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Defend Our Health

EIN 38-3791803 · Portland, ME

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DEFEND OUR HEALTH WORKS TO CREATE A WORLD WHERE ALL PEOPLE ARE THRIVING, WITH EQUAL ACCESS TO SAFE FOOD AND DRINKING WATER, HEALTHY HOMES, AND PRODUCTS THAT ARE TOXIC-FREE AND CLIMATE-FRIENDLY. WE'LL STAND UP FOR THIS RIGHT WHEREVER IT IS THREATENED.

Income
$819,835
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
15
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$139,912, president &

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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 114% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $1.1 million spent. WE WORK AT THE FRONT LINES TO ELIMINATE TOXIC CHEMICAL EXPOSURES IN OUR HOMES, WATER, FARMS, AND FOOD SYSTEMS - THROUGH A PROVEN MODEL THAT COMBINES GRASSROOTS ACTION AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH AND TESTING, AND TARGETED CORPORATE AND POLICY ADVOCACY. WE ARE A NATIONAL LEADER IN THE FIGHT AGAINST PFAS "FOREVER CHEMICALS," PLASTICS, AND OTHER HAZARDOUS TOXICS, HOLDING A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE WORLDS FIRST NEAR-TOTAL BAN ON PFAS IN CONSUMER PRODUCTS - A WIN THAT BEGAN IN MAINE BUT IS INFLUENCING POLICY AND SUPPLY CHAINS WORLDWIDE. OUR WORK SHAPES SAFER SOLUTIONS SCALE-UP, CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY, AND POLICIES FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES IN MAINE, ACROSS THE U.S., AND BEYOND, FOCUSING ON SAFE DRINKING WATER AND CLEAN FOOD SYSTEMS, RESPONSIBLE SOURCING AND TOXIC-FREE CONSUMER GOODS, AND CLIMATE, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND PUBLIC HEALTH (INCLUDING CANCER PREVENTION AND CHILDRENS HEALTH). WE WORK AT THE FRONT LINES TO ELIMINATE TOXIC CHEMICAL EXPOSURES IN OUR HOMES, WATER, FARMS, AND FOOD SYSTEMS - THROUGH A PROVEN MODEL THAT COMBINES GRASSROOTS ACTION AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH AND TESTING, AND TARGETED CORPORATE AND POLICY ADVOCACY. WE ARE A NATIONAL LEADER IN THE FIGHT AGAINST PFAS "FOREVER CHEMICALS," PLASTICS, AND OTHER HAZARDOUS TOXICS, HOLDING A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE WORLDS FIRST NEAR-TOTAL BAN ON PFAS IN CONSUMER PRODUCTS - A WIN THAT BEGAN IN MAINE BUT IS INFLUENCING POLICY AND SUPPLY CHAINS WORLDWIDE. OUR WORK SHAPES SAFER SOLUTIONS SCALE-UP, CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY, AND POLICIES FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES IN MAINE, ACROSS THE U.S., AND BEYOND, FOCUSING ON SAFE DRINKING WATER AND CLEAN FOOD SYSTEMS, RESPONSIBLE SOURCING AND TOXIC-FREE CONSUMER GOODS, AND CLIMATE, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND PUBLIC HEALTH (INCLUDING CANCER PREVENTION AND CHILDRENS HEALTH).

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 September 2010.

    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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