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← OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL.

Totals

Total revenue
$3,820,437
Total expenses
$3,459,041
Contributions and grants received
$3,572,639
Grants paid
$391,550
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$218,381
Other revenue
$29,417
Total assets, end of year
$4,527,457
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,439,908
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$3,087,549
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$2,659,803
Management and general expenses
$547,796
Fundraising expenses
$251,442
Program service expenses (Part III)
$2,659,803

Program services were 76.9% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $106,888

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $3,465,751

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $29,618

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $35,045 · excluded $35,045

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $1,589,256

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $1,405,920

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $183,336

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $183,336 · excluded $183,336

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $18,273

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $106,888

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $45,969

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$27,696 · excluded -$27,696

  • 11a · Other revenue: OTHER INCOME

    total $45,413 · excluded $45,413

  • 11b · Other revenue: GRANT ADMINISTRATION

    total $11,700 · excluded $11,700

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $57,113

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $391,550 · program services $391,550

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $136,670 · program services $110,509 · management and general $18,397 · fundraising $7,764

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,662,409 · program services $1,344,194 · management and general $223,768 · fundraising $94,447

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $43,635 · program services $35,282 · management and general $5,874 · fundraising $2,479

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $230,531 · program services $186,403 · management and general $31,031 · fundraising $13,097

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $145,000 · program services $117,244 · management and general $19,518 · fundraising $8,238

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $32,812 · management and general $32,812

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $109,078 · program services $49,951 · management and general $59,127

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $8,759 · management and general $8,759

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $249,472 · program services $116,204 · management and general $100,214 · fundraising $33,054

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $160 · program services $35 · management and general $125

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $90,303 · program services $12,145 · management and general $14,930 · fundraising $63,228

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $67,428 · program services $54,378 · fundraising $13,050

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $108,114 · program services $93,924 · management and general $5,988 · fundraising $8,202

  • 17 · Travel

    total $75,742 · program services $63,470 · management and general $6,356 · fundraising $5,916

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $7,761 · management and general $7,761

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $9,652 · management and general $9,652

  • 24a · Other expenses: PROGRAM EVENTS

    total $49,776 · program services $49,776

  • 24b · Other expenses: MEMBERSHIPS AND PERMITS

    total $25,470 · program services $22,218 · management and general $1,464 · fundraising $1,788

  • 24c · Other expenses: MISCELLANEOUS

    total $14,719 · program services $12,520 · management and general $2,020 · fundraising $179

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $306,641 · end of year $464,926

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $54,107 · end of year $54,000

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $54,970 · end of year $267,483

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $189 · end of year $198

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $629,706

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $29,294

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $32,040 · end of year $600,412

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $2,760,271 · end of year $2,957,357

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $115,003 · end of year $120,491

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    end of year $8,625

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $124,411 · end of year $53,965

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $241,030 · end of year $279,231

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $381,125 · end of year $1,115,601

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $115,570 · end of year $45,076

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $2,576,505 · end of year $2,832,973

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $133,402 · end of year $254,576

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH OF ALL OHIO COMMUNITIES THROUGH LEGAL AND POLICY ADVOCACY, DECISION-MAKER ACCOUNTABILITY, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

  • THE OEC HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO PROTECTING OHIO'S WATER RESOURCES AND ADVANCING CLEAN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACROSS OUR STATE. WE LED INITIATIVES TO REPLACE LEAD SERVICE LINES AND ENHANCE REGULATORY PROTECTION EFFORTS THAT NOT ONLY SAFEGUARD PUBLIC HEALTH BUT ALSO YIELD SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC BENEFITS. THROUGH SUPPORTING BOLD PROJECTS LIKE THE OAK RUN SOLAR PROJECT, WE CHAMPIONED RENEWABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS THAT REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS, CREATE CONSTRUCTION JOBS, AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. AT THE SAME TIME, OUR WORK TO REDUCE NUTRIENT POLLUTION THROUGH THE H2OHIO PROGRAM AND TO CURB METHANE EMISSIONS FROM OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS EMPHASIZES OUR COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENHANCING ENERGY EFFICIENCY.ADDITIONALLY, WE WERE DILIGENT IN OUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT OHIO'S PUBLIC LANDS AND STRENGTHEN DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION. WE HAVE ACTIVELY OPPOSED HARMFUL FRACKING PRACTICES IN STATE PARKS AND NATIONAL FORESTS, LEGALLY CHALLENGED LEASING APPROVALS, AND LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS THAT THREATEN OUR MOST CHERISHED NATURAL AREAS. OUR ADVOCACY FOR ROBUST PROTECTIONS OF MATURE AND OLD-GROWTH FORESTS IS MATCHED BY OUR COMMITMENT TO ENDING PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING AND DEFENDING DIRECT DEMOCRACY THROUGH OUR CAMPAIGNS AND LOCAL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECTS IN COMMUNITIES STATEWIDE. ACROSS EVERY REGION FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST, SOUTHEAST, CLEVELAND METRO, AND CENTRAL OHIO WE HAVE EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES, INFLUENCED POLICY, AND INVESTED IN EMERGING LEADERS TO SECURE A HEALTHIER, MORE RESILIENT FUTURE FOR ALL OHIOANS.

    Expenses $1,683,359 · Grants $386,800

  • WE LED A MULTI-REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY EFFORT ACROSS OHIO. IN SOUTHWEST OHIO, WE HAVE SUPPORTED ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY LEADERSHIP, ENHANCED CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGH TRAINING, AND CONTRIBUTED TO LOCAL CLIMATE ACTION BY SERVING ON INFLUENTIAL BOARDS LIKE CINCINNATI'S ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD. IN NORTHEAST OHIO, WE DROVE SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES IN AKRON AND HAVE SUPPORTED ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE WORK IN YOUNGSTOWN SECURING A MORATORIUM ON A POTENTIALLY HARMFUL PROJECT THAT THREATENED COMMUNITY WELL-BEING.IN SOUTHEAST OHIO, WE PIONEERED YOUTH-LED SUSTAINABLE LAND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS AND DEFENDED LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS, SUCH AS ATHENS' PLASTIC BAG ORDINANCE, DESPITE LEGAL CHALLENGES. IN THE CLEVELAND METRO AREA, WE HAVE HOSTED IMPACTFUL DISCUSSIONS ON CLIMATE ACTION, HIGHLIGHTED FEDERAL INVESTMENTS IN CLEAN ENERGY, AND CELEBRATED THE EXPANSION OF LOW-INCOME SOLAR PROGRAMS. IN CENTRAL OHIO, WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN EMERGING LEADERS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL AND ADVOCACY INITIATIVES, ENSURING THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE EQUIPPED TO DRIVE LASTING ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE.

    Expenses $504,558 · Grants $4,750

  • THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT CHAMPIONED PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN OHIO BY CELEBRATING AND AMPLIFYING MANY REGULATORY VICTORIES. THEY ACHIEVED SUCCESS BY REACHING 871 MILLION PEOPLE AND PUBLISHING A VAST COLLECTION OF ARTICLES, BLOG POSTS, AND PRESS RELEASES, ENSURING THAT KEY MESSAGES WERE CIRCULATED TO A WIDE AUDIENCE. THEY NURTURED AN EMAIL COMMUNITY WITH A ROBUST 34,780 SUBSCRIBERS AND STEWARDED A SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING OF 36,775, EFFECTIVELY ENGAGING AND INFORMING CONSTITUENTS ACROSS THE STATE.

    Expenses $259,152

  • WE HOSTED A VARIETY OF EVENTS STATEWIDE FROM A FALL GATHERING ON BIG DARBY CREEK AND A TOLEDO WATER CRISIS COMMUNITY EVENT TO A CLIMATE SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS TRAINING AT THE CINCINNATI ZOO. WE ENGAGED YOUNG ENVIRONMENTALISTS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY ECOLOGY APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IN SOUTHEAST OHIO, CONNECTED CONSTITUENTS AT OUR INAUGURAL STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT EVENT AND EARTH DAY PANEL IN CLEVELAND, AND AMPLIFIED OUR MISSION IN CENTRAL OHIO WITH EMERGING LEADERS EVENTS LIKE CAREER PANELS, RIVER CLEANUPS, AND MENTAL HEALTH DISCUSSIONS. ADDITIONALLY, OUR LAW CENTER HOSTED MULTIPLE EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, BRINGING TOGETHER LEGAL EXPERTS AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY CHALLENGES. THESE INITIATIVES SHOWCASED OUR WATERWAYS' IMPORTANCE, MOBILIZED THOUSANDS OF PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND SHARED INSPIRING STORIES OF COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.

    Expenses $148,514

  • WE ADVANCED JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION BY ACTIVELY CHAMPIONING THE REMOVAL OF LEAD FROM OHIO'S DRINKING WATER, A CRITICAL STEP TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY CHILDREN. WE MOBILIZED THOUSANDS OF PUBLIC COMMENTS AND HOSTED INCLUSIVE EVENTS, SUCH AS OUR COMMUNITY GATHERING COMMEMORATING THE TOLEDO WATER CRISIS, WHERE RESIDENTS SHARED PERSONAL STORIES AND REINFORCED THEIR COLLECTIVE VOICE IN DEMANDING ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY. WE ALSO WORKED ACROSS ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO SECURE REGULATORY IMPROVEMENTS, SUCH AS THE UPDATED LEAD AND COPPER RULE AND STATE LEGISLATION EMPHASIZING WATER AFFORDABILITY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ENSURING THAT OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS ADDRESSED BOTH THE IMMEDIATE PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS AND THE BROADER SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITIES.

    Expenses $52,189

  • THE OEC CONTINUES TO INVEST IN TOMORROW'S ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT THROUGH OUR EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM IN CENTRAL OHIO. THE PROGRAM EMPOWERS HUNDREDS OF LOCAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS TO TAKE ACTION AND BECOME THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPIONS THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND NETWORKING. FULL DETAILS OF OUR PROGRAMMATIC WORK CAN BE FOUND IN OUR ANNUAL REPORT: HTTPS://THEOEC.ORG/NEWS-AND-INFORMATION/2024-ANNUAL-REPORT.

    Expenses $12,031

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • ANDREW WATTERSON

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ANDY JONES

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • BEN KESSLER

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • BILL ONDREY GRUBER

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DAN GRAY

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ELLEN GREENE BUSH

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • FRANCISCO OLLERVIDES

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • GRAHAM MITCHELL

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JENIECE BROCK

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • KRISTA MAGAW

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • LOLA LEWIS

    MEMBER, BEGIN. 6/2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MARIANNE EPPIG

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • PETER GRIESINGER

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • REBECCA KARASON

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • SAM SCHWAB

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • TANNER YESS

    MEMBER, BEGIN. 6/2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • TOM WINSTON

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • RICH SHANK

    BOARD PRESIDENT, UNTIL 3/2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JENNIFER SCONYERS

    BOARD PRESIDENT, VP UNTIL 3/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ALEX SLAYMAKER

    BOARD VICE PRESIDENT, BEGIN. 4/2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • WILLIAM KATZIN

    BOARD TREASURER, UNTIL 12/2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MIKE SHELTON

    BOARD SECRETARY, UNTIL 12/2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • CAROL KAUFFMAN

    CEO

    Total calculated
    $168,209
    From this org
    $131,869
    From related orgs
    $30,431
    Other
    $5,909
    Hours/week
    35 + 5 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $131,869 + $30,431 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $3,956 + $913 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $845 + $195 related
    Filer's total
    $136,670 + $31,539 related

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 3
THE BOARD REVIEWS COMPARABLE MARKET COMPENSATION PRIOR TO APPROVING COMPENSATION AGREEMENTS FOR THE CEO.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
12 May 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202531349349302468

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