Save the Sound INC

Tax-deductible

New Haven, CT501(c)(3)Since 1978EnvironmentEIN 06-0990195

The mission of save the sound is to protect and improve the land, air, and water of the whole long island sound region. We use legal and scientific expertise and bring people together to achieve results that benefit our environment for current and future generations.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
70¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 3,150 volunteers and 71 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $920K a year · 12% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
70%
of spending
Fine: 70% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$996K
to officers and key staff · 11% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 70% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 11% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Worth a look: 0.8 months of spending in cash; under 1.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $60K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.8M
8% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 8% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
17
of 17 voting members
Looks good: 17 of 17 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$9.9M
+26% vs prior year
Spent
$9.0M
To programs
70%
Net assets
$20.2M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$9.9M
FY2024▲ +26%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$6.5M
FY2021$7.1M
FY2022$5.9M
FY2023$11.9M
FY2024$7.9M
FY2024$9.9M
Expenses
$9.0M
FY2024▲ +11%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$5.6M
FY2021$5.3M
FY2022$6.1M
FY2023$9.6M
FY2024$8.1M
FY2024$9.0M
Net assets
$20.2M
FY2024▲ +7%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$13.1M
FY2021$15.6M
FY2022$13.5M
FY2023$16.9M
FY2024$18.8M
FY2024$20.2M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Feb 1994.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

70 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 70% · $6.3M Management & general 14% · $1.2M Fundraising 16% · $1.4M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Who runs it and what they're paid

23 people listed on the 990; $996K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$162,360Pt VII · Sec A
EVP, Philanthropy
$159,769Pt VII · Sec A
EVP, Finance & Administration
$146,847Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Ecological Action
$134,018Pt VII · Sec A
EVP, Programs
$132,916Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Legal Director
$132,561Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Center for Water Protection
$127,364Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Leah Lopez Schmalz’s $162K as President is at the 70th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1851 $1–10M environment nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Leah Lopez Schmalz$162,360$162,137$130,806———
Alicia Sullivan$159,769$162,318$158,837$145,309$139,883$136,788
Janel Crite$146,847$137,003$105,001———
Curtis Johnson——$140,253$145,683$142,498$132,399
Laura Wildman$134,018$127,564————
Denise Stranko$132,916$123,128————
Roger Reynolds$132,561$131,976$120,840———
David Ansel$127,364$122,456————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Save the Sound INC executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Safeguards and enhances natural resources like land, air, and water.

Provided by the organization

This section is blank until Save the Sound INC claims this page.

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3 program services account for $4.5M of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2024.
01

The long island sound program uses community science, education, advocacy and on-the-water watchdog activities to protect and restore the health of long island sound and its watershed. Last year the program coordinated the unified water study, published a report on long island sound's environmental health, led advocacy and education…

$2.1Mprogram expense
02

The ecological restoration program works with natural systems to restore habitat health and coastal resilience. This work includes removing dams and restoring fish passage, installing green infrastructure that employs native plants to filter stormwater before it can pollute local waterways, restoring marshland and constructing living…

$1.8Mprogram expense
03

The climate and energy program uses education, policy, and grassroots advocacy to ensure lowered emissions, to reduce pollution, and to expedite the adoption of practices that strengthen the region's resilience and coastal defenses.

$584Kprogram expense

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Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$60K
See all 3 funders →
Grants paid · 1 grant · $277K · 2019–2019
New York State Department of Parks Recreation and Historic PreservationFY2019$276,790

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$9.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$9.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$656K
Other incomeLn 4–11$98K
Money outPt IX
$9.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$6.3M
Managementcol C$1.2M
Fundraisingcol D$1.4M
Owns and owesPt X
$20.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$628K
Total assetsLn 16$22.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.8M
PeoplePt VI, VII
23
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a17
IndependentVI 1b17
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$9.2M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$656K
Other incomeLn 4–11$98K
Gains on assetsLn 7$425K
Total revenueLn 12$9.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$628K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$628K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$11.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$355K
Other assetsLn 15$4.9M
Total assetsLn 16$22.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.8M
Net assetsLn 32$20.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 571
VolunteersI 63,150
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.8M$628K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$11.2M$11.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$380K$355K
Total assetsLn 16$20.8M$22.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.0M$1.8M
Net assetsLn 32$18.8M$20.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$377K$94K$259K$25K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$4.4M$3.3M$363K$761K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$80K$67K$13K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$286K$221K$21K$44K
Payroll taxesLn 10$342K$275K$13K$55K
Legal feesLn 11b$30K$14K$16K
Accounting feesLn 11c$51K$51K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$113K$113K
Investment management feesLn 11f$76K$76K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.2M$802K$103K$264K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$196K$107K$63K$26K
Office expensesLn 13$411K$170K$77K$164K
Information technologyLn 14$152K$83K$49K$20K
OccupancyLn 16$310K$238K$50K$21K
TravelLn 17$70K$64K$3K$3K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$188$188
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$78K$70K$8K
InsuranceLn 23$73K$23K$50K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$776K$716K$44K$16K
Total functional expensesLn 25$9.0M$6.3M$1.2M$1.4M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 $7.9M$8.1M−$205K$18.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $11.9M$9.6M$2.3M$16.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $5.9M$6.1M−$190K$13.5M 990 PDF
FY2021 $7.1M$5.3M$1.8M$15.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 $6.5M$5.6M$924K$13.1M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $9,940,222 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$1,311,184
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$7,874,427
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$9,185,611
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $231,078$231,078
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $425,037$425,037
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $98,496$98,496
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $754,611$9,940,222
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $8,965,735 across 19 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $93,538 · Management $258,620 · Fundraising $24,944$377,102
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $3,252,468 · Management $362,780 · Fundraising $760,534$4,375,782
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $66,974 · Fundraising $12,558$79,532
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $220,904 · Management $21,487 · Fundraising $43,806$286,197
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $274,602 · Management $12,648 · Fundraising $54,737$341,987
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $13,985 · Management $16,384$30,369
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $50,861$50,861
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $112,739$112,739
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $75,665$75,665
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $801,926 · Management $103,250 · Fundraising $264,386$1,169,562
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $107,220 · Management $62,998 · Fundraising $26,023$196,241
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $169,688 · Management $77,208 · Fundraising $163,915$410,811
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $82,823 · Management $48,664 · Fundraising $20,102$151,589
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $238,319 · Management $50,357 · Fundraising $20,892$309,568
IX-17 TravelPrograms $63,851 · Management $3,410 · Fundraising $2,831$70,092
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsManagement $188$188
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $70,185 · Management $8,205$78,390
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $23,028 · Management $49,594$72,622
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $716,205 · Management $44,193 · Fundraising $16,040$776,438
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $6,308,455 · Management $1,246,512 · Fundraising $1,410,768$8,965,735
Part X · Balance sheet $21,990,406 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,826,097$627,618
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $2,374,493$4,459,361
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $164,058$154,681
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $380,252$354,545
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $11,217,645$11,501,961
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $4,840,890$4,892,240
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $20,803,463$21,990,406
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $489,384$597,313
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $284,719$172,351
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $1,220,254$1,033,681
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,994,357$1,803,345
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,992,496$2,141,398
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $15,816,610$18,045,663
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $18,809,106$20,187,061
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $20,803,463$21,990,406
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $20,187,061 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$9,940,222
XI-2 Total expenses$8,965,735
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$974,487
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$18,809,106
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$165,721
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$237,747
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$20,187,061

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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