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Michigan Environmental Council

EIN 38-2517980 · Lansing, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

INFORMING AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AND DECISION MAKERS ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

Income
$5.4 million
Spending
$4.9 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
26
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$164,155, president an

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 39% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 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 (5)
  1. $649,839 spent. CLEAN PLENTIFUL WATER: MEC WORKS TO PROTECT SURFACE WATER AND GROUND WATER FROM TOXINS LIKE MERCURY AND PFAS AND CONTAMINATION FROM INADEQUATE MUNICIPAL SEWER SYSTEMS, FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEMS, AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF, AND INDUSTRIAL DISCHARGES. THEY PROMOTE CONSERVATION AND THE PROTECTION OF VITAL WETLANDS ACROSS THE STATE. MEC WORKS TO DEFEND OUR INLAND SEAS FROM HARMFUL INVASIVE SPECIES. AND THEY ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES THAT ENSURE EVERY MICHIGANDER HAS ACCESS TO CLEAN, AFFORDABLE DRINKING WATER.
  2. $458,838 spent. CLEANER ENERGY:MEC WORKS TO SPUR INVESTMENT IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND LOCALLY PRODUCED RENEWABLE POWER THAT WILL CREATE JOBS AND CURB THE NEGATIVE HEALTH, CLIMATE AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS CAUSED BY OUR DEPENDENCE ON IMPORTED FOSSIL FUELS. MEC ADVOCATES FOR THE RETIREMENT OF POLLUTING, EXPENSIVE COAL AND FOSSIL FUEL POWER PLANTS TO ENSURE THE RAPID REDUCTION OF HARMFUL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY, MEC SUPPORTS POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT WILL MOVE MICHIGAN'S LARGEST INDUSTRY TO THE FOREFRONT IN THE DESIGN, MANUFACTURE AND SALES OF ATTRACTIVE, PRACTICAL ELECTRIC AND HIGHLY FUEL-EFFICIENT VEHICLES.
  3. $523,020 spent. BUILDING THE MOVEMENT:MEC IS THE HEART OF MICHIGAN'S ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT, AND THEY HELP TO BUILD ITS SIZE, CAPACITY, AND EFFICACY BY CONVENING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, HELPING THEM TO UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLE IN DEVELOPING PUBLIC POLICY, AND PROVIDING THEM PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. ONE OF THEIR KEY AREAS OF WORK IS MEASURING AND IMPROVING THE RACIAL AND GENDER DIVERSITY OF THE BOARDS AND STAFFS OF ENVIRONMENTAL NONPROFITS.
  4. $1.8 million spent. DETROIT:MEC BELIEVES THAT MICHIGAN'S LARGEST CITY SHOULD ALSO BE ITS GREENEST AND MOST SUSTAINABLE AND THAT ITS RESIDENTS AND LEADERS SHOULD BE HELPING SHAPE THE ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA FOR THE STATE. THEY WORK TO ENSURE THAT DETROIT'S NEIGHBORHOODS, AND IN PARTICULAR, THE DENBY NEIGHBORHOOD, HAVE ACCESS TO CLEAN AND SAFE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. MEC WORKS TO EXPAND RECYCLING AND COMPOST SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS. AND THEY HELP ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT THE POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY THROUGHOUT THE CITY. HEALTHY PEOPLE: MEC IS FIGHTING TO REDUCE EXPOSURES TO LEAD AND OTHER DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES; CURB ASTHMA-INDUCING AIR POLLUTION; KEEP AIR AND WATER POLLUTION SOURCES AWAY FROM SCHOOLS, DAY CARE CENTERS AND HOMES; AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTHFUL FOODS AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AS PART OF A BROADER STRATEGY TO ADDRESS CHILDHOOD OBESITY IN MICHIGAN. THEY MAINTAIN A STATEWIDE NETWORK OF PARTNERS WORKING ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AT THE GRASSROOTS, LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL, AND ACADEMIC LEVELS, USING THEIR INSIGHTS, EXPERIENCE, AND REACH TO SHAPE AND BUILD SUPPORT FOR PROTECTIVE POLICIES. SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES: MEC CALLS FOR RE-INVESTMENT IN MICHIGAN'S URBAN CENTERS AND OTHER ESTABLISHED COMMUNITIES AS AN ANTIDOTE TO SPRAWL AND THE LOSS OF OPEN SPACES. THEY SUPPORT TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE TO MICHIGAN'S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM TO CATALYZE SUSTAINABLE LAND-USE, SPUR ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN OUR CITIES AND TOWNS, AND CONNECT PEOPLE TO PLACES WHERE THEY LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY. MEC FAVORS INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC PARKS AND NATURAL AREAS, AND PROMOTES SUSTAINED, HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS AND BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY.
  5. DETROIT:MEC BELIEVES THAT MICHIGAN'S LARGEST CITY SHOULD ALSO BE ITS GREENEST AND MOST SUSTAINABLE AND THAT ITS RESIDENTS AND LEADERS SHOULD BE HELPING SHAPE THE ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA FOR THE STATE. THEY WORK TO ENSURE THAT DETROIT'S NEIGHBORHOODS, AND IN PARTICULAR, THE DENBY NEIGHBORHOOD, HAVE ACCESS TO CLEAN AND SAFE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. MEC WORKS TO EXPAND RECYCLING AND COMPOST SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS. AND THEY HELP ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT THE POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY THROUGHOUT THE CITY. HEALTHY PEOPLE: MEC IS FIGHTING TO REDUCE EXPOSURES TO LEAD AND OTHER DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES; CURB ASTHMA-INDUCING AIR POLLUTION; KEEP AIR AND WATER POLLUTION SOURCES AWAY FROM SCHOOLS, DAY CARE CENTERS AND HOMES; AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTHFUL FOODS AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AS PART OF A BROADER STRATEGY TO ADDRESS CHILDHOOD OBESITY IN MICHIGAN. THEY MAINTAIN A STATEWIDE NETWORK OF PARTNERS WORKING ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AT THE GRASSROOTS, LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL, AND ACADEMIC LEVELS, USING THEIR INSIGHTS, EXPERIENCE, AND REACH TO SHAPE AND BUILD SUPPORT FOR PROTECTIVE POLICIES. SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES: MEC CALLS FOR RE-INVESTMENT IN MICHIGAN'S URBAN CENTERS AND OTHER ESTABLISHED COMMUNITIES AS AN ANTIDOTE TO SPRAWL AND THE LOSS OF OPEN SPACES. THEY SUPPORT TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE TO MICHIGAN'S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM TO CATALYZE SUSTAINABLE LAND-USE, SPUR ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN OUR CITIES AND TOWNS, AND CONNECT PEOPLE TO PLACES WHERE THEY LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY. MEC FAVORS INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC PARKS AND NATURAL AREAS, AND PROMOTES SUSTAINED, HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS AND BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY.

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 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 June 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 November 4, 2026.

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