Skip to content
ProPublica Donate
ProPublica Donate

Environmental Defender Law Center

Organization summary

Type of Nonprofit

Designated as a Organizations for any of the following purposes: religious, educational, charitable, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition (as long as it doesn't provide athletic facilities or equipment), or the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.

Category: Crime, Legal-Related / Public Interest Law, Litigation (NTEE)

Donations to this organization are tax deductible.

Summary charts: organization finances over time

Revenue
$643k (2022)

Expenses
$571k (2022)

Total Assets
$863k (2022)

Total Liabilities
$0 (2022)

Source: Form 990 tax filings from 2011 to 2022

Tax Filings by Year

Form 990 is an information return that most organizations claiming federal tax-exempt status must file yearly with the IRS. Nonprofit Explorer has IRS digitized Form 990 data for filings processed in 2012 and later. If this organization filed an amended return, it may not be reflected below. Duplicate download links may indicate a resubmission or amendment to this organization's original return. Form 990 data is from the IRS.

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2022

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$643,111
Expenses
$570,898
Net Income
$72,213
Net Assets
$863,018
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $641,849
99.8%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $1,262
0.2%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $180,204
31.6%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $89,000
15.6%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $863,018
Total Liabilities $0
Net Assets $863,018
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Nicholas Hesterberg (Exec Dir/Pres) $153,400 $0 $26,804
Durwood Zaelke (Vice President) $0 $0 $0
Anuradha Mittal (Vice President) $0 $0 $0
Lewis Gordon (Chair/Secretary) $0 $0 $0
Conniel Malek (Treasurer) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2021

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$522,240
Expenses
$613,693
Net Income
-$91,453
Net Assets
$790,805
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $515,470
98.7%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $6,770
1.3%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $170,400
27.8%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $84,000
13.7%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $790,805
Total Liabilities $0
Net Assets $790,805
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Nicholas Hesterberg (Exec Dir/Pres) $145,000 $0 $25,400
Durwood Zaelke (Vice President) $0 $0 $0
Anuradha Mittal (Vice President) $0 $0 $0
Lewis Gordon (Chair/Secretary) $0 $0 $0
Conniel Malek (Treasurer) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2020

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$625,488
Expenses
$555,492
Net Income
$69,996
Net Assets
$882,258
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $612,606
97.9%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $12,882
2.1%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $166,779
30.0%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $82,000
14.8%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $882,258
Total Liabilities $0
Net Assets $882,258
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Nicholas Hesterberg (Exec Dir / Pres) $145,000 $0 $21,779
Durwood Zaelke (Vice President) $0 $0 $0
Anuradha Mittal (Vice President) $0 $0 $0
Lewis Gordon (Secretary) $0 $0 $0
Conniel Malek (Treasurer) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2019

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$644,220
Expenses
$473,936
Net Income
$170,284
Net Assets
$812,262
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $636,579
98.8%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $7,641
1.2%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $140,000
29.5%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $82,004
17.3%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $815,620
Total Liabilities $3,358
Net Assets $812,262
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Lewis Gordon (Ex Dir/Sec) $140,000 $0 $0
Durwood Zaelke (President) $0 $0 $0
Tom Sargent (Vice Pres/Treas) $0 $0 $0
Nicholas Hesterberg (Director) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2018

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$698,840
Expenses
$448,504
Net Income
$250,336
Net Assets
$641,978
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $696,315
99.6%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $2,525
0.4%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $144,200
32.2%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $82,004
18.3%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $642,681
Total Liabilities $703
Net Assets $641,978
Other
Reported conflict of interest transactions
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Lewis Gordon (Exec. Dir./Secr.) $140,000 $0 $4,200
Durwood Zaelke (President) $0 $0 $0
Tom Sargent (Vice Pres./Treas.) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2017

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$424,540
Expenses
$351,125
Net Income
$73,415
Net Assets
$392,021
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $422,980
99.6%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $1,560
0.4%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $144,200
41.1%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $82,004
23.4%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $400,438
Total Liabilities $8,417
Net Assets $392,021
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Lewis Gordon (Exec. Dir./Secr.) $140,000 $0 $4,200
Durwood Zaelke (President) $0 $0 $0
Tom Sargent (Vice Pres./Treas.) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2016

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$253,341
Expenses
$285,564
Net Income
-$32,223
Net Assets
$318,606
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $252,003
99.5%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $1,338
0.5%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $133,900
46.9%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $82,004
28.7%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $318,626
Total Liabilities $20
Net Assets $318,606
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Lewis Gordon (Exec. Dir./Secr.) $130,000 $0 $3,120
Durwood Zaelke (President) $0 $0 $0
Tom Sargent (Vice Pres./Treas.) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2015

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$352,473
Expenses
$374,952
Net Income
-$22,479
Net Assets
$350,829
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $350,649
99.5%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $1,824
0.5%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $133,900
35.7%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $77,000
20.5%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $350,849
Total Liabilities $20
Net Assets $350,829
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Lewis Gordon (Exec. Dir./Secr.) $130,000 $0 $3,900
Durwood Zaelke (President) $0 $0 $0
Tom Sargent (Vice Pres./Treas.) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2014

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$239,520
Expenses
$300,758
Net Income
-$61,238
Net Assets
$373,308
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $237,610
99.2%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $1,910
0.8%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $130,810
43.5%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $77,000
25.6%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $376,253
Total Liabilities $2,945
Net Assets $373,308
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Lewis Gordon (Exec. Dir./Secr.) $127,000 $0 $3,810
Durwood Zaelke (President) $0 $0 $0
Tom Sargent (Vice Pres./Treas.) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2013

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$300,767
Expenses
$295,930
Net Income
$4,837
Net Assets
$434,547
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $298,809
99.3%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $1,958
0.7%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $120,510
40.7%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $71,008
24.0%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $437,368
Total Liabilities $2,821
Net Assets $434,547
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Lewis Gordon (Exec. Dir./Secr.) $117,000 $0 $3,510
Durwood Zaelke (President) $0 $0 $0
Tom Sargent (Vice Pres./Treas.) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2012

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$303,582
Expenses
$256,053
Net Income
$47,529
Net Assets
$429,710
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $301,645
99.4%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $1,937
0.6%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $92,700
36.2%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $65,004
25.4%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $433,266
Total Liabilities $3,556
Net Assets $429,710

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2011

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$232,811
Expenses
$217,902
Net Income
$14,909
Net Assets
$382,181
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $229,963
98.8%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $2,848
1.2%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $92,782
42.6%
Professional Fundraising Fees $0
Other Salaries and Wages $57,747
26.5%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $386,547
Total Liabilities $4,366
Net Assets $382,181

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2010

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

About This Data

Nonprofit Explorer includes summary data for nonprofit tax returns and full Form 990 documents, in both PDF and digital formats.

The summary data contains information processed by the IRS during the 2012-2019 calendar years; this generally consists of filings for the 2011-2018 fiscal years, but may include older records. This data release includes only a subset of what can be found in the full Form 990s.

In addition to the raw summary data, we link to PDFs and digital copies of full Form 990 documents wherever possible. This consists of separate releases by the IRS of Form 990 documents processed by the agency, which we update regularly.

We also link to copies of audits nonprofit organizations that spent $750,000 or more in Federal grant money in a single fiscal year since 2016. These audits are copied from the Federal Audit Clearinghouse.

Which Organizations Are Here?

Every organization that has been recognized as tax exempt by the IRS has to file Form 990 every year, unless they make less than $200,000 in revenue and have less than $500,000 in assets, in which case they have to file form 990-EZ. Organizations making less than $50,000 don’t have to file either form but do have to let the IRS they’re still in business via a Form 990N "e-Postcard."

Nonprofit Explorer has organizations claiming tax exemption in each of the 27 subsections of the 501(c) section of the tax code, and which have filed a Form 990, Form 990EZ or Form 990PF. Taxable trusts and private foundations that are required to file a form 990PF are also included. Small organizations filing a Form 990N "e-Postcard" are not included in this data.

Types of Nonprofits

There are 27 nonprofit designations based on the numbered subsections of section 501(c) of the tax code. See the list »

Get the Data

For those interested in acquiring the original data from the source, here’s where our data comes from:

  • Raw filing data. Includes EINs and summary financials as structured data.
  • Exempt Organization profiles. Includes organization names, addresses, etc. You can merge this with the raw filing data using EIN numbers.
  • Form 990 documents. Prior to 2017, these documents were obtained and processed by Public.Resource.org and ProPublica. Bulk PDF downloads since 2017 are available from the IRS.
  • Form 990 documents as XML files. Includes complete filing data (financial details, names of officers, tax schedules, etc.) in machine-readable format. Only available for electronically filed documents. Electronic data released prior to October 2021 is also available through Amazon Web Services.
  • Audits. PDFs of single or program-specific audits for nonprofit organizations that spent $750,000 or more in Federal grant money in a single fiscal year. Available for fiscal year 2015 and later.

API

The data powering this website is available programmatically, via an API. Read the API documentation »