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Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights

EIN 84-3247477 · Spokane, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceWeak42 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CENTER FOR DEMOCRATIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS, (THE ORGANIZATION) IS COMMITTED TO FACILITATING A GLOBAL CONVERSATION ABOUT DEMOCRATIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS. TO ATTAIN ITS GOALS, THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO EDUCATE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS ABOUT THE FAILURE OF EXISTING GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEMS TO RECOGNIZE AND ENFORCE ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS, AND PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO THEM TO FASHION NEW LAWS AND NEW LEGAL SYSTEMS, WHICH CREATE AND ENFORCE ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS. THE ORGANIZATION THEN ASSISTS THEM TO ENFORCE AND DEFEND THOSE LAWS.

Income
$629,362
Spending
$389,857
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
57.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
2
Highest pay
$105,000, 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 57.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% 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

Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    1 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $361,844 spent. I.During Program Year 2024, CDER provided assistance to organizations, governments, tribal members, and tribal governments in Oklahoma, California, New York, Virginia, Massachusetts, Washington, Minnesota, Colorado, and other states, to educate those governments, individuals, and groups about a new system of environmental law focused on recognizing the legally enforceable rights of ecosystems and nature. II.During Program Year 2024, CDER provided educational trainings and strategic organizational assistance to organizations in Ireland, Ecuador, Australia, Nepal, England, Northern Ireland, Costa Rica, and other countries. Assistance and support to those organizations included educational webinars and strategic assistance for the drafting of laws which would recognize the legally enforceable rights of nature and ecosystems.III.During Program Year 2024, CDER partnered with several organizations to create an organization focused on creating new land ownership options which would recognize nature and ecosystems as rights-bearing entities. CDER worked in Colorado on a pilot project to transfer the title of a parcel of land to the ecosystems that exist on that land.IV.During Program Year 2024, CDER partnered with a national organization to create a new software application that can be used by municipal and tribal organizers to identify the most appropriate places to adopt laws recognizing the legally enforceable rights of nature and ecosystems. In 2024, that included finalizing the mapping for river and other ecosystems in Virginia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Colorado, and Wisconsin.

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 October 2019.

    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.

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