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Cglr Foundation

EIN 82-4736237 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CGLR FOUNDATION BRINGS TOGETHER GREAT LAKES LEADERS FROM GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, ACADEMIA, AND THE NONPROFIT SECTOR TOGETHER TO FIND NEW WAYS OF HARNESSING THE REGION'S ECONOMIC STRENGTHS, IMPROVING THE WELL-BEING OF THE REGION'S CITIZENS, AND PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH AND PROGRAMS, AND AWARENESS BUILDING ACTIVITIES.

Income
$908,548
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
4
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$131,743, chief operating officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 70% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 March 31, 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 (2)
  1. $92,115 spent. CONFERENCES AND MEETINGSTHE CGLR FOUNDATION, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CGLR CANADA FOUNDATION, HOSTED THE GREAT LAKES SUSTAINABLE GROWTH FORUM IN TORONTO FROM JUNE 26-28, 2024. HUNDREDS OF BUSINESS LEADERS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, THOUGHT-LEADERS AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS FROM THE BI-NATIONAL GREAT LAKES ECONOMIC REGION ATTENDED THE TICKETED EVENT AND DISCUSSED COSIO-ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES FACING THE GREAT LAKES REGION. IN ADDITION TO THE FORUM, A SERIES OF BUSINESS AND SUSTAINABILITY FREE WEBINARS AND MEETINGS WERE HOSTED ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS, FROM WATER STEWARDSHIP AND REGIONAL DECARBONIZATION, TO SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS AND PLASTIC POLLUTION AND THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY.
  2. $1.3 million spent. POLICY, RESEARCH AND PROGRAMSDURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-25, THE CGLR FOUNDATION CONTINUED DEVELOPING THE CIRCULAR GREAT LAKES INITIATIVE, WHICH BRINGS COMPANIES TOGETHER WITH GOVERNMENT, ACADEMIC, AND NONPROFIT LEADERS TO FORGE A FUTURE WITHOUT MATERIAL WASTE AND POLLUTION, STARTING WITH PLASTIC. THE INITIATIVE CONTINUED IMPLEMENTING ITS STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN, LAUNCHING PILOT PROJECTS AND DEVELOPING OUTREACH MATERIALS. IT ALSO WORKED TO EXPAND ITS GREAT LAKES PLASTIC CLEANUP THAT WORKS WITH LOCAL PARTNERS TO REMOVE LITTER AND WASTE USING INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES. DURING THE YEAR, THE CGLR FOUNDATION ALSO LAUNCHED ITS GREAT LAKES WATER INNOVATION AND STEWARDSHIP EXCHANGE, AN INITIATIVE THAT BRINGS TOGETHER MULTI-STAKEHOLDER GROUPS TO ADVANCE RESPONSIBLE WATER USE AND SUPPORT OPERATIONAL WATER EFFICIENCIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 March 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 February 2019.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Chg Foundation (Chula Vista, CA), EIN 33-0586911. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.