Ohio Citizen Action FY2020 filing

Not tax-deductible

Columbus, OH501(c)(4)EIN 34-1208942Revenue $1.1M in FY2020

On file with the IRSohiocitizen.org4400 N High St, 43214-2635 · Columbus, OHTax-exempt since Jun 1977

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Ohio Citizen Action organizes and mobilizes people to advocate for public interests. In person, by phone, and online, we engage people in actions that protect public health, improve environmental quality, and benefit consumers. Our campaigns connect ohioans and build a movement to protect democracy and create a sustainable future.

64¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$103K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(4)
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
No
Donations are not tax-deductible
Worth a look: the IRS does not list 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 $175K 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
64%
of spending
Worth a look: 64% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$103K
to officers and key staff · 11% of spending
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: 0.6 months of spending in cash; under 1.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $50K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$271K
79% of total assets
Worth a look: liabilities are 79% of assets; over 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
4
of 4 voting members
Looks good: 4 of 4 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.1M
Spent
$956K
To programs
64%
Net assets
$72K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$1.1M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.1M
FY2021$777K
FY2022$1.1M
FY2023$1.2M
FY2024$3.3M
Expenses
$956K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$956K
FY2021$878K
FY2022$1.0M
FY2023$1.4M
FY2024$2.3M
Net assets
$72K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$72K
FY2021−$29K
FY2022$56K
FY2023−$205K
FY2024$845K

From the FY2020 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jun 1977.

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

Where the money goes

64 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 64% · $611K Management & general 17% · $167K Fundraising 19% · $178K

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

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Who runs it and what they're paid

6 people listed on the 990; $103K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Finance Director
$67,377Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director
$35,428Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Lynn Scheerhorn$82,993$75,956$73,681$71,551$67,377
Rachael Belz$68,362$51,666$76,215$38,331$35,428

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 Ohio Citizen Action 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

Organizes and mobilizes people to advocate for public health, environmental quality, and consumer benefits.

Questions for Ohio Citizen Action

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $621K · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Public education organizing and grassroots lobbying on issues that include: clean energy sustainable energy fair energy costs air pollution water pollution energy safety and public health issues.

$621Kprogram expense

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 1 funder$50K
Grants paid · 2 grants · $85K · 2020–2021

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$830K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$228K
Money outPt IX
$956K
Ln 25
Programscol B$611K
Managementcol C$167K
Fundraisingcol D$178K
Owns and owesPt X
$72K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$47K
Total assetsLn 16$343K
LiabilitiesLn 26$271K
PeoplePt VI, VII
6
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a4
IndependentVI 1b4
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$830K
Government grantsLn 1e$0
Noncash giftsLn 1g$0
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Fees for servicesLn 2g$228K
Total revenueLn 12$1.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$47K
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$47K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$23K
Other assetsLn 15$4K
Total assetsLn 16$343K
LiabilitiesLn 26$271K
Net assetsLn 32$72K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 544
VolunteersI 60
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 FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$24K$47K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$8K$23K
Total assetsLn 16$294K$343K
LiabilitiesLn 26$325K$271K
Net assetsLn 32−$31K$72K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$65K$65K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$103K$27K$67K$9K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0$0$0$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$420K$259K$55K$106K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0$0$0$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$33K$20K$7K$7K
Payroll taxesLn 10$43K$25K$9K$9K
Management feesLn 11a$0$0$0$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0$0$0$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$7K$0$7K$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0$0$0$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$18K$18K
Investment management feesLn 11f$0$0$0$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$3K$3K$0$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$100K$100K$0$186
Office expensesLn 13$15K$9K$4K$3K
Information technologyLn 14$11K$4K$1K$5K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0$0$0$0
OccupancyLn 16$42K$25K$9K$8K
TravelLn 17$18K$14K$0$4K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0$0$0$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$757$278$479$0
InterestLn 20$7K$4K$1K$1K
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0$0$0$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$4K$3K$917$861
InsuranceLn 23$1K$779$278$262
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$78K$64K$5K$10K
All other expensesLn 24e−$13K−$10K$0−$3K
Total functional expensesLn 25$956K$611K$167K$178K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $3.3M$2.3M$1.1M$845K 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.2M$1.4M−$261K−$205K 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.1M$1.0M$85K$56K 990 PDF
FY2021 $777K$878K−$101K−$29K 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $1.1M$956K$103K$72K 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 FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,058,490 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $872,224$830,202
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $161,094$228,288
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,033,318$1,058,490
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$65,000
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $671,694$598,656
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $23,755$17,941
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $272,607$274,307
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $968,056$955,904
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $65,262$102,586
Part VI · Governance 4 of 4 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body4
VI-1b Independent voting members4
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,058,490 across 14 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$451,379
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$0
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$378,823
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$0
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$830,202
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $228,288 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$228,288
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $228,288 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$1,058,490
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $955,904 across 30 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $65,000$65,000
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $0$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $0$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $26,571 · Management $67,377 · Fundraising $8,857$102,805
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $258,701 · Management $54,968 · Fundraising $106,099$419,768
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $19,568 · Management $7,006 · Fundraising $6,581$33,155
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $25,336 · Management $9,071 · Fundraising $8,521$42,928
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $6,657 · Fundraising $0$6,657
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $17,941$17,941
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $3,000 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$3,000
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $99,743 · Management $0 · Fundraising $186$99,929
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $8,553 · Management $3,667 · Fundraising $2,878$15,098
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $4,085 · Management $1,462 · Fundraising $4,969$10,516
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $24,968 · Management $8,939 · Fundraising $8,398$42,305
IX-17 TravelPrograms $13,845 · Management $0 · Fundraising $4,269$18,114
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officialsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $278 · Management $479 · Fundraising $0$757
IX-20 InterestPrograms $3,973 · Management $1,422 · Fundraising $1,336$6,731
IX-21 Payments to affiliatesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $2,561 · Management $917 · Fundraising $861$4,339
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $779 · Management $278 · Fundraising $262$1,319
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $63,900 · Management $4,989 · Fundraising $9,507$78,396
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms −$10,283 · Management $0 · Fundraising −$2,571−$12,854
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $610,578 · Management $167,232 · Fundraising $178,094$955,904
Part X · Balance sheet $343,179 assets, 24 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $23,914$47,471
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $254,990$260,869
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,200$2,304
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $0$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $3,744$5,236
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $8,363$23,476
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,720$3,823
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $293,931$343,179
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $101,526$110,829
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $0$0
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $13,000$4,000
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$6,359
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $324,526$271,188
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year −$30,595$10,100
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $0$61,891
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year −$30,595$71,991
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $293,931$343,179
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $71,991 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,058,490
XI-2 Total expenses$955,904
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$102,586
XI-4 Net assets at start of year−$30,595
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$0
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$71,991

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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