Defend Our Health
Defend Our Health works to create a world where all people are thriving, with equal access to safe food and drinking water, healthy homes, and products that are toxic-free and climate-friendly. We'll stand up for this right wherever it is threatened.
Defend Our Health at a glance
In short: Defend Our Health gave $205K across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $68K), mostly in Washington. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $205,000
- -33.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 3
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $68,333
- -33.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $919,145
- -50.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Washington (63% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Defend Our Health funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Toxic-Free Future ($130K). Together the top 3 received $205K.
Grant Size Distribution
16 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 7 grants of 16 (44%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $55K (2019) to $310K (2023). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $205K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Toxic-Free Future Seattle, WA | Project Support | $130,000 |
| Clean Production Action Somerville, MA | Project Support | $50,000 |
| Ecology Center Ann Arbor, MI | Project Support | $25,000 |
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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 | $919,145 | $819,835 | $1,755,644 | $205,000 | 3 | $1,081 |
| 2023 | $1,855,980 | $1,481,090 | $1,972,699 | $310,000 | 3 | $3,118 |
| 2022 | $2,360,370 | $792,090 | $1,607,463 | $258,500 | 4 | $3,776 |
| 2021 | $3,150,022 | $3,436,530 | $1,223,985 | — | — | $2,625 |
| 2020 | $937,035 | $1,381,180 | $1,217,266 | $132,500 | 6 | $3,046 |
| 2019 | $724,280 | $1,240,476 | $1,104,591 | $55,000 | 1 | $5,560 |
About Defend Our Health
Based on IRS filings
Defend Our Health is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Portland, ME. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $919K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $205K. Net investment income was $1K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Defend Our Health is led by Emily Carey, President on the 2024 filing; 3 of 13 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Emily Carey
President
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$123K (2024)
Mark Hyland
Chair
Secretary → Chair, 2020
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard L. Killmer
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Apollinaire Munyaneza
Director & Vice
Director → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Director & Vice, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Muhannad Malas
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kate Manahan
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laurie Mazur
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lindi Von Mutius
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Belliveau
Executive Di
President → Executive Di, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$110K (2020) → $94K (2024)
Sarah Woodbury
Vice President Policy
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$104K (2024)
Susan B. Inches
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bruce Cort
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ruth Hennig
Vice Chair & C
Vice Chair → Vice Chair & C, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Mike Belliveau (2019–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Carla Dickstein (2019–2022) — Vice Chair
- Former: Karen Turner (2019–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Kate Manahan elected (2022) — Director
- Former: Ruth Henng elected (2022) — Secretary
- Former: Anthony Jaccarino (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Ryan Bouldin (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Ally Fulton (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Kristin Jackson (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Julie Franklin (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Alain Nahimana (2019) — Director
- Former: Kristine Stratton (2019) — Director
- Former: Priscilla Carothers (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $123K, to Emily Carey (President &). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Defend Our Health
How much does Defend Our Health give each year?
Defend Our Health gave $205K across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $310K across 3 grants.
What is Defend Our Health's typical grant size?
Defend Our Health's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $68,333, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Defend Our Health give grants?
Defend Our Health gives mostly in Washington: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (24%) and Michigan (12%).
Does Defend Our Health give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Defend Our Health's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Project Support" (3 grants).
How large is Defend Our Health?
Defend Our Health reported $919K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $820K.
What is Defend Our Health?
Defend Our Health is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Portland, ME. It holds $919K in total assets as of 2024.
What is Defend Our Health's EIN?
Defend Our Health's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3791803. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 4, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 20, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 19, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Defend Our Health's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Defend Our Health's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Defend Our Health down — hundreds of funders to go?