Environmental Initiative
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CATALYZE COLLABORATION ACROSS PERSPECTIVES, POWER, AND SYSTEMS FOR SOCIAL EQUITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.
- Income
- $4.0 million
- Spending
- $4.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 0.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 53%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $185,672, executive director
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
Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
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 (4)
- $2.2 million spent. CLEAN AIR MINNESOTA: CLEAN AIR MINNESOTA IS A DIVERSE COALITION OF AIR QUALITY LEADERS CONVENED BY ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE WORKING TOGETHER TO REDUCE EMISSIONS FROM MOBILE SOURCES, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND WOOD SMOKE. PARTNERS FORM TEAMS THAT COORDINATE, COLLABORATE, AND DEVELOP SPECIFIC PROJECTS TO REDUCE EMISSIONS FROM MINNESOTA'S SMALLER, WIDESPREAD AND LESS REGULATED SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION WHICH CONTRIBUTE NEARLY 75 PERCENT OF AIR POLLUTION EMISSIONS IN THE STATE. THE ORGANIZATION'S CLEAN AIR WORK INCLUDES: PROJECT GREEN FLEET WHICH REDUCES DIESEL EMISSIONS, PROJECT CAR WHICH PROVIDES AUTOMOBILE REPAIRS FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS, PROJECT STOVE SWAP THAT REDUCES EMISSIONS FROM WOOD BURNING APPLIANCES, AND CLEAN AIR ASSISTANCE PROJECT WHICH WORKS WITH SMALL BUSINESSES TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION.
- $862,845 spent. MIDWEST ROW CROP COLLABORATIVE: ADMINISTERED BY ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE, THE MIDWEST ROW CROP COLLABORATIVE (MRCC) EXPLORES AND IMPLEMENTS NEW APPROACHES TO AGRICULTURAL CHALLENGES. THE COLLABORATIVE'S MEMBERS WORK TOGETHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS THAT INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY WHILE ENSURING SOIL HEALTH, PROTECTING WATER, ADDRESSING THE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE, AND SUPPORTING FARM FAMILIES IN THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN. IN 2025, MRCC ESTABLISHED A REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE LEADERSHIP COHORT PROVIDING MENTORSHIP FROM LEADING COMPANIES AND NGOS TO COMPANIES ACTIVELY BUILDING ON-THE-GROUND CAPACITY FOR CONSERVATION PROJECTS WITH FARMERS.
- $527,212 spent. ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND COMMUNITY GRANTS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT- ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE AND RAINBOW RESEARCH CONVENE A WORKING GROUP OF BIPOC AND RURAL LEADERS AND MAINSTREAM ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE APPROXIMATELY $25 MILLION PER YEAR COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND. THE WORKING GROUP COLLABORATES WITH THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO DESIGN THE COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM AND COORDINATES OUTREACH TO THE BIPOC AND RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY TO THE PROGRAM ONCE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE. THROUGH OTHER PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE IS WORKING WITHIN ITSELF AND ACROSS DIFFERENCE TO FACILITATE OPENNESS TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC, AND PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES BETWEEN DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS AND WORKING TOWARDS SOCIAL EQUITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FOR ALL.
- $373,425 spent. SUSTAINABLE GROWTH COALITION: A BUSINESS-LED PARTNERSHIP WITH 15 BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS ADMINISTERED BY ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE HARNESSING MEMBER EXPERTISE TO ADVANCE THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY, WHERE ALL ENERGY IS RENEWABLE, WASTE IS ELIMINATED, AND NATURAL, SOCIAL, AND HUMAN RESOURCES ARE PROTECTED AND PRESERVED. INDIVIDUALLY, EACH ORGANIZATION IS COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY, AND RECOGNIZES THAT TOGETHER THEY CAN HAVE A LARGER SOCIETAL IMPACT ON THEIR OPERATIONS, INDUSTRIES, ENVIRONMENT, AND COMMUNITY.AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS: ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE PARTNERS WITH AGRICULTURAL STAKEHOLDERS TO ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF FARMER-LED SOLUTIONS THAT BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF FARMERS, AND VITALITY OF RURAL COMMUNITIES. THESE PARTNERSHIPS OFFER INNOVATIONS TO ACCELERATE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR ENVIRONMENT, PARTICULARLY FOR WATER QUALITY, SOIL HEALTH, HABITAT, AND CLIMATE PROTECTION. IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION'S AGRICULTURAL PROJECTS INCLUDED: REACH FARMERS FASTER, A PARTNERSHIP WITH TRUST IN FOOD, TO HELP CONSERVATION IMPLEMENTERS BETTER UNDERSTAND THE MOTIVATIONS OF FARMERS AND TO DESIGN PROGRAMS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY LEAD TO PRACTICE CHANGE; AND SEVERAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE FOREVER GREEN INITIATIVE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, ADVANCING THE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION OF PERENNIAL CROPS. SOURCE WATER PROTECTION COLLABORATIVE - A MINNESOTA-BASED STATEWIDE INITIATIVE, THE SOURCE WATER PROTECTION COLLABORATIVE BRINGS TOGETHER INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXPERTISE IN SOURCE WATER, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT, OR PUBLIC HEALTH TO DEVELOP WAYS TO PROMOTE LAND USE WHICH PROTECTS DRINKING WATER SOURCES. ONE ACTIVITY OF THE COLLABORATIVE HAS BEEN A CREATIVE ENGAGEMENT PILOT THAT HAS WORKED WITH AN ARTIST TO EDUCATE AND MOBILIZE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN LITTLE FALLS, MINNESOTA. WE INTEND TO EXPLORE OTHER CREATIVE ENGAGEMENT PROJECTS IN THE FUTURE, INCLUDING A PROJECT IN CHATFIELD, MINNESOTA IN 2026.ROOTS FOR THE FUTURE (FORMERLY KNOW AS NORTHSIDE SAFETY NET) - THIS GREEN CAREER EXPLORATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM SERVES YOUTH FROM THE SEVEN-COUNTY TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA. THE PROGRAM IS LED BY ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE AND HAS BEEN DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND NONPROFIT PARTNERS. THE INNOVATIVE PROGRAM MODEL PLACES INTERNS AT THE CENTER OF A ROBUST LEARNING ENVIRONMENT DESIGNED TO SUPPORT CONSISTENT, LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS WITH AND BETWEEN YOUTH PARTICIPANTS AND PROGRAM PARTNERS, WITH A GOAL OF EDUCATING AND EMPOWERING A NEW GENERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES. ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE AWARDS - THIS IS OUR ANNUAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM CELEBRATING PEOPLE AND PROJECTS WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP AT THE NEXUS OF A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT, A PROSPEROUS ECONOMY, AND AN EQUITABLE SOCIETY. WE BRING TOGETHER PARTNERS FROM ACROSS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY AND OUR ORGANIZATIONAL WORK TO HONOR AWARD RECIPIENTS DURING AN INSPIRING EVENT OF CELEBRATION AND NETWORKING.
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 May 1992.
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.
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