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The National Environmental Education and Training Foundation

EIN 54-1557043 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak15 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOUNDATION, DOING BUSINESS AS NEEF, IS THE NATION'S LEADING ORGANIZATION IN LIFELONG ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE AND LEARN ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$4.7 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
28
Volunteers
59,174
Highest pay
$252,939, president and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 15 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 102% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 25

    12 of 12 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 September 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 (6)
  1. $1.3 million spent. CONSERVATIONALIGNED WITH NEEF'S MISSION TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE ENVIRONMENT, THIS PROGRAM AREA INCLUDES ENGAGING PEOPLE NATIONWIDE TO VISIT, IMPROVE, AND STEWARD PUBLIC LANDS AND SUPPORT PUBLIC LAND AGENCIES' EFFORTS IN CONSERVATION AND ENGAGEMENT OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS SUCH AS:- NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY (NPLD), THE NATION'S LARGEST SINGLE-DAY VOLUNTEER EFFORT FOR PUBLIC LANDS. THIS CELEBRATION BRINGS OUT THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS TO HELP RESTORE AND IMPROVE PUBLIC LANDS AROUND THE COUNTRY. NPLD IS ALSO A "FEE-FREE DAY" WHEN ENTRANCE FEES ARE WAIVED AT NATIONAL PARKS AND OTHER PUBLIC LANDS. THE 32ND ANNUAL NPLD TOOK PLACE IN 2025.- SEVERAL GRANTMAKING PROGRAMS ARE TIED TO CONSERVATION WHICH FOCUS ON BIODIVERSITY, PUBLIC LANDS ACCESS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND VOLUNTEERISM, AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, INCLUDING THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE'S LEGACY GRANTMAKING PROGRAM.
  2. $730,141 spent. WRAPWRAP IS A GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL NGO TRANSFORMING OUR BROKEN PRODUCT AND FOOD SYSTEMS TO CREATE A CIRCULAR LIVING FOR THE BENEFIT OF CLIMATE, NATURE AND PEOPLE. OUR MISSION IS TO EMBED CIRCULAR LIVING IN EVERY BOARDROOM AND EVERY HOME.
  3. $689,420 spent. K-12 EDUCATIONNEEF IS DEDICATED TO CULTIVATING AN ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS AND RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES. AT NEEF, WE BELIEVE THERE IS MUCH TO LEARN FROM OBSERVING AND ENGAGING WITH THE NATURAL WORLD. OUR WORK IS GUIDED BY OUR GREENING STEM INITIATIVE, WHICH ENCOURAGES EXPERIENTIAL, HANDS-ON, PLACE-BASED EDUCATION AS A KEY TO BETTER LEARNING OUTCOMES AND A DEEPER SENSE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. - GREENING STEM: THE OUTDOORS FACILITATES REAL-WORLD, PROJECT-BASED STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS) LEARNING. OUR ONLINE GREENING STEM LEARNING CENTER PROVIDES FREE MATERIALS AND EDUCATOR TOOLKITS TIED TO STANDARDS.- CLIMATE SUPERSTARS: AN ONLINE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT GETS KIDS EXCITED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND HOW THEY CAN TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN CARING FOR ITS FUTURE.
  4. $565,384 spent. CAMPAIGNSNEEF IS COMMITTED TO FURTHERING ENVIRONMENTALLY-RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR THROUGHOUT THE US POPULATION. - EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT: NEEF WORKS WITH ORGANIZATIONS ON ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGNS TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PRIORITIES AND ENCOURAGE TEAM MEMBERS TO TAKE ACTION ON SUSTAINABILITY AT WORK, AS WELL AS AT HOME AND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. NEEF ALSO CONVENES CORPORATE THOUGHT LEADERS TO ASSESS BEST PRACTICES, CONDUCT SUSTAINABILITY SURVEYS, AND CREATE TOOLS TO MEASURE THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT OF ENGAGING EMPLOYEES IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND BEHAVIORS.- ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGNS: NEEF PARTNERS WITH SPORTS LEAGUES (SUCH AS THE NBA AND THE NHL), MUSEUMS, ZOOS, AND AQUARIA TO PROMPT FANS AND VISITORS TO TAKE ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIONS AT HOME. THESE CAMPAIGNS ARE GROUNDED IN BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE, ENGAGE AMERICANS IN "LEARNING BY DOING, AND DEMONSTRATE THAT COLLECTIVE ACTIONS CAN CREATE LARGE-SCALE IMPACTS.
  5. $276,920 spent. PUBLIC OUTREACH:PUBLIC OUTREACH WORKS TO UNDERSTAND AND MARKET TO NEEF'S AUDIENCES. NEEF DEVELOPS AND DISSEMINATES PRACTICAL AND INFORMATIVE INFORMATION THROUGH ITS WEBSITE AND MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS - THE NEEF CONNECT AND EE IN FOCUS- AS WELL AS SHARING RELEVANT INFORMATION THROUGH ITS SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND TRADITIONAL MEDIA.
  6. $631,303 spent. HEALTH:NEEF'S HEALTH WORK BUILDS A BROAD, INCLUSIVE COALITION OF STAKEHOLDERS TO FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS AND BENEFITS. - THROUGH OUR PEDIATRIC ASTHMA INITIATIVE, NEEF PROVIDES FREE TRAINING TO HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS TO HELP THEM IDENTIFY THE WAY THE ENVIRONMENT INFLUENCES PATIENT HEALTH OUTCOMES AND PROVIDES TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO MITIGATE OR ENCOURAGE THOSE EFFECTS.- CLIMATE & MENTAL HEALTH EXPLORES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OUTDOOR ACCESS ON PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AND THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THESE OUTCOMES. INCREASING RESILIENCE AND RECOVERY.- SUNWISE EXPLORES ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM FEATURING OVER 50 CROSS-CURRICULAR, STANDARDS-BASED ACTIVITIES THAT HELP K-8 CHILDREN LEARN ABOUT SUN SAFETY, UB RADIATION, AND STRATOSPHERIC OZONE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 October 13, 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 September 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 July 1991.

    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 October 21, 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.