Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest
The environmental law & policy center (ELPC) is the midwest's leading public interest environmental legal advocacy and ecobusiness innovation organization, and among the nation's leaders. We develop and lead successful strategic environmental advocacy campaigns to improve environmental quality and protect our natural resources. We are public interest environmental entrepreneurs who engage in creative business deal making with diverse interests to put into practice our belief that environmental progress and economic development can be achieved together. ELPC's multidisciplinary staff of talented and experienced public interest attorneys, environmental business specialists, policy advocates, and communications specialists bring a strong and effective combination of skills to solve environmental problems.
Key facts about Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest
In short: Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest gave $250K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $250K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 36-3866530
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $250,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- Average grant
- $250,000
- Median grant
- $250,000
- Total assets
- $45,609,465
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$45.6M
+9.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$250K
-28.6% YoY
Grant Count
1
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$250K
-28.6% YoY
How Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest gives
- Giving grew 168% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
About Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest
Based on IRS filings
Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $45.6M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $250K. Net investment income was $2.6M.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $93K (2022) to $350K (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $250K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Environmental Law and Policy Center Action Fund ($250K).
Grant Size Distribution
14 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 10 grants of 14 (71%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Law and Policy Center Action Fund Chicago, IL | Clean Energy | $250,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $45,609,465 | $41,492,302 | $38,030,474 |
| Revenue | $12,058,051 | $10,939,803 | $10,923,738 |
| Expenses | $9,287,429 | $8,819,301 | $8,171,684 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,642,020 | $3,280,271 | $1,188,345 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 1, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest is led by Howard A Learner, President & Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 11 of 29 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Howard A Learner
President & Executive Director
On filings since 2020
60 hrs/week
$444K (2020) → $520K (2025)
Manny Flores
Chair of the Board of Director
Vice Chair → Chair of the Board of Directors, 2024
Chair of the Board of Directors → Chair of the Board of Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Frances O'Connor
Development Director
Director of Development → Development Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$189K (2020) → $221K (2025)
Gillian Cronin
Hr Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$179K (2024) → $177K (2025)
Mary McClelland
Communications Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$160K (2024) → $176K (2025)
Kevin Brubaker
Deputy Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$224K (2020) → $251K (2025)
Robert Kelter
Senior Attorney
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$189K (2020) → $224K (2025)
Bradley Klein
Senior Attorney
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$188K (2021) → $227K (2025)
Robert Michaels
Senior Attorney
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$194K (2023) → $224K (2025)
Ann Mesnikoff
Senior Attorney
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$183K (2024) → $191K (2025)
Kathleen Garvey
Senior Attorney
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$142K (2025)
Wendy Bloom
Senior Attorney
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$136K (2025)
Andrew Ross
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carl Lingenfelter
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carleen Schreder
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Wilhelm
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ellen C Craig
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Harry W Drucker
Board Member
Chair → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Knute Nadelhoffer
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Loeb
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert L Graham
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Samir Mayekar
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Heidepriem
Vice Chair of the Board of Director
Director → Board Member, 2024
Board Member → Vice Chair of the Board of Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Simon Fish
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Smita Shah
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stan Goldblatt
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William McNary
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Saddler
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tim Cox
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Alan Chang (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Brady C Williamson (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Daniel Levin (2020–2024) — Vice Chair of the Board of Directors
- Former: Scott Strand (2020–2024) — Senior Attorney
- Former: Michael Zoeller (2024) — Senior Attorney
- Former: Allen Grosboll (2020–2022) — Co-Legislative Director
- Former: Arthur Gibson (2020) — Director
- Former: Brad Klein (2020) — Senior Attorney
- Former: Cameron S Avery (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $520K, to Howard Learner (President and Executive Director). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest
How much does Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest give each year?
Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest gave $250K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $350K across 1 grant.
How large is Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest?
Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest reported $45.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $12.1M.
What is Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest?
Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Chicago, IL. It holds $45.6M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest operate?
Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest has awarded grants in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota.
What is Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest's EIN?
Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3866530. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Here's the math on researching Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest by hand.
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