF FINDING OUT IF THE REGION'S OZONE LEVELS ARE REMAINING WITHIN EPA COMPLIANCE. ALONG WITH DATA COLLECTION, THE BNCARE PROGRAM ALSO FOCUSES ON PUBLIC OUTREACH. A WEBSITE, BNCARE.ORG, WAS LAUNCHED WITH THE PROGRAM, AND OUTREACH HAS BEEN DONE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, REACHING 321 PEOPLE. THIS INCLUDES OUTREACH AT SCHOOLS, FARMERS MARKETS, MUSEUMS, AND FAIRS. SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS HAVE BEEN DONE DURING LOCAL AIR QUALITY EVENTS, SUCH AS THE LATE SPRING DUST STORM AND EARLY JUNE WILDFIRE SMOKE. THE PROGRAM WAS ALSO PRESENTED AT PROFESSIONAL SHOWCASES, SUCH AS THE ISU HISTORY SYMPOSIUM. THE PROGRAM COLLECTED AND SHARED 10 MONTHS OF AIR QUALITY DATA IN FISCAL YEAR 2025.
  3. $111,330 spent. TREE CORPS: THE TREE CORPS PROGRAM PLANTS THOUSANDS OF TREES EVERY YEAR IN BLOOMINGTON, NORMAL, AND MCLEAN COUNTY TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY, INCREASE NATIVE HABITAT, SEQUESTER CARBON, AND IMPROVE CLIMATE RESILIENCE. EAC PARTNERS WITH LOCAL INSTITUTIONS TO IDENTIFY PLANTING LOCATIONS AND ENGAGES VOLUNTEERS TO PLANT THE TREES. THIS YEAR EAC PLANTED 5393 TREES, ENGAGING 188 VOLUNTEERS. PLANTING SITES INCLUDED INTERSTATE EXCHANGES, THE WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT, AND PROPERTY OWNED BY MCLEAN COUNTY PARKS; REQUIRING MEASURING AND FLAGGING OVER 37 ACRES. EAC PROMOTED THE IMPORTANCE OF TREES AND TREE CORPS PROGRAMS AT 10 COMMUNITY EVENTS. 17 FAMILIES PARTICIPATED IN THE WEST BLOOMINGTON FREE TREE/COMMUNITY CANOPY FREE TREE PROGRAM, RESULTING IN THE PLANTING OF 20 HIGH QUALITY NATIVE SAPLING TREES IN HIGH-NEED AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY.
  4. $174,915 spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS

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 August 1985.

    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.