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Ohio Citizen Action FY2022 filing

Not tax-deductible

Columbus, OH501(c)(4) EIN 34-1208942Revenue $1.1M in FY2022

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.

501(c)(4) social-welfare organization; gifts are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions.
64¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$150K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2022 · 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
$150K
to officers and key staff · 15% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 15% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Concern: 0.1 months of spending in cash; under 2 weeks.
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
$342K
86% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 86% of assets; over 80%.
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
+43% vs prior year
Spent
$1.0M
To programs
64%
Net assets
$56K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$1.1M
FY2022▲ +43%
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
$1.0M
FY2022▲ +17%
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
$56K
FY2022▲ +294%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$72K
FY2021−$29K
FY2022$56K
FY2023−$205K
FY2024$845K

From the FY2022 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2022 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% · $656K Management & general 17% · $173K Fundraising 19% · $197K

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; $150K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$76,215Pt VII · Sec A
Lynn Scheerhorn
Finance Offi
$73,681Pt VII · Sec A
Carla Walker
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Carolyn Gilbert
Secretary/Tr
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Ted Barrows
Director
$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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2 programs · $656K · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Energy work public education, organizing, and grassroots lobbying on issues that include: clean energy, sustainable energy, fair energy costs, preserving democracy and public health.

$491Kprogram expense
02

Electoral work ohio citizen action endorsed candidates for federal, state, and local offices and communicated those endorsements to our members and supporters through email and social media. We supported candidates who support clean and sustainable energy, fair energy costs, preserving democracy and promoting public health.

$165Kprogram 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
Ohio Progressive CollaborativeFY2025$50K
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$50K
Grants paid · 2 grants · $85K · 2020–2021
Black Environmental Leaders AssociationOH · FY2021$20,000
Ohio Conservatives for Land and Energy FreedomOH · FY2020$65,000

By the numbers

The FY2022 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$941K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$171K
Other incomeLn 4–11$4
Money outPt IX
$1.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$656K
Managementcol C$173K
Fundraisingcol D$197K
Owns and owesPt X
$56K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$11K
Total assetsLn 16$398K
LiabilitiesLn 26$342K
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$941K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$171K
Other incomeLn 4–11$4
Total revenueLn 12$1.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$11K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$11K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$18K
Other assetsLn 15$80K
Total assetsLn 16$398K
LiabilitiesLn 26$342K
Net assetsLn 32$56K
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 FY22End FY22
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$29K$11K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$25K$18K
Total assetsLn 16$345K$398K
LiabilitiesLn 26$374K$342K
Net assetsLn 32−$29K$56K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$123K$37K$74K$12K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$453K$319K$22K$112K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$34K$22K$5K$7K
Payroll taxesLn 10$51K$34K$8K$10K
Legal feesLn 11b$10K$5K$5K
Accounting feesLn 11c$8K$8K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$16K$16K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$51K$28K$23K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$50K$46K$4K$232
Office expensesLn 13$19K$12K$4K$4K
Information technologyLn 14$31K$11K$11K$9K
OccupancyLn 16$24K$16K$4K$5K
TravelLn 17$31K$26K$5K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$2K$2K
InterestLn 20$9K$6K$1K$2K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$7K$5K$1K$1K
InsuranceLn 23$1K$806$188$247
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$104K$87K$3K$14K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.0M$656K$173K$197K

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 Viewing $1.1M$1.0M$85K$56K 990 PDF
FY2021 $777K$878K−$101K−$29K 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.1M$956K$103K$72K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2022 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,111,359 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $537,463$940,634
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $239,550$170,721
I-10 Investment income$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $50$4
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $777,063$1,111,359
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $20,000$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $613,147$662,073
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $15,061$16,411
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $229,785$347,821
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $877,993$1,026,305
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$100,930$85,054
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 $1,111,359 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1b Membership dues$456,830
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$483,804
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$940,634
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $170,721$170,721
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $4$4
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $170,725$1,111,359
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,026,305 across 18 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $37,223 · Management $73,681 · Fundraising $12,407$123,311
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $318,541 · Management $22,349 · Fundraising $112,025$452,915
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $22,441 · Management $5,218 · Fundraising $6,760$34,419
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $33,531 · Management $7,796 · Fundraising $10,101$51,428
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $5,000 · Management $5,000$10,000
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $8,459$8,459
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $16,411$16,411
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $27,866 · Management $22,899$50,765
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $46,006 · Management $3,554 · Fundraising $232$49,792
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $12,052 · Management $3,711 · Fundraising $3,694$19,457
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $11,209 · Management $10,521 · Fundraising $8,815$30,545
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $15,770 · Management $3,681 · Fundraising $4,832$24,283
IX-17 TravelPrograms $26,039 · Fundraising $5,007$31,046
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $1,549$1,549
IX-20 InterestPrograms $6,112 · Management $1,427 · Fundraising $1,873$9,412
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $4,802 · Management $1,121 · Fundraising $1,471$7,394
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $806 · Management $188 · Fundraising $247$1,241
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $87,409 · Management $2,913 · Fundraising $13,556$103,878
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $656,356 · Management $172,518 · Fundraising $197,431$1,026,305
Part X · Balance sheet $398,106 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $28,926$10,521
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $278,690$255,225
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $973$25,810
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $7,250$8,745
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $24,717$17,851
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $4,179$79,954
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $344,735$398,106
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $108,402$79,420
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $15,272$87,571
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $373,674$341,991
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year −$38,939$56,115
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year −$28,939$56,115
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $344,735$398,106
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $56,115 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,111,359
XI-2 Total expenses$1,026,305
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$85,054
XI-4 Net assets at start of year−$28,939
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$56,115

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2022 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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