Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Environmental protection of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
- Income
- $63,308
- Spending
- $52,290
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 77%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 12
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
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 40% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 62 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (6)
- $8,000 spent. Community conservation grants. Grant program awards funds to land conservancies and other qualified organizations to establish, expand, or otherwise support permanent protection of UP lands and waters through fee-simple acquisitions, conservation easements, and other legal means, or to carry on other environmental projects (e.g., native plant restoration) that benefit the UP environment and communities. These grants benefit a large number of UP residents and others in the general public.
- $2,000 spent. Environmental Education Grants. Competitive grant program awards funds for environmental education projects to K-12 and post-secondary schools and universities. Benefits over 100 students annually.
- $1,115 spent. Recurring publications. Occasional UPEC newsletters, livestream programs, website, and social media platforms provide timely information on UP environmental issues and UPEC activities. Benefits over 200 UPEC members + additional non-member readers/listeners.
- $2,700 spent. Form 990, Part III, Line 4d - Other program services. (a) Mining Action Group. Acts as environmental watchdog for existing and potential mines in the UP. Benefits over 200 UPEC members + members of general public.
- $937 spent. Celebrate the UP! Annual event provides educational sessions and environmentally themed creative activities (art, music, etc.) to encourage valuation of the UP and its environment. Benefits over 200 attendees, on average, annually. 2022 event was held virtually.
- $20,959 spent. Protect the Porkies public education campaign. UPEC assumed sponsorship and oversight of the grassroots Protect the Porkies campaign to stop a proposed mine adjacent to Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in the western Upper Peninsula. The campaign educates the public about the environmental hazards associated with the proposed mine.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1985.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.