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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: November 2024 Expires: November 2026

National Environmental Education and Training Foundation

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
1 6
(202) 833-2933
1730 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Suite 401
Washington, DC, 20036
https://neefusa.org
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Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

National Environmental Education and Training Foundation does not meet the following 2 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 1 (Oversight of Operations and Staff)
Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fund raising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.

NEEF does not meet this Standard because its board of directors does not:

  • Review the performance of the Chief Executive Officer at least once every two years.

Standard 6 (Board Policy on Effectiveness)
Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

NEEF does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least every two years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

National Environmental Education and Training Foundation meets the remaining 18 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to make the environment more accessible, relevant, and connected to people's daily lives."

Year, State Incorporated:
1990, VA

Also Known As:
NEEF

The National Environment Education and Training Foundation (NEEF) works in three areas: conservation, K-12 education, and health and wellness. The organization reports that its conservation programs and initiatives encourage people to get outside, helping them conserve and restore nature while enjoying it at the same time. Every September, NEEF holds their annual National Public Lands Day event that engages volunteers in service at public land sites across the nation. The K-12 program works to create an environmentally conscious and responsible public through environmental education programs and initiatives. The Greening STEM model engages students at high-need schools in hands-on environmental investigations in their communities with the goal to make STEM relevant and connected to the student's lives. NEEF's health and wellness programs provide resources and training for health care providers so that they may utilize the environment to improve patient outcomes. In addition to its three program areas, the organization also offers grants and awards to help local organizations engage their community to improve the environment, increase diversity, and expand their work locally.

For the year ended September 30, 2023, National Environmental Education and Training Foundation's program expenses were:

Public outreach $2,807,506
Conservation $1,465,100
K-12 education $1,029,901
Health and wellness $584,180
Campaigns $289,350
Total Program Expenses $6,176,037

Chief Executive
Sara Espinoza, President and Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$209,276

Chair of the Board
Kevin Butt

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Senior Director, Environmental Sustainability, Sustainability & Regulatory Affairs, Toyota Motor North America, Inc.

Board Size
13

Paid Staff Size
22

*2022 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Note: Sara Espinoza became President and Chief Executive Officer on November 1, 2022. Previous President and Chief Executive Officer, Meri-Margaret Foudes, received $291,105 in compensation during 2022.

Method(s) Used:
Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Radio

Fundraising costs were 5% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $5,213,394, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on National Environmental Education and Training Foundation's audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2023.

Source of Funds
In-kind contributions $2,436,251
Contributions $1,581,276
Government grants $1,195,867
Government appropriation $983,300
Other revenue $26,817
Total Income $6,223,511

Programs: 93% Fundraising: 4% Administrative: 3%

Total Income $6,223,511
Total expenses: $6,648,966
  Program expenses $6,176,037
  Fundraising expenses $270,897
  Administrative expenses $202,032
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $-425,455
Beginning Net Assets $2,003,835
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $1,578,380
Total Liabilities $591,408
Total Assets $2,169,788

Note: According to the organization's audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2023, NEEF received in-kind contributions totaling $2,436,251 in the form of public service announcements.

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance