Environmental Defense Center

Tax-deductible

Santa Barbara, CA501(c)(3)Crime & LegalEIN 77-0061994Revenue $3.7M in FY2025

On file with the IRSenvironmentaldefensecenter.org906 Garden St, 93101-1415 · Santa Barbara, CATax-exempt since Jan 1986Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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Since 1977 we have empowered community based organizations to advance Environmental protection. Our program areas include climate and energy, open space and wildlife, clean water and santa barbara channel. We primarily work within santa barbara, ventura and san luis obispo counties. Edc is organized as a sec. 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, and provides legal counsel to other nonprofit organizations. We remain the only such public interest Environmental law firm between los angeles and san francisco, and thrive on the support of community members from within our region and beyond.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
73¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 110 volunteers and 11 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.6M a year · 48% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
73%
of spending
Fine: 73% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$736K
to officers and key staff · 36% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 89% of similar orgs
Concern: pay to officers and key staff is 36% of spending; over 30%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.3 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
34
named funders · $1.5M
Looks good: 34 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$192K
1% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
15
of 15 voting members
Looks good: 15 of 15 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$3.7M
-49% vs prior year
Spent
$2.0M
To programs
73%
Net assets
$13.7M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$3.7M
FY2025▼ -49%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.9M
FY2021$2.0M
FY2022$2.3M
FY2023$2.1M
FY2024$7.3M
FY2025$3.7M
Expenses
$2.0M
FY2025▲ +13%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.4M
FY2021$1.5M
FY2022$1.6M
FY2023$1.6M
FY2024$1.8M
FY2025$2.0M
Net assets
$13.7M
FY2025▲ +8%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$4.5M
FY2021$6.0M
FY2022$6.4M
FY2023$6.6M
FY2024$12.7M
FY2025$13.7M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending March 2025) · 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: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jan 1986.

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

Where the money goes

73 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 73% · $1.5M Management & general 13% · $261K Fundraising 14% · $280K

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

20 people listed on the 990; $736K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Chief Counsel
$210,667Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director
$162,958Pt VII · Sec A
Assistant Director
$130,933Pt VII · Sec A
Staff Attorney
$117,450Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Analyst
$113,894Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Linda Krop’s $211K as Chief Counsel is at the 89th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1147 $1–10M crime & legal 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 · 7 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Linda Krop$210,667$194,969$142,965$171,140$153,702$138,814
Alex Katz$162,958$120,729————
Kathleen Weber$130,933$112,385————
Owen Bailey——$27,113$122,549$116,314$108,166
Rachel Kondor$117,450$102,993————
Margaret Hall—$114,989————
Brian Trautwein$113,894$101,930————

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 Environmental Defense Center 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

Empowering community groups to protect environment through legal counsel and program work.

Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $1.3M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Climate and energy (issues regarding oil and gas development, climate change, clean energy): opposed sable offshore corporation's proposal to restart damaged pipeline system and santa ynez unit platforms off gaviota coast and ensure adequate environmental review of potential impacts, including advocacy for county board denial of the…

$598Kprogram expense
02

Ocean (issues regarding pollution to the marine environment, channel islands national park; national marine sanctuaries, offshore oil and gas development; wind development, marine species and ecosystems, marine protected areas, aquaculture, access and recreation for all consistent with ocean conservation): advocated for petitions for new…

$374Kprogram expense
03

Land and water (issues regarding land, wildlife, rivers, creeks, and watersheds of the central coast, vulnerable and threatened wildlife and ecosystems, access and recreation for all, compatible with resource conservation): monitored process in opposition to city of solvang's application to drill new wells that threaten endangered…

$299Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
See all 34 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.1M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$314K
Money outPt IX
$2.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.5M
Managementcol C$261K
Fundraisingcol D$280K
Owns and owesPt X
$13.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$561K
Total assetsLn 16$13.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$192K
PeoplePt VI, VII
20
listed · VII A
PaidVII A5
Voting boardVI 1a15
IndependentVI 1b15
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.0M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$78K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$6K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$314K
Investment incomeLn 3$1.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$239K
Gains on assetsLn 7$833K
Total revenueLn 12$3.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$22K
SavingsLn 2$540K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$561K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$12.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$461K
Total assetsLn 16$13.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$192K
Net assetsLn 32$13.7M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 511
VolunteersI 6110
Fiscal year endsHeaderMarch
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$675K$561K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$11.6M$12.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$423K$461K
Total assetsLn 16$12.8M$13.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$114K$192K
Net assetsLn 32$12.7M$13.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$172K$17K$78K$78K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.1M$943K$78K$91K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$31K$26K$2K$2K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$127K$95K$15K$17K
Payroll taxesLn 10$97K$73K$12K$13K
Legal feesLn 11b$4K$4K
Accounting feesLn 11c$62K$44K$18K
Investment management feesLn 11f$28K$28K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$161K$133K$4K$23K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$15K$15K
Information technologyLn 14$28K$21K$3K$4K
OccupancyLn 16$37K$29K$4K$5K
TravelLn 17$28K$25K$1K$1K
InterestLn 20$464$464
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$15K$11K$2K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$8K$3K$4K$394
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$81K$49K$3K$28K
All other expensesLn 24e$31K$22K$7K$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.0M$1.5M$261K$280K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $3.7M$2.0M$1.7M$13.7M 990 PDF
FY2024 $7.3M$1.8M$5.5M$12.7M 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.1M$1.6M$465K$6.6M 990 PDF
FY2022 $2.3M$1.6M$623K$6.4M 990 PDF
FY2021 $2.0M$1.5M$558K$6.0M 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.9M$1.4M$521K$4.5M 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 FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $3,726,754 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $6,261,907$2,045,414
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $956,117$313,940
I-10 Investment incomePrior year −$101,956$1,128,174
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $139,395$239,226
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $7,255,463$3,726,754
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,399,375$1,539,282
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $395,621$497,854
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,794,996$2,037,136
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $5,460,467$1,689,618
Part VI · Governance 15 of 15 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body15
VI-1b Independent voting members15
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 $3,726,754 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$6,200
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,039,214
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$77,960
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,045,414
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $313,940$313,940
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $295,412$295,412
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $832,762$832,762
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $239,226$239,226
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $313,940 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,367,400$3,726,754
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,037,136 across 18 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $17,242 · Management $77,588 · Fundraising $77,588$172,418
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $942,845 · Management $78,206 · Fundraising $91,000$1,112,051
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $26,294 · Management $2,027 · Fundraising $2,385$30,706
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $95,248 · Management $15,240 · Fundraising $16,509$126,997
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $72,833 · Management $11,653 · Fundraising $12,624$97,110
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $4,430$4,430
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $43,558 · Management $18,500$62,058
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $27,659$27,659
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $133,149 · Management $4,346 · Fundraising $23,357$160,852
IX-12 Advertising and promotionFundraising $14,626$14,626
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $20,761 · Management $3,322 · Fundraising $3,599$27,682
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $28,656 · Management $4,265 · Fundraising $4,524$37,445
IX-17 TravelPrograms $25,353 · Management $1,328 · Fundraising $1,328$28,009
IX-20 InterestManagement $464$464
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $11,476 · Management $1,836 · Fundraising $1,989$15,301
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $3,072 · Management $4,412 · Fundraising $394$7,878
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $49,429 · Management $3,381 · Fundraising $27,990$80,800
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $21,662 · Management $6,753 · Fundraising $2,235$30,650
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,496,008 · Management $260,980 · Fundraising $280,148$2,037,136
Part X · Balance sheet $13,861,071 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $23,231$21,928
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $651,945$539,563
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $169,010$231,706
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$37,096
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $423,079$461,347
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $11,562,153$12,569,431
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $12,829,418$13,861,071
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $108,235$191,594
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $113,851$191,594
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $10,962,408$11,790,471
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,753,159$1,879,006
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $12,715,567$13,669,477
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $12,829,418$13,861,071
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $13,669,477 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,726,754
XI-2 Total expenses$2,037,136
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,689,618
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$12,715,567
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$735,708
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$13,669,477

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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