Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund
The Organizations mission is to build sustainable communities by assisting people to assert their right to local self-government, and expand and recognize the rights of people, communities and nature.
Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund at a glance
- Total assets
- $1,397,951
- -2.0% vs 2023
- Revenue (2024)
- $574,561
- +163.6% vs 2023
- Net investment income (2024)
- $73,158
- +41.0% vs 2023
- Expenses (2024)
- $603,700
- +0.5% vs 2023
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 5 grants of 5 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $2K (2020) to $10K (2023). In 2023 it made 5 grants totaling $10K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon Community Rights Network Tenmile, OR | Litigation Support | $4,000 |
| Community Earth Alliance Cincinnati, OH | Litigation Support | $3,000 |
| Community Rights Lane County Eugene, OR | Litigation Support | $1,000 |
| Williams County Alliance Bryan, OH | Litigation Support | $1,000 |
| Washington Community Rights Network Sequim, WA | Litigation Support | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,397,951 | $574,561 | $603,700 | — | — | $73,158 |
| 2023 | $1,426,183 | $217,948 | $600,781 | $10,000 | 5 | $51,898 |
| 2022 | $1,801,402 | $205,148 | $565,551 | — | — | $6,571 |
| 2021 | $2,154,344 | $474,247 | $724,917 | — | — | $14,385 |
| 2020 | $2,405,272 | $380,811 | $918,793 | $2,400 | Total only | $20,425 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund
Based on IRS filings
Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund is a public charity focused on Crime & Legal Related, based in Mercersburg, PA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.4M in total assets. Net investment income was $73K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund is led by Tish O'Dell, President since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Tish O'Dell
President
Director → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chad Nicholson
Director
President → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kai Huschke
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terry Lodge
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stacey Schamder
Secretary & Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Stacey Schmader (2020–2023) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund
How large is Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund?
Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $575K.
What is Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund?
Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund is a public charity focused on Crime & Legal Related, based in Mercersburg, PA. It holds $1.4M in total assets as of 2024.
Where does Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund operate?
Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund has awarded grants in Ohio, Oregon, Washington.
What is Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund's EIN?
Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-1760934. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 20, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 11, 2024)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund down — hundreds of funders to go?