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Southwestern Environmental Education Exchange

EIN 86-0682018 · Tucson, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood77 out of 100GovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SERVICES, THAT THE EXCHANGE PROVIDE, FOCUS ON EDUCATION ABOUT THE NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
5.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 92%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$246,335, executive director

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

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% 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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $682,831 spent. TUCSON ELECTRIC POWER:IN 2024, THE EXCHANGE CONDUCTED CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS FOR TEP/UNSE AND REACHED OVER 20,200 STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF ARIZONA WITH DIRECT CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY, RENEWABLE ENERGY, AND ELECTRICAL SAFETY WITH OVER 780 INDIVIDUAL PROGRAM PRESENTATIONS. IN ADDITION THE EXCHANGE MANAGED AND STAFFED OVER 90 LARGE PUBLIC EVENTS FOR TEP REACHING OVER 27,000 CUSTOMERS IN THE TEP/UNSE SERVICE TERRITORIES.
  2. $341,415 spent. SALT RIVER PROJECT:IN 2024 THE EXCHANGE CONDUCTED OVER 420 CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS AND REACHED OVER 16,000 STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE PHOENIX METRO AREA WITH DIRECT CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY. IN ADDITION THE EXCHANGE MANAGED AND STAFFED 7 LARGE PUBLIC EVENTS FOR SRP REACHING OVER 6,000 CUSTOMERS IN THE SRP SERVICE TERRITORY.
  3. $341,415 spent. TUCSON WATER:TUCSON WATER CONTINUES TO BE E3'S LONGEST PROGRAM PARTNERSHIP DATING BACK TO 1993. IN 2024, THE EXCHANGE CONDUCTED OVER 915 CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TUCSON METRO AREA. TOPICS FOR CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION INCLUDE WATER, SUPPLY, WATER QUALITY, WATER CONSERVATION, AND CLIMATE CHANGE. IN TOTAL THE PROGRAMS REACHED OVER 22,300 STUDENTS WITH DIRECT CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS. THE EXCHANGE ALSO MANAGED A WATER EFFICIENCY GIVE-A-WAY PROGRAM FOR TUCSON WATER, PURCHASING SUPPLIES AND MAILING OVER 2,000 INDIVIDUAL WATER SAVINGS KITS TO TUCSON WATER CUSTOMERS.

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 August 1991.

    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.

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.