irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $2.17MEnvironment Health and Community Based Research - To increase community environmental health through community based participatory research and evidence based campaigns.
- #2 $1.78MSustainable Development - To advocate with communities for strong and equal environmental protection.
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Climate Justice Pavilion
Co-hosted at COP27 to amplify voices from the Global South, U.S. environmental justice communities, and Indigenous peoples; provides a platform for frontline leaders in international climate negotiations
Environmental Health Community Based Research
Conducts community-based participatory research to assess and address environmental health disparities, particularly in Northern Manhattan; informs evidence-based advocacy campaigns
Federal Policy Office
Advocates for environmental justice legislation and policies at the federal level, including the Justice40 Initiative and the Environmental Justice for All Act; engages with lawmakers, agencies, and coalitions to advance national policy change
Justice40rward Campaign
Educates communities about funding opportunities from the Inflation Reduction Act; conducts national tours and webinars to help frontline communities access clean energy, housing, and pollution control investments
Sustainable Development
Advocates for equitable environmental protection and strong climate policies; campaigns against harmful projects like LNG terminals and promotes just energy transitions
WE ACT Environmental Justice Center
Community hub in West Harlem for STEAM education, workforce development, civic engagement, and technical assistance; serves as a convening space for grassroots environmental justice organizations
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Environmental Policy Advocacy & Litigation 1 activity
- Advocacy for environmental justice legislation and policyAdvances environmental justice through policy campaigns at city, state, and federal levels, including co-developing federal initiatives, influencing UN climate negotiations, and contributing to the passage of landmark laws such as New York's cumulative impacts law and PFAS bans in menstrual products. Operates a Federal Policy Office in Washington, DC to represent Northern Manhattan communities.
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Community Capacity Building & Leadership Networks 1 activity
- Capacity building for environmental justice organizationsStrengthens the capacity of frontline organizations through technical assistance with funding applications, trainings, outreach events, and national conferences on issues such as genetics research ethics and climate justice.
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Community Environmental Monitoring and Research 1 activity
- Community-based research on environmental health and justiceConducts participatory research to assess and document environmental health disparities, including air quality studies in Northern Manhattan and multi-state reports on asthma disparities and green workforce diversity. Publishes findings in public reports and tools such as the EJNYC Report and mapping platform.
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Local Clean Energy Adoption & Education 1 activity
- Direct services supporting clean energy access and consumer healthProvides free information and connections to renewable energy upgrades through the Manhattan Clean Energy Hub, hosts workshops on utility cost reduction, and maintains a public database of personal care products free from toxic chemicals to support informed consumer choices.
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Climate Change Research and Advocacy Funding 1 activity
- Funding partner organizations for environmental advocacyProvides grants to partner organizations to support advocacy efforts for strong and equitable environmental protection as part of its sustainable development mission.
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Global Sustainability Convenings & Forums 1 activity
- National coalition leadership in climate and environmental justiceFacilitates the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum, a national coalition of 42 organizations across 24 states and D.C., and co-hosted the first Climate Justice Pavilion at COP27 to elevate frontline community voices in international climate policy.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$10.36M
Contributions & grants$9.47M91%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$331K3%
Other revenue$559K
expenses
Total expenses$11.07M
Program expenses75%
Admin / overhead21%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$6.02M
Grants paid out$1.96M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$21.93M
Cash$11.21M
Investments$3.08M
Liabilities$4.75M
Net assets$17.18M
Liquid reserves15.5 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -0.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 6
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peggy Sheppard | Executive Dir. | 40 | $297K |
| Evelyn Joseph | Sr Dir of Oper/Fin | 40 | $186K |
| Morgan Fritz | Dir of Development | 40 | $182K |
| Karla Cordero | Chief of Staff | 40 | $182K |
| Micaela Martinez | Dir Envir/Health | 40 | $149K |
| Dana Johnson | Sr Dir Stra/Fed Po | 40 | $133K |
board members · 17
- Abiola Fasehun — Director
- Annie Weisberg — Director
- CarlosTalero — Director
- Christy Loper — Director
- David Evans — Director
- Dennis Derryck — Director
- Eric Goldstein — Director
- Jeff Jones — Chairman
- Ken Mak — Vice Chair
- Lakeisha M Aquino — Director
- Marielle Villar Martiney — Director
- Nancy Anderson — Secretary
- Neein Gulati — Treasurer
- Peter Bokor — Director
- Romoe Upperman — Director
- Sarangi Iyengar — Director
- Vernice Miller-Travis — Director
relationships · 18
Who they work with
- Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice Partner — Co-hosted the first Climate Justice Pavilion at COP27 in Egypt.
- Chuck Sutton Partner — Co-founder of WE ACT for Environmental Justice
- Columbia Law School’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Partner — Partnered to launch Dismantling Injustice: M.O.D.E.L., a suite of model environmental justice bills for legislators.
- Deep South Center for Environmental Justice Partner — Co-hosted the first Climate Justice Pavilion at COP27 in Egypt.
- EJNYC Partner — Collaborates on the EJNYC Report and mapping tool to highlight environmental justice issues in New York City.
- Environmental Justice Leadership Forum Coalition — Co-published reports and led national initiatives on environmental justice and climate policy.
- Environmental Justice Leadership Forum Partner — WE ACT facilitates the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum, a national coalition of environmental justice organizations.
- Environmental Protection Agency Government — Partnered with EPA to operate a Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC) in EPA Region 2.
- JustGreen Partnership Partner — Collaborative partner in passing legislation to reduce toxic chemical exposure, including the menstrual product PFAS ban and the Period Products Labeling Act.
- Manhattan Clean Energy Hub Partner — Collaborates to offer free online workshops on utility rights and energy cost reduction for Manhattan residents.
- NRDC Partner — Co-hosted the first-ever Climate Justice Pavilion at COP27 with WE ACT and two other national environmental justice leaders.
- New York State Legislature Government — Legislative body that passed WE ACT's bill to ban PFAS and other toxic chemicals in menstrual products.
- New York State Legislature Partner — Engaged in advocacy efforts with the Legislature to pass the NY HEAT Act, including collaboration with Senate and Assembly members.
- Peggy Shepard Partner — Co-founder and Executive Director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice
- Public Utility Law Project of New York Partner — Co-hosts a free online workshop for Manhattan residents on understanding utility bills, customer rights, and energy cost-saving programs.
- US Environmental Protection Agency Partner — Collaborated on the first air quality assessment in Northern Manhattan and on advancing environmental justice in federal policy.
- Vernice Miller-Travis Partner — Co-founder and Board Member of WE ACT for Environmental Justice
- White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council Government — WE ACT's Co-Founder and Executive Director Peggy Shepard served as co-chair of this federal advisory council.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Civil Rights and Equity-Based Policy Analysismethodology: civil_rights_analysis_of_permittingBy applying civil rights and equity frameworks to environmental permitting and infrastructure rules, we produce more just policy outcomes because these analyses expose and correct systemic biases that disproportionately burden marginalized communities.
- Community-Participatory Research and Advocacymethodology: community-participatory-policyBy integrating community-based participatory research with evidence-based advocacy, we produce more effective and legitimate environmental justice outcomes because community-led knowledge ensures solutions are grounded in lived experience and local needs.
- Multi-Level, Coalition-Driven Policy Advocacymethodology: coalition-based_policy_advocacyBy building coalitions and pursuing coordinated policy change across local, state, and federal levels, we produce broader systemic impact because centering frontline voices in national advocacy prevents unintended harms and strengthens climate and environmental justice outcomes.
- Structural Economic and Energy Equity Interventionsmethodology: regulated_transition_from_fossil_fuelsBy advocating for statutory energy cost caps and eliminating discriminatory infrastructure rules, we produce greater energy equity because structural reforms directly reduce disproportionate burdens on low-income households and accelerate the transition to clean energy.
- Targeted Regulation of Toxic Chemicalsmethodology: toxic-ingredient_regulationBy advocating for ingredient-level regulation of toxic chemicals in consumer products, we reduce environmental health disparities because precise bans prevent harm without eliminating access to culturally important products, particularly in communities of color.