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Citizens Coal Council

EIN 52-1926679 · Washington, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceFair59 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CITIZENS COAL COUNCIL IS A NATIONAL GRASSROOTS WATCHDOG ORGANIZATION THAT EMPOWERS COALFIELD COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT THEIR HOMES, LAND, AND WATER BY HOLDING REGULATORS AND INDUSTRY ACCOUNTABLE TO FULLY ENFORCE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS-ESPECIALLY THE SURFACE MINING CONTROL AND RECLAMATION ACT (SMCRA).

Income
$156,865
Spending
$157,317
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
2
Volunteers
45
Highest pay
$46,734, executive di

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

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 58% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    0 of 25

    2 of 2 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.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $30,000 spent. CITIZENS COAL COUNCIL SPONSORED A BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY CONDUCTED IN MAY 2025 TO DOCUMENT EXISTING WATER QUALITY, HABITAT CONDITIONS, AND AQUATIC LIFE IN GREENE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, BEFORE THE EXPANSION OF LONGWALL COAL MINING. THE EFFORT FOCUSED ON NINE STREAM SITES ACROSS EIGHT SMALL HEADWATER WATERSHEDS, ALONG WITH A REFERENCE SITE FOR COMPARISON, ALL LOCATED IN AREAS FACING POTENTIAL MINING IMPACTS. THE PURPOSE WAS TO ESTABLISH A CLEAR, SCIENCE-BASED SNAPSHOT OF CURRENT CONDITIONS, DETERMINE WHETHER THESE WATERS ARE TRULY MEETING THEIR LEGAL PROTECTIONS, AND IDENTIFY WHERE STRONGER SAFEGUARDS MAY BE WARRANTED-CREATING A FOUNDATION FOR INFORMED DECISION-MAKING AND FUTURE ACCOUNTABILITY.
  2. $5,000 spent. PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER IN JUNE 2025, THE OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT PROPOSED ROLLING BACK THE 2024 TEN-DAY NOTICE (TDN) RULE AND BRINGING BACK THE 2020 VERSION, SAYING IT WOULD BETTER MATCH THE SURFACE MINING CONTROL AND RECLAMATION ACT OF 1977 (SMCRA) AND EASE REQUIREMENTS ON STATES. A COALITION INCLUDING CITIZENS COAL COUNCIL, APPALACHIAN VOICES, CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, SIERRA CLUB, APPALACHIAN CITIZENS' LAW CENTER, AND THE KENTUCKY RESOURCES COUNCIL PUSHED BACK, ARGUING THE CHANGE WOULD MAKE IT HARDER TO CATCH AND FIX VIOLATIONS AND WOULD GO AGAINST WHAT THE LAW IS MEANT TO DO. OUR COMMENTS CLEARLY LAID OUT THE LEGAL AND REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS WITH THE PROPOSAL-SHOWING IT COULD LEAD TO DELAYS, ADDITIONAL DAMAGE ON THE GROUND, AND LIKELY COURT CHALLENGES. IN DOING SO, WE STRENGTHENED THE CASE FOR KEEPING THE 2024 RULE AND PUT PRESSURE ON THE AGENCY TO RECONSIDER OR RISK FACING LEGAL AND PUBLIC PUSHBACK. PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER IN JUNE 2025, THE OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT PROPOSED ROLLING BACK THE 2024 TEN-DAY NOTICE (TDN) RULE AND BRINGING BACK THE 2020 VERSION, SAYING IT WOULD BETTER MATCH THE SURFACE MINING CONTROL AND RECLAMATION ACT OF 1977 (SMCRA) AND EASE REQUIREMENTS ON STATES. A COALITION INCLUDING CITIZENS COAL COUNCIL, APPALACHIAN VOICES, CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, SIERRA CLUB, APPALACHIAN CITIZENS' LAW CENTER, AND THE KENTUCKY RESOURCES COUNCIL PUSHED BACK, ARGUING THE CHANGE WOULD MAKE IT HARDER TO CATCH AND FIX VIOLATIONS AND WOULD GO AGAINST WHAT THE LAW IS MEANT TO DO. OUR COMMENTS CLEARLY LAID OUT THE LEGAL AND REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS WITH THE PROPOSAL-SHOWING IT COULD LEAD TO DELAYS, ADDITIONAL DAMAGE ON THE GROUND, AND LIKELY COURT CHALLENGES. IN DOING SO, WE STRENGTHENED THE CASE FOR KEEPING THE 2024 RULE AND PUT PRESSURE ON THE AGENCY TO RECONSIDER OR RISK FACING LEGAL AND PUBLIC PUSHBACK.
  3. $72,772 spent. OSMRE WATCH IS A NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO HOLD THE OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR ENFORCING THE SURFACE MINING CONTROL AND RECLAMATION ACT. IT DOCUMENTS COMMUNITY IMPACTS FROM COAL MINING-SUCH AS WATER LOSS, PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND FAILED RECLAMATION-TO EXPOSE GAPS IN FEDERAL OVERSIGHT. BY PAIRING THESE STORIES WITH LEGAL ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC PRESSURE, OSMRE WATCH STRENGTHENS CITIZEN ENFORCEMENT AND PUSHES FOR MEANINGFUL PROTECTIONS FOR COALFIELD COMMUNITIES.

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 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 June 2025.

    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 October 1996.

    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.