OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL

Financials

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

556 E TOWN ST, COLUMBUS, OH 43215-4802

Principal officer (990 for 2024)

CAROL KAUFFMAN, 556 E TOWN STREET, COLUMBUS, OH 43215

Signed the 990

CAROL KAUFFMAN, CEO

Phone

(614) 487-7506

Website

HTTPS://WWW.THEOEC.ORG

Return prepared by

CLARK SCHAEFER HACKETT & CO

Mission

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

Program accomplishments

• THE OEC ADVANCED SCIENCE-BASED, PEOPLE-CENTERED ADVOCACY THAT DELIVERED MEASURABLE POLICY OUTCOMES FOR OHIO'S LAND, WATER, ENERGY, AND DEMOCRACY. THROUGH SUSTAINED LEGISLATIVE ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION, COALITION LEADERSHIP, AND RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING, OEC FOCUSED MUCH OF ITS WORK ON ENERGY POLICY REFORM. THE RESULTING POLICY ELIMINATED LEGACY COAL SUBSIDIES, STRENGTHENED UTILITY OVERSIGHT, AND IMPROVED GRID TRANSPARENCY, REPRESENTING BIPARTISAN PROGRESS GROUNDED IN DATA AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY. FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF A MAJOR ENERGY BILL, OEC EDUCATED OHIOANS ABOUT ITS IMPACTS AND ENGAGED WITH THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF OHIO ON IMPLEMENTATION OF KEY ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION UTILITY TRANSPARENCY PROVISIONS.(PROGRAM NARRATIVE CONTINUES IN SCHEDULE O)OEC PROVIDED CONSISTENT ADVOCACY BEFORE REGULATORY STATE AGENCIES AND IN OTHER PUBLIC FORUMS TO DEFEND CLEAN WATER PROTECTIONS, SAFEGUARD PUBLIC LANDS, ADVANCE EQUITABLE CLEAN ENERGY SOLUTIONS, AND INCREASE DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION-MAKING. OUR TEAM PAIRED POLICY EXPERTISE WITH COMMUNITY VOICES, ENSURING THAT THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY DECISIONS WERE REPRESENTED IN THE POLICYMAKING PROCESS.OEC'S ADVOCACY MODEL EMPHASIZES DURABLE CHANGE: ALIGNING RESEARCH, GRASSROOTS ENGAGEMENT, AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS TO MOVE POLICY FORWARD WHILE BUILDING LONG-TERM CAPACITY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP ACROSS OHIO.
  Expenses $1,300,681 · grants $6,000
• OUR REGIONAL FIELD TEAM SUPPORTED COMMUNITY-DRIVEN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY ACROSS OHIO, ENSURING LOCAL PRIORITIES SHAPED STATEWIDE POLICY OUTCOMES. IN SOUTHWEST OHIO, OEC LEVERAGED PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE CINCINNATI REGION TO ADVANCE CLEAN ENERGY, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT, ELEVATING COMMUNITY VOICES ON ENERGY AFFORDABILITY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE. IN CLEVELAND, WE UNITED PARTNERS AND AMPLIFIED COMMUNITY VOICES TO ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES SHAPED THE CITY'S SUSTAINABILITY AGENDA. THE YEAR ALSO INCLUDED THE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT EVENT, CONVENING COALITION MEMBERS, MAYOR JUSTIN BIBB, AND LOCAL ADVOCATES TO STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION AND SHARED ACCOUNTABILITY IN ADVANCING CLEVELAND'S SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.(PROGRAM NARRATIVE CONTINUES IN SCHEDULE O)IN CENTRAL OHIO, OEC MOBILIZED ADVOCATES TO ENGAGE IN UTILITY ACCOUNTABILITY, GRID TRANSPARENCY, AND CLEAN ENERGY POLICY, SUPPORTING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND LEGISLATIVE OUTREACH FOR MAJOR REFORMS. IN SOUTHEAST OHIO, OEC WORKED WITH RURAL AND APPALACHIAN COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT PUBLIC LANDS AND WATERWAYS, ADDRESS EXTRACTION-RELATED CONCERNS, AND BUILD DURABLE, PLACE-BASED ADVOCACY CAPACITY. TOGETHER, OEC'S FIELD PROGRAM TRANSLATED LOCAL ENGAGEMENT INTO LASTING STATEWIDE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS.
  Expenses $964,483 · grants $150,350
• THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM EXPANDED STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL VISIBILITY FOR OHIO'S ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES THROUGH STRATEGIC MEDIA ENGAGEMENT AND DIRECT AUDIENCE OUTREACH. OEC REACHED MORE THAN 39,000 DEDICATED SUBSCRIBERS THROUGH DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS, EXPANDING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVOCACY ACROSS THE STATE.THE ORGANIZATION SECURED SIGNIFICANT MEDIA PLACEMENTS, MENTIONS, AND INTERVIEWS, INCLUDING COVERAGE IN TOP OUTLETS SUCH AS THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH, GONGWER, YAHOO! NEWS, MSN, CRAIN'S CLEVELAND BUSINESS, OHIO CAPITAL JOURNAL, COLUMBUS BUSINESS FIRST, CANARY MEDIA, AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, CLEVELAND.COM, AND THE GUARDIAN, ALONGSIDE REGIONAL MASS MEDIA(PROGRAM NARRATIVE CONTINUES IN SCHEDULE O)PRESS. THIS COVERAGE GENERATED MORE THAN NINE MILLION EARNED MEDIA IMPRESSIONS, ELEVATING OEC AS A TRUSTED VOICE ON CLEAN ENERGY REFORM, WATER PROTECTION, PUBLIC LANDS, AND DEMOCRATIC ACCOUNTABILITY. ACROSS EARNED AND DIRECT COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS, OEC'S MESSAGING EMPHASIZED CLARITY, CREDIBILITY, AND IMPACT - CONNECTING COMPLEX POLICY ISSUES TO REAL-WORLD OUTCOMES.
  Expenses $126,676
• THE OEC EXECUTED A DYNAMIC SLATE OF EVENTS AND OUTREACH INITIATIVES THAT EXPANDED PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, ELEVATED ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY, AND FOSTERED COMMUNITY-DRIVEN ACTION ACROSS OHIO. WE CONVENED HUNDREDS OF ADVOCATES, PARTNERS, AND RESIDENTS AT THE 2025 GREEN GALA IN COLUMBUS, CELEBRATING ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPIONS WHILE STRENGTHENING STATEWIDE NETWORKS AND PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT. THE OHIO PUBLIC INTEREST ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CONFERENCE AT THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY BROUGHT TOGETHER LAWYERS, POLICYMAKERS, STUDENTS, AND ADVOCATES TO EXPLORE EMERGING LEGAL AND POLICY SOLUTIONS, FOSTERING CROSS-SECTOR LEARNING AND COLLABORATION.THROUGH OUR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT SERIES: ADVOCACY LESSONS FROM THE FIELD, OEC EQUIPPED COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH PRACTICAL TOOLS TO ENGAGE EFFECTIVELY IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND DEMOCRATIC ADVOCACY. GRASSROOTS OUTREACH ALSO INCLUDED SUN DAY: CENTRAL OHIO, A COMMUNITY-CENTERED CLEAN ENERGY CELEBRATION. ACROSS IN-PERSON, HYBRID, AND VIRTUAL FORMATS, OEC'S EVENTS AND OUTREACH ENHANCED PARTNERSHIPS AND EMPOWERED OHIOANS STATEWIDE TO LEAD WITH KNOWLEDGE, PURPOSE, AND SHARED COMMITMENT.
  Expenses $210,492 · revenue $268,160
• WE DEEPENED OUR JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION EFFORTS BY EMBEDDING EQUITY PRINCIPLES ACROSS OUR ADVOCACY, FIELD ENGAGEMENT, AND PUBLIC-FACING WORK. WE ENGAGED WITH COMMUNITIES MOST AFFECTED BY ENVIRONMENTAL HARM, ENSURING THAT LIVED EXPERIENCE AND LOCAL KNOWLEDGE INFORM POLICY PRIORITIES AND SOLUTIONS.ACROSS ALL POLICY AREAS, OEC APPLIED AN EQUITY LENS TO DEVELOPMENT AND COALITION-BUILDING. LAND-FOCUSED WORK EMPHASIZED EQUITABLE ACCESS TO AND PROTECTION OF PUBLIC LANDS, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO COMMUNITIES FACING DISPROPORTIONATE ENVIRONMENTAL BURDENS FROM EXTRACTION AND DEVELOPMENT. WATER ADVOCACY PRIORITIZED SAFE, AFFORDABLE DRINKING WATER AND THE PROTECTION OF WATERWAYS IN COMMUNITIES HISTORICALLY EXPOSED TO POLLUTION AND UNDERINVESTMENT. ENERGY EQUITY EFFORTS FOCUSED ON CLEAN ENERGY ACCESS, AFFORDABILITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY, ELEVATING CONCERNS ABOUT UTILITY PRACTICES, HOUSEHOLD ENERGY COSTS, AND THE FAIR DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS FROM OHIO'S ENERGY TRANSITION. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, OEC SUPPORTED INCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES THAT EXPANDED PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION-MAKING.INSIDE OUR ORGANIZATION, WE MADE PROGRESS AS WELL. THIS INCLUDES ROLLING OUT SHARED DEFINITIONS FOR JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION, AND THE CREATION OF A "PLACE-SPACE" SLACK CHANNEL SO STAFF MEMBERS CAN ACKNOWLEDGE PUBLIC LAND, SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT THE LAND, AND HIGHLIGHT THE NATIVE PLANTS AND ANIMALS THAT INHABIT OUR STATE. OUR JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS MET WITH EACH PROGRAM TEAM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF THEIR WORK THROUGH THE JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION LENS, WITH THE INFORMATION COLLECTED BEING CATALOGUED FOR USE IN A FORTHCOMING REPORT. WE LAUNCHED OUR "COMMON CONNECTIONS" PROGRAM WHICH PAIRS STAFF MEMBERS UP WITH ONE ANOTHER FOR THE PURPOSES OF GETTING TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER BETTER INTERPERSONALLY TO ENSURE OUR CULTURE CONTINUES TO BE WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE. FINALLY, WE HAVE BEEN EXPLORING WHAT IT MEANS TO EXPAND OUR DEFINITIONS OF INCLUSIVITY TO BE MORE ACCOUNTABLE TO INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS WHO MAY HAVE SPECIFIC ACCESSIBILITY NEEDS. IN PARTICULAR, WE ARE WORKING ON WAYS TO ENCOURAGE OUR STAFF TO THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY AND ACCOUNT FOR IT IN OUR WORK PRODUCTS.0
• THE OEC HAS INVESTED IN CULTIVATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS BY CREATING ACCESSIBLE PATHWAYS FOR LEARNING, ENGAGEMENT, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS OHIO. THROUGH TRAININGS, CONVENINGS, AND ISSUE-FOCUSED EVENTS, OEC EQUIPPED STUDENTS, EARLY-CAREER PROFESSIONALS, AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES WITH THE SKILLS AND RELATIONSHIPS NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE MEANINGFULLY IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND DEMOCRATIC DECISION-MAKING.OEC'S EMERGING LEADERS EFFORTS EMPHASIZED HANDS-ON EXPOSURE TO ADVOCACY, POLICY, AND COALITION WORK, CONNECTING PARTICIPANTS TO REAL-WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES ACROSS LAND, WATER, ENERGY, AND DEMOCRACY. BY CENTERING INCLUSIVITY AND GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY, OEC ENSURED EMERGING LEADERS FROM URBAN, RURAL, AND APPALACHIAN COMMUNITIES COULD ACCESS LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND CONTRIBUTE THEIR PERSPECTIVES.FULL DETAILS OF OUR PROGRAMMATIC WORK CAN BE FOUND IN OUR ANNUAL REPORT: HTTPS://THEOEC.ORG/NEWS-AND-INFORMATION/2025-ANNUAL-REPORT/
  Expenses $9,313

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

31-0805578

Tax-exempt status

501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization

Foundation status

Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))

Donations deductible (Pub 78)

Public charity, 50% deduction limit

Exempt since

1972

Accounting year ends

June

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Environment (C010)

Assets (IRS master file)

$4,181,128

Income (IRS master file)

$3,864,719

Filing history

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 31-0805578).

Questions about OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL

What is the EIN of OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL?

The employer identification number (EIN) of OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL is 31-0805578.

Is OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1972.

Are donations to OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL file?

Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.

When is the next return of OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL due?

The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.

Who is the principal officer of OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL?

The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names CAROL KAUFFMAN.

Who are the officers and directors of OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL?

The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 21 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $142,013 (CAROL KAUFFMAN, CEO).

How much revenue does OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL have?

On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $3,783,748, expenses of $3,364,507 and total assets of $4,181,128 at year end.

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