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Piedmont Environmental Council

EIN 54-0935569 · Warrenton, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROTECT AND RESTORE THE LANDS AND WATERS OF THE VIRGINIA PIEDMONT, WHILE BUILDING STRONGER, MORE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES.

Income
$12.0 million
Spending
$10.8 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
63
Volunteers
994
Highest pay
$252,929, 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 85% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    40 of 40 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

    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 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 (4)
  1. $5.2 million spent. CONSERVATION, STEWARDSHIP AND HABITAT: RESEARCH THE ECONOMICS OF RURAL LAND PRESERVATION, PROVIDE PUBLIC EDUCATION ON LAND CONSERVATION OPTIONS AND ACQUIRE AND PRESERVE VITAL PROPERTY; PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LANDOWNERS ON NATIVE HABITAT LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. PEC HAS HELPED LANDOWNERS PERMANENTLY PROTECT MORE THAN 599,100 ACRES OF RURAL OR NATURAL LAND. CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HELP ENSURE THAT THE VIRGINIA PIEDMONT IS ALWAYS CHARACTERIZED BY ITS OPEN SPACES, HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURAL RESOURCES.
  2. $855,793 spent. COUNTY ISSUES: ANALYZE COUNTY PLANNING PROPOSALS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND DEVELOP SOUND CONSERVATION ALTERNATIVES.
  3. $858,730 spent. LAND USE AND POLICY: ANALYZE LOCAL, REGIONAL, STATE AND FEDERAL POLICIES THAT AFFECT VIRGINIA'S NORTHERN PIEDMONT AND PROVIDE PUBLIC EDUCATION.
  4. $1.3 million spent. OUTREACH & EDUCATION: PEC'S ON-THE-GROUND, HANDS-ON EDUCATION, DEMONSTRATION, OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY WORK INSPIRES GREATER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE PROCESSES AND DECISION-MAKING THAT AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE VIRGINIA PIEDMONT AND THE SUSTAINABILITY OF ITS COMMUNITIES. PEC IS FOCUSED ON ENCOURAGING IMPLEMENTATION OF BROADER POLICY GOALS BY FACILITATING INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN ASSISTING WITH APPLICATIONS FOR AVAILABLE PROGRAMS, ORGANIZING VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTING DIRECT ACTION. FARMS AND FOOD: EDUCATE CONSUMERS AND INSTITUTIONS ABOUT LOCAL FOOD AND FARMS, AND CONNECT THEM WITH FRESH, HEALTHY LOCAL FOOD SOURCES THROUGH THE "BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL" PROGRAM. PEC ALSO SUPPORTS EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR FARMERS THROUGH WORKSHOPS THAT CONNECT PIEDMONT LANDOWNERS AND FARMERS SEEKING FARMLAND TO LEASE OR PURCHASE, PARTICIPATION IN AND PROMOTION OF STATE AND NATIONAL NEW AND BEGINNING FARMER INITIATIVES, THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FARMER-CHEF EXPRESS ONLINE SERVICE TO CONNECT LOCAL FARMERS TO RETAILERS, THE MANAGEMENT OF DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS FOR INNOVATIVE PASTURE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, AND LEASING PEC OWNED LAND TO LOCAL FARMERS FOR AGRICULTURAL USES. TRANSPORTATION AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT: PROMOTE ORDERLY ECONOMIC PROGRESS SENSITIVE TO CONSERVING RESOURCES; ANALYZE THE IMPACT OF PLANNED ROADWAYS IN ORDER TO PROMOTE ALTERNATIVES THAT MINIMIZE DAMAGE TO THE VIRGINIA PIEDMONT.

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 May 1973.

    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.