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Defend Our Health

Learn about this cause: What are the reviews? Is it Legit? Do I like the mission? What is the CEO's salary?

EIN: 383791803 ✦ Portland, ME ✦ Designated as a 501(c)(3)

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Overview

What is Defend Our Health?

Defend Our Health is a nonprofit organization based in Portland, Maine, with 13 employees. The mission of Defend Our Health is to ensure equal access to safe food, drinking water, healthy homes, and products that are free from harmful chemicals and friendly for the environment. Their efforts primarily focus on reducing harm to human health, racial justice, and climate progress from toxic chemicals and plastics. Notably, Defend Our Health has successfully prevented plastic pollution and reduced human exposure to PFAS, the 'forever chemicals,' in food and water. They have also persuaded industries to eliminate toxic chemicals like phthalates from food packaging and called on the US EPA to address racial disparities in chemical exposure. Additionally, Defend Our Health has measured harmful chemicals in plastic-bottled beverages and called for safer alternatives. They have also highlighted the hazards of PET plastic used for packaging and polyester clothing. In terms of policy-making, Defend Our Health has led the passage of first-in-the-nation policies to ban sludge spreading on farms and provide economic relief and medical monitoring to PFAS-impacted farmers and well-owners. They have also helped the Passamaquoddy Tribe gain access to safe drinking water and secured funds for water treatment systems for low-income families with arsenic in their wells. In summary, Defend Our Health is an active nonprofit working tirelessly to create a safer, healthier, and more equitable world for all by tackling the issues of toxic chemicals and plastics.


Official website here: www.defendourhealth.org

What are the reviews and ratings of this charity?

Charity Navigator Rating: 96% (Four-Star out of Four Stars)

Defend Our Health has achieved an impressive Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator, reflecting its strong commitment to accountability and finance. The organization scored a perfect 100% in several key areas, including independent board membership and conflict of interest policies, indicating effective governance and oversight.

The charity's financial health is also notable, with a low liabilities to assets ratio of 4.84% and a program expense ratio of 69.66%. This suggests that a significant portion of its funds is allocated directly to its programs, which is a positive indicator for potential donors looking to support effective initiatives.

While the organization excels in financial and operational transparency, there are no specific user feedback or program outcomes available to further evaluate its impact. However, the high score in accountability suggests that Defend Our Health is well-managed and dedicated to its mission.


This AI summary has been generated from information found on Charity Navigator.

Is Defend Our Health legitimate?

Defend Our Health is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. Defend Our Health submitted a form 990, which is a tax form used by tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., indicating its operational transparency and adherence to regulatory requirements. Donations to this organization are tax deductible.


Heare are some key statistics you may want to consider:

Executive Compensation: $155,041
Professional Fundraising Fees: $0
Other Salaries and Wages: $779,397

For more financial information, click here


Official website here: www.defendourhealth.org

What is the mission statement of Defend Our Health?

Defend Our Health's mission is centered around ensuring a world where everyone thrives with equal access to safe food, water, homes, and products that are free from harmful chemicals and sustainable for the planet. The organization works actively to mitigate harm to human health, racial justice, and climate progress from toxic chemicals and plastics. They strive to create a world where these rights are upheld, and they will stand up for this mission wherever it is threatened. Their efforts have led to the prevention of plastic pollution, the reduction of human exposure to harmful 'forever chemicals,' and the elimination of toxic chemicals like phthalates from food packaging. They have also called for the end of racial disparities in exposure to these chemicals and have identified hazards associated with PET plastic and polyester. Defend Our Health has spearheaded the passage of policies to ban sludge spreading on farms and provide aid to PFAS-impacted communities, and they have helped secure safe drinking water for indigenous tribes and funds for water treatment systems for low-income families with arsenic-contaminated wells.


Official website here: www.defendourhealth.org

What is the revenue of Defend Our Health?

Defend Our Health's revenue in 2023 was $1,481,090.


Official website here: www.defendourhealth.org

Who are the executives of Defend Our Health and what are their salaries?

The average compensation at Defend Our Health during 2023 was $66,746. There are 14 employees and 100 volunteers at Defend Our Health.

Here are 11 key members and their salaries:


Mark Hyland (Chair)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Ruth Hennig (Vice Chair)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Bruce Cort (Treasurer)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Apollinaire Munyaneza (Secretary)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Susan Inches (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Rev Richard Killmer (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Muhannad Malas (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Kate Manahan (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Laurie Mazur (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Lindi Von Mutius (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Mike Belliveau (Executive Director)
  • Compensation: $141,541
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $13,501


Official website here: www.defendourhealth.org

Where can I find the form 990 for Defend Our Health?

Defend Our Health's most recent form 990 was submitted in 2023 and can be accessed here.


Official website here: www.defendourhealth.org

Learn more at the official website: www.defendourhealth.org

Mission Statement of Defend Our Health

Defend Our Health is an organization committed to protecting human health, promoting racial justice, and safeguarding the environment from harmful chemicals and plastics. Their mission is to create a world where all individuals have equal access to safe food, drinking water, healthy homes, and products that are free from toxic substances and friendly to the climate.

Defend Our Health takes a proactive approach to ensuring the well-being of all people. They have successfully prevented plastic pollution, reduced human exposure to PFAS, the infamous 'forever chemicals,' in food and water. They have also persuaded industries to eliminate phthalates, toxic chemicals, from food packaging and called on the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address racial disparities in chemical exposure.

In addition, Defend Our Health has measured cancer-causing chemicals in plastic-bottled beverages, advocating for safer alternatives. They have highlighted the hazards of PET plastic in packaging and polyester clothing. They have also led the passage of groundbreaking policies to ban sludge spreading on farms and provide relief to PFAS-impacted farmers and well-owners. They have even assisted the Passamaquoddy Tribe in gaining access to clean drinking water and secured funds for water treatment systems for low-income families with arsenic in wells.

In summary, Defend Our Health is an organization that stands up for the right to a healthy and toxic-free world. They work tirelessly to protect individuals from harmful chemicals and plastics, advocate for policy changes, and ensure equal access to safe resources for all.

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Impact




June, 2024

Defend Our Health has had a significant impact in reducing harm to human health caused by toxic chemicals and plastics. The organization has successfully prevented plastic pollution and reduced human exposure to PFAS, commonly referred to as 'forever chemicals,' in our food and water. Additionally, Defend Our Health has advocated for the elimination of toxic chemicals like phthalates from food packaging and called on the US EPA to address racial disparities in chemical exposure.

Furthermore, Defend Our Health has conducted meaningful research, such as measuring cancer-causing chemicals in plastic-bottled beverages and highlighting the hazards of PET plastic packaging and polyester clothing. The organization has also been instrumental in advocating for policy changes, including the passage of first-in-the-nation policies to ban sludge spreading on farms and provide support for PFAS-impacted farmers and well-owners.

In addition to addressing environmental and health challenges, Defend Our Health has actively worked to ensure access to safe drinking water for communities like the Passamaquoddy Tribe, and has secured funding to provide water treatment systems for low-income families impacted by arsenic contamination in wells. Overall, Defend Our Health is dedicated to creating a world where all people have equal access to safe food, drinking water, and products that are free from toxins and environmentally friendly.




This information is meant to be a general summary of Defend Our Health. Please take the time to review official sources before making any decisions based upon the content provided here.


Financials

This financial information is from Propublica.

Revenue
$1,481,090 (2023)
Expenses
$1,972,699 (2023)
Efficiency

Other financial information:

This information is from the most recently submitted tax form from this organization, which was in 2023.

  • Investment Income: $3,118
  • Program Service Revenue: $64,000
  • Gross Receipts: $1,481,090

Assets and Liabilities:

  • Total Assets: $2,360,370
  • Total Liabilities: $114,641
  • Net Assets: $2,245,729

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Programs

Programs are reported by nonprofits in their tax forms and are normally their tax-exempt activities.

CONTRACT REVENUES

Revenue

$64,000

Organization Details

Founding Year

2008

Principal Officer

Michael Belliveau

NTEE Category

Code: C20 - Environment

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