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Community Environmental Council Inc

EIN 94-1728064 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CEC WORKS TO IDENTIFY, RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT, AND SOLVE PRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AFFECTING THE CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST. OUR ENERGY, TRANSPORTATION, WASTE AND FOOD PROGRAMS PROVIDE REGIONAL SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
27
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$189,438, ceo/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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    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 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 (2)
  1. $2.9 million spent. CLIMATE PROGRAMS: CEC BUILDS ON-THE-GROUND MOMENTUM TO REVERSE THE THREAT OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS. WE TRANSFORM THE SYSTEMS THAT FUEL IT. WE SAFEGUARD THE COMMUNITY FROM ITS IMPACTS. WE LEAD, WE PARTNER, WE ACT. AND EVERY DAY, WE INSPIRE PEOPLE TO CREATE A MORE RESILIENT CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST. AS THE MODERN ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT BROADENS TO BETTER REFLECT THE RACIAL, ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, AND AGE DIVERSITY OF OUR REGION, WE ARE BUILDING NETWORKS OF DIVERSE, ENGAGED ACTIVISTS WHO CHAMPION RIGOROUS CLIMATE ACTION. BY FOCUSING OUR EFFORTS, TOGETHER WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS TO:- REVERSE THE TRAJECTORY OF CLIMATE CHANGE BY PROPELLING A RAPID, EQUITABLE TRANSITION TO ZERO EMISSIONS (SEE SCHEDULE O)AND ZERO WASTE IN THE CENTRAL COASTS ENERGY, TRANSPORTATION, FOOD, AGRICULTURE, CONSTRUCTION, AND WASTE SECTORS.- REPAIR THE DISRUPTED CARBON CYCLE BY ACCELERATING AND BRINGING TO SCALE CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE PRACTICES THAT DRAW DOWN EXCESS CARBON FROM THE ATMOSPHERE.- PROTECT VULNERABLE POPULATIONS FROM EXTREME WEATHER AND OTHER CLIMATE IMPACTS BY DEPLOYING BOLD, COMMUNITY-LED SOLUTIONS ROOTED IN CLIMATE JUSTICE.
  2. $88,113 spent. CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENTAL HUB: IN JULY OF 2023 WE OPENED THE CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COASTS FIRST ENVIRONMENTAL HUB AS A NEXUS FOR ADVOCACY, INNOVATION, AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN SANTA BARBARA. SINCE THEN, THE HUB HAS ENGAGED MORE THAN 10,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN DOZENS OF EVENTS FOCUSED ON CLIMATE ACTION. IT IS A COLLABORATIVE EPICENTER FOR COMMUNITY-LED CLIMATE SOLUTIONS.THE 10,000-SQUARE-FOOT SPACE BOASTS ENERGY-SAVING TECHNOLOGIES AND SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIALS. IT INCLUDES CEC STAFF OFFICES, TWO MEETING AND EVENT VENUES, AND FIVE MISSION-ALIGNED NON-PROFIT TENANTS. NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS HAVE PRIORITY USE OF THE SPACE, AND A HANDFUL OF PRE-SELECTED VOLUNTEER-DRIVEN AND (SEE SCHEDULE O)SOME PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS ARE OFFERED FREE AND DEEPLY DISCOUNTED USE OF THE HUB FOR MEETINGS, WORKSHOPS, AND NETWORKING EVENTS. BY CATALYZING COLLECTIVE ACTION AND FOSTERING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP, THE HUB EMBODIES THE SPIRIT OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND SERVES AS A DRIVING FORCE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE.

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 July 1970.

    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.