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Council of Great Lakes Governors Inc

EIN 41-1427529 · Rolling Mdws, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE COUNCIL IS DEVOTED TO WORKING COOPERATIVELY ON PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES COMMON TO MEMBER STATES. THE BENEFITS OF A REGIONAL APPROACH TO ADDRESSING THE VARIOUS CHALLENGES OF THE GREAT LAKES STATES IS EMPHASIZED.

Income
$3.8 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
6.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 67%
Employees
7
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$262,428, 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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 47% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 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 (2)
  1. $1.5 million spent. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:THE GOVERNORS AND PREMIERS COLLABORATE THROUGH THE COUNCIL IN A VARIETY OF WAYS TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOB CREATION. AMONG THE COUNCIL'S MAJOR INITIATIVES ARE: INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROMOTION - THE COUNCIL OVERSEES SHARED TRADE OFFICES IN MULTIPLE FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND REGIONS - AUSTRALIA, BRAZIL, CANADA, CHILE, CHINA, GERMANY, INDIA, MEXICO, SOUTH EAST ASIA, SOUTH AFRICA, SOUTH KOREA, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, JAPAN, AND UNITED KINGDOM. THEIR MISSION IS TO ASSIST SMALL TO MID-SIZE COMPANIES IN THE PARTICIPATING MEMBER STATES IN EXPORTING THEIR GOODS AND SERVICES TOTHESE VITAL AND EMERGING MARKETS. IN ADDITION, EACH YEAR, THE COUNCIL ORGANIZES MULTI-STATE/PROVINCIAL TRADE MISSIONS TO ASSIST SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED COMPANIES FROM THE REGION TO EXPORT THEIR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. TOURISM - THE GREAT LAKES USA (GLUSA) CONDUCTS INTERNATIONAL MARKETING AND SALES FOR ITS PARTICIPATING MEMBER STATES IN CHINA, THE UNITED KINGDOM/IRELAND AND THE GERMAN-SPEAKING COUNTRIES OF GERMANY, AUSTRIA, AND SWITZERLAND. SEPARATELY, CRUISE THE GREAT LAKES MARKETS THE REGION TO POTENTIAL CRUISE PASSENGERS. MARITIME TRANSPORTATION - THE COUNCIL IS WORKING TO HELP REJUVENATE THIS CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION NETWORK, AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD IMPROVING THE REGION'S ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS. GREAT LAKES IMPACT INVESTMENT PLATFORM - THE COUNCIL, IN COLLABORATION WITH A MULTIDISCIPLINARY PROJECT TEAM, DEVELOPED THE GREAT LAKES IMPACT INVESTMENT PLATFORM AS A NEW STRUCTURE TO ENCOURAGE ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE GREAT LAKES STATES AND PROVINCES. THE PLATFORM FEATURES PROJECTS INTENDED TO DELIVER DEMONSTRABLE IMPACT AND REVITALIZE THE REGION'S WATERS, WHILE ALSO AIMED TO GENERATE COMPETITIVE, MARKET-BASED FINANCIAL RETURNS.
  2. $1.4 million spent. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: THE GOVERNORS AND PREMIERS COLLABORATE THROUGH THE COUNCIL IN A VARIETY OF WAYS TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. AMONG THE COUNCIL'S MAJOR INITIATIVES ARE: PROTECTION AND RESTORATION - THROUGH THE COUNCIL, THE GREAT LAKES GOVERNORS HAVE ESTABLISHED A LIST OF NINE PRIORITIES TO GUIDE THE RESTORATION AND PROTECTION OF THE LARGEST SINGLE SOURCE OF FRESH WATER IN THE WORLD, THE GREAT LAKES. THE PRIORITIES RANGE FROM EFFECTIVE WATER MANAGEMENT TO PROTECTING THE GREAT LAKES FROM NON-NATIVE, HARMFUL WATER SPECIES AND CONTROLLING POLLUTION. THE COUNCIL COORDINATES APROGRAM TO ACHIEVE THESE PRIORITIES. WATER MANAGEMENT - THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES - ST. LAWRENCE RIVER WATER RESOURCES REGIONAL BODY AND COMPACT COUNCIL, THE REGION'S GOVERNORS AND PREMIERS COOPERATIVELY MANAGE 20% OF THE WORLD'S SURFACE FRESH WATER. THE REGIONAL BODY AND COMPACT COUNCIL'S AWARD-WINNING WORK PROTECTS THE LARGEST FRESHWATER BODY ON EARTH, WHICH PROVIDES DRINKING WATER TO OVER 40 MILLION PEOPLE. THE COUNCIL SERVES AS THE SECRETARIAT TO BOTH ORGANIZATIONS. AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES - THE COUNCIL COORDINATES THE GOVERNORS AND PREMIERS' REGIONAL WORK TO STOP THE FURTHER INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES (AIS) INTO THE GREAT LAKES - ONE OF THE GOVERNORS' NINE PRIORITIES FOR GREAT LAKES RESTORATION AND PROTECTION.ADVOCACY, COORDINATION, AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF BEST PRACTICES HAVE HELPED COMBAT AIS SUCH AS THE ASIAN CARP.

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 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 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 January 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 November 4, 2026.

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