Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund

What it reported doing in 2024

The oec action fund delivered measurable policy wins and elevated environmental advocacy at the statehouse and in communities across Ohio. Most notably, the action fund played a key role in the passage of Ohio house bill 15 - landmark legislation modernizing Ohio's energy system. The law ends costly ratepayer bailouts for outdated coal plants, advances grid transparency and reliability, prioritizes renewable energy development on brownfields and former coal sites, and establishes a solar and energy efficiency fund for Ohio schools. Following its passage, the action fund shifted toward ensuring equitable implementation, working to secure community-level benefits, particularly in historically underserved areas.(program narrative continues in schedule o)the action fund also anchored bipartisan momentum behind the reintroduction of the lead line replacement act (hb 307/hb 534), providing proponent testimony and reinforcing the economic and public health case for fully replacing Ohio's estimated 745,000 lead service lines. In parallel, the team defended critical investments, including h2ohio and the great lakes restoration initiative, while advocating for long-term program stability amid budget threats. The oec action fund translated advocacy into action - mobilizing thousands of ohioans, advancing durable policy solutions, and holding decision-makers accountable.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 90.8%; rating input score 91
• Program expense ratio: 92.5%; rating input score 93
• Fundraising efficiency: $50.41 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 78; 78th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 1.9%; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.72; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.14; rating input score 37; 37th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4.7%; rating input score 54; 54th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 11.5% per year; rating input score 100; 67th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 12.9% per year; rating input score 100; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 9.5% per year; rating input score 100; 57th percentile among comparable filings