Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.
Go to
www.irs.gov/Form990 for instructions and the latest information.
| (i) Name of supported organization | (ii) EIN | (iii) Type of organization (described on lines 1- 10 above (see instructions)) | (iv) Is the organization listed in your governing document? | (v) Amount of monetary support (see instructions) | (vi) Amount of other support (see instructions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | |||||
|
Total |
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Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
![]() |
(a) 2020 | (b) 2021 | (c) 2022 | (d) 2023 | (e) 2024 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grant.") .. | 341,535 | 213,453 | 262,633 | 463,637 | 374,510 | 1,655,768 |
| 2 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf .... | ||||||
| 3 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge.. | ||||||
| 4 | Total. Add lines 1 through 3 | 341,535 | 213,453 | 262,633 | 463,637 | 374,510 | 1,655,768 |
| 5 | The portion of total contributions by each person (other than a governmental unit or publicly supported organization) included on line 1 that exceeds 2% of the amount shown on line 11, column (f) .. | 191,722 | |||||
| 6 | Public support. Subtract line 5 from line 4. | 1,464,046 | |||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
![]() |
(a) 2020 | (b) 2021 | (c) 2022 | (d) 2023 | (e) 2024 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Amounts from line 4.. | 341,535 | 213,453 | 262,633 | 463,637 | 374,510 | 1,655,768 |
| 8 | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources... | ||||||
| 9 | Net income from unrelated business activities, whether or not the business is regularly carried on.. | ||||||
| 10 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.).. | 0 | 0 | 22,995 | 446 | 10,672 | 34,113 |
| 11 | Total support. Add lines 7 through 10 | 1,689,881 | |||||
Calendar year (or fiscal
year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2020 | (b) 2021 | (c) 2022 | (d) 2023 | (e) 2024 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") . | ||||||
| 2 | Gross receipts from admissions, merchandise sold or services performed, or facilities furnished in any activity that is related to the organization's tax-exempt purpose | ||||||
| 3 | Gross receipts from activities that are not an unrelated trade or business under section 513 ..... | ||||||
| 4 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf... | ||||||
| 5 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge | ||||||
| 6 | Total. Add lines 1 through 5 | ||||||
| 7a | Amounts included on lines 1, 2, and 3 received from disqualified persons | ||||||
| b | Amounts included on lines 2 and 3 received from other than disqualified persons that exceed the greater of $5,000 or 1% of the amount on line 13 for the year. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 7a and 7b.. | ||||||
| 8 | Public support. (Subtract line 7c from line 6.) | ||||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
![]() |
(a) 2020 | (b) 2021 | (c) 2022 | (d) 2023 | (e) 2024 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Amounts from line 6... | ||||||
| 10a | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources.. | ||||||
| b | Unrelated business taxable income (less section 511 taxes) from businesses acquired after June 30, 1975. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 10a and 10b. | ||||||
| 11 | Net income from unrelated business activities not included on line 10b, whether or not the business is regularly carried on. | ||||||
| 12 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.) .. | ||||||
| 13 | Total support. (Add lines 9, 10c, 11, and 12.).. | ||||||
| Section A - Adjusted Net Income | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Net short-term capital gain | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Other gross income (see instructions) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Add lines 1 through 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Depreciation and depletion | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Portion of operating expenses paid or incurred for production or collection of gross income or for management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for production of income (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Other expenses (see instructions) | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Adjusted Net Income (subtract lines 5, 6 and 7 from line 4) | 8 | ||||
| Section B - Minimum Asset Amount | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Aggregate fair market value of all non-exempt-use assets (see instructions for short tax year or assets held for part of year): | 1 | ||||
| a | Average monthly value of securities | 1a | ||||
| b | Average monthly cash balances | 1b | ||||
| c | Fair market value of other non-exempt-use assets | 1c | ||||
| d | Total (add lines 1a, 1b, and 1c) | 1d | ||||
| e |
Discount claimed for blockage or other factors (explain in detail in Part VI): |
|||||
| 2 | Acquisition indebtedness applicable to non-exempt use assets | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Subtract line 2 from line 1d | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Cash deemed held for exempt use. Enter 0.015 of line 3 (for greater amount, see instructions). | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Net value of non-exempt-use assets (subtract line 4 from line 3) | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Multiply line 5 by 0.035 | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Minimum Asset Amount (add line 7 to line 6) | 8 | ||||
| Section C - Distributable Amount | Current Year | |||||
| 1 | Adjusted net income for prior year (from Section A, line 8, Column A) | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Enter 85% of line 1 | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Minimum asset amount for prior year (from Section B, line 8, Column A) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Enter greater of line 2 or line 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Income tax imposed in prior year | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Distributable Amount. Subtract line 5 from line 4, unless subject to emergency temporary reduction (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| Section D - Distributions | Current Year | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Amounts paid to supported organizations to accomplish exempt purposes | 1 | |
|
2
Amounts paid to perform activity that directly furthers exempt purposes of supported organizations, in excess of income from activity |
2 | |
| 3 Administrative expenses paid to accomplish exempt purposes of supported organizations | 3 | |
| 4 Amounts paid to acquire exempt-use assets | 4 | |
| 5 Qualified set-aside amounts (prior IRS approval required - provide details in Part VI) | 5 | |
| 6 Other distributions (describe in Part VI). See instructions | 6 | |
| 7Total annual distributions. Add lines 1 through 6. | 7 | |
|
8
Distributions to attentive supported organizations to which the organization is responsive (provide details in Part VI). See instructions |
8 | |
| 9 Distributable amount for 2024 from Section C, line 6 | 9 | |
| 10 Line 8 amount divided by Line 9 amount | 10 | |
| Section E - Distribution Allocations (see instructions) |
(i) Excess Distributions |
(ii) Underdistributions Pre-2024 |
(iii) Distributable Amount for 2024 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Distributable amount for 2024 from Section C, line 6 | ||||
|
2
Underdistributions, if any, for years prior to 2024 (reasonable cause required-- explain in Part VI).
See instructions. |
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| 3 Excess distributions carryover, if any, to 2024: | ||||
| a From 2019....... | ||||
| b From 2020....... | ||||
| c From 2021....... | ||||
| d From 2022....... | ||||
| e From 2023....... | ||||
| fTotal of lines 3a through e | ||||
| g Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| h Applied to 2024 distributable amount | ||||
|
i
Carryover from 2019 not applied (see instructions) |
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| j Remainder. Subtract lines 3g, 3h, and 3i from line 3f. | ||||
| 4Distributions for 2024 from Section D, line 7: | ||||
| $ | ||||
| a Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| b Applied to 2024 distributable amount | ||||
| c Remainder. Subtract lines 4a and 4b from line 4. | ||||
|
5
Remaining underdistributions for years prior to 2024, if any. Subtract lines 3g and 4a from line 2. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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|
6
Remaining underdistributions for 2024. Subtract lines 3h and 4b from line 1. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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7 Excess distributions carryover to 2025. Add lines 3j and 4c. |
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| 8 Breakdown of line 7: | ||||
| a Excess from 2020..... | ||||
| b Excess from 2021..... | ||||
| c Excess from 2022..... | ||||
| d Excess from 2023..... | ||||
| e Excess from 2024..... | ||||
| Facts And Circumstances Test |
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| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Schedule A, Part II, Line 10 | Program income |
| Software ID: | 24021167 |
| Software Version: | v1.00 |
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Form 990, Part III, Line 1 | In 2024, Everglades Law Center, Inc. ("ELC") was involved in five cases in litigation, two representing non-profit organization clients as amicus curiae, one representing a non-profit organization in federal court, and two representing the same citizen in both state administrative court and state court. The two cases involving amicus curiae briefs are not "cases litigated" by ELC but we include below the rationales for the determination that ELC's involvement on behalf of amici curiae would benefit the public generally. 1. ELC filed an amicus curiae brief in April 2022 in Florida's Third District Court of Appeal on behalf of Friends of the Everglades, Inc., 1000 Friends of Florida Inc., and Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper d/b/a/ Miami Waterkeeper, in support of Tropical Audubon Society, Inc.'s position that Florida's administration commission erred in finding that a proposed Miami-Dade County comprehensive plan amendment was "in compliance" under Chapter 163, Florida Statutes. ELCs brief highlighted the conflict between the administration commission's interpretation of Florida's community planning and administrative procedure acts and Florida legislative and constitutional intent to ensure the protection and restoration of the Everglades ecosystem and natural resources through the community planning act and local comprehensive planning. Ensuring that inappropriate development impacting state resources, including the Everglades, can be challenged and prevented is central to achieving ELC's mission: to advocate, negotiate, and when necessary, litigate to protect and restore the south Florida ecosystem, which benefits the public generally. The appellate court ruled against the party that ELC's brief supported in 2024; ELC represented our clients pro bono and did not seek attorney fees. 2. ELC filed an amicus curiae brief in November 2023 in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, Inc., Sanibel-Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce, Inc., Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association, Inc., Islamorada Chamber of Commerce, Inc., Captains for Clean Water, Inc., The Everglades Foundation, Inc., Florida Bay Forever, Inc., Islamorada, Village of Islands, Florida, the City of Lake Worth Beach, Florida, the City of Sanibel, Florida, and the City of Stuart, Florida supporting the position of the United States Army Corps of Engineers in an appeal by three sugar industry appellants of a lower court decision rejecting their challenge of the Corps' approval of a Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan ("CERP") project. ELCs brief sought to ensure that CERP projects can be implemented to accomplish Everglades restoration. Were the court to adopt the sugar industry's flawed interpretation of the law, the carefully crafted plan for Everglades restoration developed over decades would cease to be a plan to restore America's Everglades, and would serve instead primarily as an insurance policy for agricultural water supply before any restoration objectives could be met. Ensuring that the federal plan to restore America's Everglades can be effectively implemented is consistent with ELC's mission: to advocate, negotiate, and when necessary, litigate to protect and restore the south Florida ecosystem, which benefits the public generally. In March 2023, the district court ruled in favor of the position that ELC and its clients supported; the sugar industry appealed, and the appellate court issued an opinion supporting our position in March 2025. ELC represents our clients pro bono and is not seeking any attorney fees. 3. In September 2023, ELC filed a complaint together with co-counsel on behalf of Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper, Inc. d/b/a Miami Waterkeeper, against K.L Brito corporation. The case was a civil suit brought under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251-1387, commonly known as the Clean Water Act ("CWA"), to address and abate the defendant's ongoing and continuous violations of the act pursuant to the CWA's citizen suit enforcement provisions at CWA section 505, 33 U.S.C. § 1365. The case centered on an industrial property in Opa-locka that was not in compliance with required stormwater discharge permits. Industrial stormwater can carry harmful pollutants into local waterways, posing risks to both the environment and public health. Ensuring compliance with water quality regulations by industrial polluters in Miami-Dade County is critical for protecting Biscayne Bay and the communities that depend on it and is consistent with ELC's mission: to advocate, negotiate, and when necessary, litigate to protect and restore the south Florida ecosystem, which benefits the public generally. ELC represented our client pro bono and sought attorney fees pursuant to the CWA. In November 2024, the parties entered into a settlement, providing for payment of costs and significantly reduced attorneys fees by the Defendant (in addition to an environmental benefits payment to a local community group). The settlement was approved by appropriate federal agencies in January 2025. 4. ELC filed a petition in the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings ("DOAH") in December 2022 on behalf of Nita Lewis, Ph.D., a citizen who lives and owns her home directly across the street from a proposed development site that overlaps with property proposed for use in Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan ("CERP") projects. ELC's DOAH petition challenged the Miami-Dade County commission's approval of an amendment to its comprehensive plan to allow the development project to proceed in the potential CERP project footprint, a comprehensive plan amendment that, according to Miami-Dade County's mayor, "encourages development in areas at risk of storm surge, putting more properties at risk in the future" which would add to the adverse impacts that "poorly-planned historic development has had on our ecosystem." Challenging inappropriate development impacting state resources, including the Everglades, that violates state and local land planning laws protecting those resources is central to achieving ELC's mission: to advocate, negotiate, and when necessary, litigate to protect and restore the south Florida ecosystem, which benefits the public generally. ELC represents our client pro bono, and is not seeking attorney fees. The case was stayed throughout 2023 and 2024 while procedural issues raised by the state of Florida were litigated in state court (see case below). 5. ELC intervened in June 2023 in a state court challenge brought by Miami-Dade County and developers on behalf of Nita Lewis, Ph.D., a citizen who lives and owns her home directly across the street from a proposed development site that overlaps with property proposed for use in comprehensive Everglades restoration plan ("CERP") projects. The litigation challenged a determination by a state agency that the county's approval of a development project was procedurally incorrect and thus invalid. ELC supported the position of the state agency, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, that the project's approval was procedurally defective and thus null and void. ELC did not seek attorney's fees. The trial court ruled in favor of the Department of Economic Opportunity in March 2024, and Miami-Dade County and the developers appealed to the First District Court of Appeal in Florida, which upheld the trial court's determination in February 2025. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b | A COPY OF THE FORM 990 IS DISTRIBUTED TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WHO REVIEW FORM 990 AND ALL ACCOMPANYING SCHEDULES PRIOR TO FILING WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE CENTER. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c | OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AND KEY EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE ALL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AT ANNUAL MEETINGS AND BEFORE LITIGATION FOR POTENTIAL CLIENTS. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15 | THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMPARES COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS FOR OFFICERS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS, AND KEY EMPLOYEES WITH BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SIMILARLY ESTABLISHED NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 | THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS THREE MOST CURRENT YEARS OF FORM 990 AND ITS FORM 1023 AVAILABLE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST. NO OTHER DOCUMENTS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. |
| Software ID: | 24021167 |
| Software Version: | v1.00 |