THE OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL

Programs

1. The oec advanced science-based, people-centered advocacy that delivered measurable policy outcomes for ohio's land, water, energy, and democracy. Through sustained legislative engagement and education, coalition leadership, and relationship-building, oec focused much of its work on energy policy reform. The resulting policy eliminated legacy coal subsidies, strengthened utility oversight, and improved grid transparency, representing bipartisan progress grounded in data and public accountability. Following the passage of a major energy bill, oec educated ohioans about its impacts and engaged with the public utilities commission of ohio on implementation of key electric distribution utility transparency provisions.(program narrative continues in schedule o)oec provided consistent advocacy before regulatory state agencies and in other public forums to defend clean water protections, safeguard public lands, advance equitable clean energy solutions, and increase democratic participation in environmental decision-making. Our team paired policy expertise with community voices, ensuring that those most impacted by environmental and energy decisions were represented in the policymaking…

   $1,300,681 spentof which $6,000 as grants
   50% of program spending

2. Our regional field team supported community-driven environmental advocacy across ohio, ensuring local priorities shaped statewide policy outcomes. In southwest ohio, oec leveraged partnerships across the cincinnati region to advance clean energy, environmental justice, and equitable development, elevating community voices on energy affordability and climate resilience. In cleveland, we united partners and amplified community voices to ensure environmental priorities shaped the city's sustainability agenda. The year also included the state of the environment event, convening coalition members, mayor justin bibb, and local advocates to strengthen collaboration and shared accountability in advancing cleveland's sustainability goals.(program narrative continues in schedule o)in central ohio, oec mobilized advocates to engage in utility accountability, grid transparency, and clean energy policy, supporting public participation and legislative outreach for major reforms. In southeast ohio, oec worked with rural and appalachian communities to protect public lands and waterways, address extraction-related concerns, and build durable, place-based advocacy capacity. Together, oec's field…

   $964,483 spentof which $150,350 as grants
   37% of program spending

3. The communications team expanded statewide and national visibility for ohio's environmental priorities through strategic media engagement and direct audience outreach. Oec reached more than 39,000 dedicated subscribers through digital communications, expanding public understanding of environmental policy and opportunities for advocacy across the state.the organization secured significant media placements, mentions, and interviews, including coverage in top outlets such as the columbus dispatch, gongwer, yahoo! News, msn, crain's cleveland business, ohio capital journal, columbus business first, canary media, akron beacon journal, cleveland.com, and the guardian, alongside regional mass media(program narrative continues in schedule o)press. This coverage generated more than nine million earned media impressions, elevating oec as a trusted voice on clean energy reform, water protection, public lands, and democratic accountability. Across earned and direct communications channels, oec's messaging emphasized clarity, credibility, and impact - connecting complex policy issues to real-world outcomes.

   $126,676 spent
   5% of program spending

4. The oec executed a dynamic slate of events and outreach initiatives that expanded public engagement, elevated environmental literacy, and fostered community-driven action across ohio. We convened hundreds of advocates, partners, and residents at the 2025 green gala in columbus, celebrating environmental champions while strengthening statewide networks and philanthropic support. The ohio public interest environmental law conference at the ohio state university brought together lawyers, policymakers, students, and advocates to explore emerging legal and policy solutions, fostering cross-sector learning and collaboration.through our civic engagement series: advocacy lessons from the field, oec equipped community members with practical tools to engage effectively in environmental and democratic advocacy. Grassroots outreach also included sun day: central ohio, a community-centered clean energy celebration. Across in-person, hybrid, and virtual formats, oec's events and outreach enhanced partnerships and empowered ohioans statewide to lead with knowledge, purpose, and shared commitment.

   $210,492 spent$268,160 earned by the program
   8% of program spending

5. We deepened our justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts by embedding equity principles across our advocacy, field engagement, and public-facing work. We engaged with communities most affected by environmental harm, ensuring that lived experience and local knowledge inform policy priorities and solutions.across all policy areas, oec applied an equity lens to development and coalition-building. Land-focused work emphasized equitable access to and protection of public lands, with particular attention to communities facing disproportionate environmental burdens from extraction and development. Water advocacy prioritized safe, affordable drinking water and the protection of waterways in communities historically exposed to pollution and underinvestment. Energy equity efforts focused on clean energy access, affordability, and accountability, elevating concerns about utility practices, household energy costs, and the fair distribution of benefits from ohio's energy transition. Through partnerships, oec supported inclusive engagement strategies that expanded participation and representation in environmental decision-making.inside our organization, we made progress as well. This…

   $0 spent
   0% of program spending

6. The oec has invested in cultivating the next generation of environmental leaders by creating accessible pathways for learning, engagement, and leadership development across ohio. Through trainings, convenings, and issue-focused events, oec equipped students, early-career professionals, and community advocates with the skills and relationships needed to participate meaningfully in environmental and democratic decision-making.oec's emerging leaders efforts emphasized hands-on exposure to advocacy, policy, and coalition work, connecting participants to real-world environmental challenges across land, water, energy, and democracy. By centering inclusivity and geographic diversity, oec ensured emerging leaders from urban, rural, and appalachian communities could access leadership opportunities and contribute their perspectives.full details of our programmatic work can be found in our annual report: https://theoec.org/news-and-information/2025-annual-report/

   $9,313 spent
   0% of program spending

The 6 programs described on its FY2024 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $2,611,645.