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National Caucus of Environmental Legislators

EIN 68-0633254 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NATIONAL CAUCUS OF ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATORS EMPOWERS A NONPARTISAN NETWORK OF LEGISLATIVE CHAMPIONS TO PROTECT, CONSERVE, AND IMPROVE THE NATURAL AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
24
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$203,588, chief exec.

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: 69 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $512,064 spent. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH: NCEL WORKS ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES INCLUDING REDUCING PLASTIC POLLUTION, PROTECTING THE PUBLIC FROM TOXIC CHEMICALS, AND RESTORING A HEALTHIER MISSISSIPPI RIVER. STATE ACTIONS AND COLLABORATION ACROSS STATE LINES PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN ENSURING SAFE WATER, AIR, AND CONSUMER PRODUCTS FOR ALL. NCEL'S STAFF ORGANIZES STATE LEGISLATORS TO KEEP THEM UP TO DATE ON THE MOST PRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND PROVIDES THEM WITH THE TOOLS TO PURSUE POLICIES IN THEIR STATES.
  2. $720,479 spent. CONSERVATION: WILDLIFE, THEIR HABITATS, AND NATURAL LANDSCAPES EVERYWHERE ARE INCREASINGLY THREATENED BY HUMAN ACTIVITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE. NCEL EQUIPS STATE LEGISLATORS WITH RESOURCES AND KNOWLEDGE TO ADVANCE ACTIONS THAT CONSERVE AND RESTORE LANDSCAPES, WETLANDS, AND SPECIES. IN ADDITION, NCEL'S STAFF ORGANIZES STATE LEGISLATORS TO KEEP THEM UP-TO-DATE ON THE MOST PRESSING CONSERVATION ISSUES, AND PROVIDES THEM WITH THE TOOLS TO ADVANCE PROTECTIONS IN THEIR STATES.
  3. $453,034 spent. ANNUAL FORUM: NCEL'S STAFF ORGANIZES AN ANNUAL FORUM FOR STATE LEGISLATORS TO KEEP THEM UP-TO-DATE ON THE MOST PRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND PROVIDES THEM WITH THE TOOLS TO PURSUE POLICIES IN THEIR STATES.
  4. $686,067 spent. CLIMATE & ENERGY: STATE LEGISLATORS WITNESS THE DAILY IMPACT THAT A CHANGING CLIMATE HAS ON THEIR STATE. THEY UNDERSTAND THAT ACTION MUST BE TAKEN NOW IN ORDER TO BUILD A CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY FOR THE FUTURE. NCEL PARTICIPANTS ARE WORKING TO ENSURE THEIR STATES MAKE DEEP REDUCTIONS IN CARBON EMISSIONS THROUGH ENERGY EFFICIENCY, INCREASED RENEWABLE ENERGY, BENEFICIAL ELECTRIFICATION, AND CARBON PRICING. THESE LEGISLATORS ARE ALSO WORKING TO PREVENT ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE FROM FOSSIL FUEL DEVELOPMENT. IN ADDITION, NCEL EMPOWERS STATE LEGISLATORS BY KEEPING THEM UP-TO-DATE ON THE MOST PRESSING CLIMATE AND ENERGY ISSUES AND PROVIDING THEM WITH THE TOOLS TO PURSUE SOLUTIONS IN THEIR STATES. OCEAN: CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAVING DRASTIC IMPACTS ON OCEAN ECOSYSTEMS AND COASTAL COMMUNITIES, YET OCEANS AND COASTLINES ALSO OFFER INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND ADAPTATION. NCEL SUPPORTS LAWMAKERS IN COASTAL STATES WORKING TO ADOPT RENEWABLE OFFSHORE ENERGY, PRESERVE AND PROTECT COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS, REDUCE PLASTIC POLLUTION AND MARINE DEBRIS, AND EFFECTIVELY DEVELOP COASTAL RESILIENCE PLANS THAT ACCOUNT FOR FUTURE IMPACTS LIKE SEA LEVEL RISES. NCEL'S STAFF ORGANIZES STATE LEGISLATORS TO KEEP THEM UP-TO-DATE ON THE MOST PRESSING OCEAN ISSUES, AND PROVIDES THEM WITH THE TOOLS TO ADVANCE PROTECTION IN THEIR STATES.
  5. CLIMATE & ENERGY: STATE LEGISLATORS WITNESS THE DAILY IMPACT THAT A CHANGING CLIMATE HAS ON THEIR STATE. THEY UNDERSTAND THAT ACTION MUST BE TAKEN NOW IN ORDER TO BUILD A CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY FOR THE FUTURE. NCEL PARTICIPANTS ARE WORKING TO ENSURE THEIR STATES MAKE DEEP REDUCTIONS IN CARBON EMISSIONS THROUGH ENERGY EFFICIENCY, INCREASED RENEWABLE ENERGY, BENEFICIAL ELECTRIFICATION, AND CARBON PRICING. THESE LEGISLATORS ARE ALSO WORKING TO PREVENT ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE FROM FOSSIL FUEL DEVELOPMENT. IN ADDITION, NCEL EMPOWERS STATE LEGISLATORS BY KEEPING THEM UP-TO-DATE ON THE MOST PRESSING CLIMATE AND ENERGY ISSUES AND PROVIDING THEM WITH THE TOOLS TO PURSUE SOLUTIONS IN THEIR STATES. OCEAN: CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAVING DRASTIC IMPACTS ON OCEAN ECOSYSTEMS AND COASTAL COMMUNITIES, YET OCEANS AND COASTLINES ALSO OFFER INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND ADAPTATION. NCEL SUPPORTS LAWMAKERS IN COASTAL STATES WORKING TO ADOPT RENEWABLE OFFSHORE ENERGY, PRESERVE AND PROTECT COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS, REDUCE PLASTIC POLLUTION AND MARINE DEBRIS, AND EFFECTIVELY DEVELOP COASTAL RESILIENCE PLANS THAT ACCOUNT FOR FUTURE IMPACTS LIKE SEA LEVEL RISES. NCEL'S STAFF ORGANIZES STATE LEGISLATORS TO KEEP THEM UP-TO-DATE ON THE MOST PRESSING OCEAN ISSUES, AND PROVIDES THEM WITH THE TOOLS TO ADVANCE PROTECTION IN THEIR STATES.

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 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 December 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 May 2007.

    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.