Ecological Rights Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THIS ORGANIZATION SHALL BE TO EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES WHICH CAUSE HARM TO HUMAN HEALTH, THE ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES; AND TO SEEK REDRESS OF THESE HARMS THROUGH LITIGATION OR ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION.
- Income
- $251,438
- Spending
- $104,574
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 34.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 98%
- Employees
- 1
- Highest pay
- $15,000, executive dir.
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 34.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 58% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1261% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% 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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (1)
- $80,822 spent. ERF 2024 STATEMENT OF PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS:In 2024 Ecological Rights Foundation continued its work investigating and cleaning up sources of pollution to Californias waterways and habitat degradation in the States aquatic environments. This work includes water and sediment quality monitoring, pursuing cleanups of polluted industrial sites; protecting endangered species, and representing conservationist stakeholders interests in administrative proceedings and citizen enforcement actions under state and federal environmental statues. ERFs accomplishments this past year included settlements and compliance monitoring of agreements under the Federal Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and Endangered Species Act, resulting in increased protection for Californias communities, waterbodies, and vulnerable wildlife species. Ecological Rights Foundations Environmental Health, Awareness and Protection Campaign continued its successful work to reduce consumer exposures to toxic chemicals. ERF continued to focus on protecting consumers from reproductive harm caused by styrene, carbon monoxide and other chemical exposures, and the abatement of human health and ecological risks from dioxin and other highly toxic chemicals used to treat lumber products and utility poles. ERFs PERL Network project continued its work facilitating marine and climate research in the Pacific Region and supporting community-based natural resource protection and conservation to increase climate resilience. Ecological Rights Foundation updated and maintained its public information websites and social media outlets.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1998.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.