Skip to content
Ecology Center at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Public charity

Ecology Center

The ECOLOGY CENTER is a michigan-based nonprofit environmental organization that develops innovative solutions for healthy people and a healthy planet.

$451k
Granted FY2024still arriving
25
Grants FY2024still arriving
8
States reached
$60k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2019 to 2024.

Environment$1.1MHealth$156kHuman Services$101kAnimals$100kHousing & Shelter$33kEducation$28kArts & Culture$8k
02FY2024 · 25 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 25 grants below total $433,500, the rows itemized in this filing. The $450,500 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $17,000 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k13 grants · $103k
  • $10k–50k10 grants · $221k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $110k
$8,000
Median grant
8
States reached
$4.5M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COALITION$60,000
SIERRA CLUB MICHIGAN$50,000
MICHIGAN LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS ED FUND$45,000
NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION$35,000
LEARNING DISABILITIES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA$25,000
SOUTHWEST DETROIT ENVIRONMENTAL VISION$21,000
TRANSPORTATION RIDERS UNITED$20,000
SOUTHWEST DETROIT COMMUNITY BENEFITS COALITION$17,500
PROGRESS MICHIGAN$15,000
GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER$15,000
ENGAGE MICHIGAN$15,000
THE GREEN DOOR INITIATIVE$12,000
ELEVATE ENERGY$8,000
BLACK ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS ASSOCIATION$8,000
COALITION ON LEAD EMERGENCY$8,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY19–24, $48k) land where the poverty rate runs at 16%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%OHIO HEALTHY HOMES NETWORK: $25k → 15%OHIO HEALTHY HOMES NETWORK: $8k → 15%COMMUNITIES POWER: $8k → 21%Ohio Healthy Homes Network: $8k → 15%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

MN
IL
WI
MI
NY
OH
PA
VA
DC
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

75%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.2M · 14 repeat orgs$384k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +33% since the first grant, against +17% for those funded once.

14 repeat relationships: 11 still active in FY2024, 3 since wound down; 13 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

14
8

Total granted

$1.2M
$159k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+33%
+17%

Still filing today

93%
63%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 48% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $226k went to new ones.

50%100%’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’19’20’21’22’23’24
EnvironmentCommunity ImprovementArts & CultureHousing & ShelterEducationHuman ServicesOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • CA
    CLEAN AND HEALTHY NEW YORK
    5× · 2019–2024 · $123k · revenue +88%
  • NW
    NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION
    4× · 2021–2024 · $108k · revenue +37%
  • OH
    Ohio Healthy Homes Network
    5× · 2019–2024 · $101k · revenue +38% · 56% of their budget

Funded once

  • WM
    WEST MICHIGAN SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS FORUMgraduated
    one grant, 2023 · $55k · revenue +65%
  • KT
    KITCHEN TABLE CAMPAIGNS
    one grant, 2019 · $30k · revenue 0%
  • SC
    SIERRA CLUB MICHIGAN
    one grant, 2023 · $28k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice

The organization is known as the leader in the movement and is seen as the "go to" experts on environmental justice and sustainable redevelopment because of its knowledge and its network.

Health
2
Michigan Enviromental Council

Informing and educating the public and decision makers about environmental issues.

Environment
3
Jobs for Michigan

Clean Jobs for Michigan is building a future we can all be proud of. Through advocating for clean water clean energy and good-paying clean jobs were working to build a Michigan that will sustain our natural resources and hardworking…

—
4
Western Resource Advocates

Western Resource Advocates (WRA) is a regional nonprofit advocacy organization fighting climate change and its impacts to sustain the environment, economy, and people of the West. As the region's go-to experts for more than three decades,…

Crime & Legal
5
Fresh Energy

Shape and drive bold policy solutions to achieve equitable carbon-neutral economies.

Environment
6
Nw Energy Coalition

The NW Energy Coalition is an alliance of over 100 environmental, civic, and human service organizations, utilities, and businesses in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia, plus many individual members. The NW Energy…

—
7
West Michigan Environmental Action Council Educational Foundation

Wmeac's mission is to "inform and engage an inclusive community which acts together to protect natural resources and create a climate resilient west michigan."

—
8
Land Conservancy of West Michigan

Our mission is conserving West Michigans ecologically critical land. We protect land by creating public nature preserves, providing support to communities and local governments in creating natural areas, and helping private landowners…

Environment
9
Michigan Climate Action Network

Our mission is to amplify connect and support the people organizations and communities demanding urgent bold and equitable solutions for a just transition to a resilient future.

Environment
10
Metropolitan Affairs Coalition

The work program of metropolitan affairs coalition ("mac") is driven by its coalition of business, labor, government, and education leaders; this coalition is dedicated to equity and sustainability, creating economic opportunity, improving…

Community Improvement
11
California Environmental Justice Alliance

Our mission is to fight against fossil fuel executives and industries that have turned our communities into dumping grounds for toxic waste, poisoning our air, water, lan, and bodies. We organize to oppose giant oil refineries, dirty…

Environment
12
Science & Environmental Health Network

In service to communities, the earth and future generations, the science and environmental health network forges science, ethics, and law into tools for action.

Environment
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Walnut Way Conservation Corporation; the most unlike its peers is National Wildlife Federation. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

32 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2026.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2026, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 32 of the 35 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
6
Early backer (in before they grew)
30/32
Grantees still filing
16/32
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

MICHIGAN LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION FUND: $136,621 · EnvironmentMICHIGAN LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCA…CLEAN AND HEALTHY NEW YORK: $123,000 · EnvironmentCLEAN AND HEALTHY NEW YORKWOMEN FOR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT: $93,000 · EnvironmentWOMEN FOR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTCLEAN WATER FUND: $90,000 · EnvironmentCLEAN WATER FUNDMICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COALITION: $60,000 · EnvironmentMICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COALITIONThe Green Door Initiative: $51,333 · EnvironmentThe Green Door InitiativeSOUTHWEST DETROIT ENVIRONMENTAL VISION: $26,333 · Environment+4 more: $31,000 · EnvironmentWAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY: $68,000 · OtherWAYNE STATE UNIVERSITYSIERRA CLUB: $50,000 · OtherSIERRA CLUBKITCHEN TABLE CAMPAIGNS: $30,000 · OtherKITCHEN TABLE CAMPAIGNSSIERRA CLUB MICHIGAN: $27,500 · OtherSIERRA CLUB MICHIGANSouthwest Detroit Community Benefits Coalition: $17,500 · OtherHEALTHY HOMES COALITION OF WEST MICHIGAN INC: $33,000 · OtherHEALTHY HOMES COALITION …Mt Sinai Health Care Foundation: $37,500 · OtherMt Sinai Health Care Fou…GREAT PLAINS INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INC: $16,500 · OtherGREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTE: $15,000 · Other+6 more: $46,400 · Other+6 moreALLIED MEDIA PROJECTS INC: $176,711 · Arts & CultureALLIED MEDIA …Grandville Avenue Arts and Humanities Inc: $8,000 · Arts & CultureLEARNING DISABILITIES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA: $80,000 · EducationLEARNING …WEST MICHIGAN SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS FORUM: $55,000 · EducationWEST MICH…NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION: $108,000 · AnimalsOhio Healthy Homes Network: $100,500 · Human ServicesCommunity Treehouse Center Detroit: $7,500 · Human ServicesProgress Michigan Education Inc: $60,000 · Public BenefitTRANSPORTATION RIDERS UNITED INC: $20,000 · Public Benefit
Environment$611,287Other$341,400Arts & Culture$184,711Education$135,000Animals$108,000Human Services$108,000Public Benefit$80,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetALLIED MEDIA PROJECTS INC: $176,711 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetMICHIGAN LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION FUND: $136,621 over 4y, 2.1% of budgetCLEAN AND HEALTHY NEW YORK: $123,000 over 5y, 7.7% of budgetNATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION: $108,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetOhio Healthy Homes Network: $100,500 over 5y, 56% of budgetWOMEN FOR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT: $93,000 over 4y, 4.2% of budgetCLEAN WATER FUND: $90,000 over 3y, 0.6% of budgetLEARNING DISABILITIES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA: $80,000 over 3y, 4.2% of budgetProgress Michigan Education Inc: $60,000 over 3y, 2.9% of budgetMICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COALITION: $60,000 over 1y, 2.6% of budgetWEST MICHIGAN SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS FORUM: $55,000 over 1y, 11% of budgetThe Green Door Initiative: $51,333 over 4y, 4.6% of budgetSIERRA CLUB: $50,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMt Sinai Health Care Foundation: $37,500 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetHEALTHY HOMES COALITION OF WEST MICHIGAN INC: $33,000 over 3y, 2.7% of budgetKITCHEN TABLE CAMPAIGNS: $30,000 over 1y, 3.8% of budgetSOUTHWEST DETROIT ENVIRONMENTAL VISION: $26,333 over 2y, 0.9% of budgetTRANSPORTATION RIDERS UNITED INC: $20,000 over 1y, 6.0% of budgetGREAT PLAINS INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INC: $16,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetGREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTE: $15,000 over 1y, 2.5% of budgetClean Fuels Michigan: $9,500 over 1y, 2.5% of budgetCLEAN WATER ACTION: $8,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetBlack Environmental Leaders Association: $8,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetWALNUT WAY CONSERVATION CORPORATION: $8,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetGrandville Avenue Arts and Humanities Inc: $8,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetSOUTHEASTERN MI HEALTH ASSOCIATION: $8,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetElevate Energy: $8,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHURON RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL: $7,500 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetWARRENCONNER DEVELOPMENT COALITION: $7,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE ROUGE: $7,500 over 1y, 0.6% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

United States Energy …The Fred & Barbara Er…Environmental Defense…New Venture FundArie and Ida Crown Me…The Kresge FoundationThe Joyce FoundationDTE Energy FoundationCommunity Foundation …Michigan Enviromental…The Energy FoundationUnited Way for Southe…
United States Energy FoundationCA29× affinity12 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: United States Energy Foundation · The Fred & Barbara Erb Family Foundation · Environmental Defense Fund Incorporated · New Venture Fund · Arie and Ida Crown Memorial · The Kresge Foundation · The Joyce Foundation · DTE Energy Foundation · Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan · Michigan Enviromental Council · The Energy Foundation · United Way for Southeastern Michigan

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Ecology Center funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Ecology Center. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    8report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 35 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Ecology Center’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home