Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Clear Lake Environmental Research Center

EIN 47-1489147 · Lakeport, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Clear Lake Environmental Research Center serves as a steward for environmental and economic sustainability of Clear Lake, its neighboring lands and waters, local communities, and beyond.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 86%
Employees
19
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$139,627, director

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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 48% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 7 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

    0 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 (2)
  1. $3.0 million spent. In 2024, CLERC completed hundreds of acres of wildfire fuel reduction, removal of dozens of hazard trees, and supported chipping services, which benefited thousands of citizens living in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) in Lake County, California.CLERC participated in regional partnerships with conservation groups in neighboring counties to secure funding to implement forest health and wildfire resilience landowner assistance programs including the North Bay Forest Improvement Program (NBFIP). CLERC secured funds through CalFire's Wildfire Resilience Grant Program to support the North Bay Forest Improvement Program (NBFIP).CLERC worked with partners to enhance multiple wildfire resilience research projects including a dynamic fire pathways analysis and a mitigation modeling project.CLERC continued to work with local stakeholders to address the large-scale tree mortality event that started in 2021 and continued through 2022, 2023, and 2024 due to ongoing drought conditions. This event extended in 2024 with the introduction of the Mediterranean Oak Borer (MOB), an invasive species that attacks trees. CLERC worked with partners to raise awareness and begin formulation of a response plan.In support of these activities, CLERC employed several staff members dedicated to this program. CLERC worked with partners across all sectors including federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as private citizens and nonprofit organizations.
  2. $98,411 spent. The Clear Lake Environmental Research Center Lab (CLERC Lab) has continued to grow and serve clients, primarily local drinking water and wastewater agencies. In response to requests from local water agencies, in 2024 the CLERC Lab added accreditation for Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) testing. Being the only accredited lab in Lake County, the CLERC Lab provides an opportunity for water agencies to invest utility ratepayer dollars in the locality. In order to maintain the CLERC Lab's accreditation certification, we successfully completed a third party assessment and the required proficiency tests for the standards methods being used. The CLERC Lab is currently accredited for microbiology of drinking water and wastewater, and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) analyses.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2015.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.