Illinois Environmental Council

What Illinois Environmental Council does

The Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1975 and headquartered at 520 E Capitol, Springfield, Illinois. The organization serves as the primary coordinating body for environmental advocacy in Illinois, representing a coalition of over 130 environmental affiliate organizations alongside individual supporters and donors. Its core mission is advancing state-level environmental policy on clean water, conservation, renewable energy, equitable transportation, sustainable agriculture, and zero waste.

IEC's operational model is coalition-based: it mobilizes its affiliate network and grassroots supporters to influence Illinois legislation through direct lobbying of the General Assembly and the Governor's office, grassroots advocacy campaigns, lobby days, action alerts, and annual legislative scorecards tracking representative voting records on environmental issues. Its digital platform at ilenviro.org integrates advocacy modules including an Action Center for constituent-to-legislator messaging, a Scorecard for voting record transparency, legislative reports and analysis, a blog, and comprehensive resource hubs for each policy priority area. Key staff include Executive Director Jen Walling (serving since January 2011), Chief Communications Officer Tucker Barry, Conservation Director Lindsay Keeney, and Chicagoland Conservation Manager Sergio Vargas.

Revenue is generated through individual donations and membership programs offering early access to policy insights and events, with supplemental fundraising from events like the annual Environmental Leadership Dinner. The organization has a track record of legislative influence, having supported the Future Energy Jobs Act (2016), the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (2021), and the PFAS Reduction Act (2025), among other outcomes. IEC operates exclusively within Illinois, with a secondary presence in Chicago for local government affairs.

Name

Illinois Environmental Council

Legal name

Illinois Environmental Council

Website

https://ilenviro.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Illinois Environmental Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1975 that coordinates a coalition of 130+ environmental organizations to advance state-level environmental policy in Illinois through lobbying, legislative scorecards, and grassroots advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Advocacy Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pollution Prevention & Toxics Reduction (BPAGAGAJ), Environmental Policy, Planning & Regulation (BPAIAMAA)

Keywords

• Environmental policy advocacy
• Legislative lobbying services
• Conservation coalition building
• Grassroots mobilization services
• Environmental policy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: IEC generates revenue through individual donations and membership programs, providing exclusive and early access to policy insights and events.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Illinois Environmental Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization that coordinates a coalition of more than 130 environmental organizations and individual supporters to advance environmental policy in Illinois. Its core service is direct legislative lobbying of state lawmakers and the Governor's office, supported by grassroots mobilization, lobby days, action alerts, and a legislative scorecard that tracks how Illinois legislators vote on environmental issues.

Product overview

The Illinois Environmental Council operates as a non-profit advocacy organization rather than a commercial product company. Their digital presence consists of a unified website platform with integrated modules including an Action Center for constituent advocacy, a legislative Scorecard for tracking politician voting records, Environmental Priority Issues resource hubs covering water, energy, conservation, transportation, agriculture and waste, a Blog for staff commentary, and Legislative Reports documenting policy agenda. These components work together as an advocacy infrastructure enabling environmental movement building and public policy influence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Environmental Policy Advocacy & Lobbying Services Core coalition advocacy service in which IEC represents 130+ affiliate environmental organizations to advance pro-environment legislation through direct lobbying of Illinois General Assembly members and the Governor's office, policy analysis, and coalition mobilization. Customers include affiliate nonprofit organizations and the broader Illinois environmental movement.
• IEC Lobby Days In-person advocacy events that bring IEC supporters to the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield to meet directly with their legislators and advocate for environmental policy priorities. Audience: individual supporters, members, and affiliate organization representatives.
• Chicago Environmental Lobby Week Annual Chicago-focused advocacy week that mobilizes Chicagoland-area environmental supporters and affiliate organizations to engage with Illinois legislators on shared environmental policy priorities.
• Annual Environmental Leadership Dinner Annual fundraising and recognition event celebrating Illinois environmental leaders, organizational achievements, and coalition milestones, supported by corporate and individual sponsors. Tickets and sponsorships are available for supporters and partner organizations.
• IEC Membership Program Membership program providing supporters with recurring contributions that fund IEC's advocacy work, in exchange for exclusive and early access to policy insights, environmental legislative updates, and events.

Quantifiable outcome

• PFAS Reduction Act passed in 2025, phasing out PFAS in consumer products by 2032
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• OpenlandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpenlands is a key conservation partner that works with IEC on land preservation initiatives, including the Space to Grow program and Okàn Savanna conservation project in Pembroke Township.
• Illinois Audubon SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on the Okàn Savanna conservation project, contributing to the acquisition and protection of high-quality black oak savanna in Pembroke Township.
• Illinois Clean Energy Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on the Okàn Savanna conservation project, providing funding support for the acquisition of 29.85 acres of high-quality black oak savanna.
• Friends of the Forest PreservescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the Vote Yes campaign for Cook County conservation referendum, working alongside IEC to educate voters on ballot initiatives.
• Chicago Wilderness AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIEC Conservation Director serves on the steering committee, helping guide the region's overall conservation vision across member organizations.
• Alliance for the Great LakescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on PFAS Reduction Act advocacy; Alliance Senior Policy Adviser Andrea Densham issued statement supporting the legislation championed by IEC.
• Healthy Schools CampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIEC partners with Healthy Schools Campaign on the Space to Grow initiative to convert Chicago schoolyards into green spaces that mitigate flooding.
• Community Development Corporation of Pembroke-Hopkins ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDC-PHP led the Okàn Savanna acquisition; IEC participated in the project to protect rare natural areas with high ecological value.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pennsylvania Environmental Council: State-level environmental advocacy nonprofit founded to protect and restore Pennsylvania's natural and built environments. Highly comparable to IEC in structure: coalition model, state-level lobbying, conservation focus, and policy advocacy across energy, water, and land use.
• Michigan Environmental Council: Coalition-based nonprofit representing over 70 environmental organizations in Michigan, focused on state-level policy advocacy. Direct structural and mission analog to IEC's coalition of 130+ Illinois organizations advancing state environmental policy.
• Ohio Environmental Council: Statewide nonprofit coalition advancing environmental policy in Ohio through lobbying, advocacy, and coalition building. Closely mirrors IEC's operating model as a state-level environmental policy coalition.
• Environment Illinois Research & Education Center: Illinois-focused environmental advocacy organization and an IEC affiliate that campaigns on clean water, energy, and conservation. Operates in the same Illinois policy arena as IEC with overlapping issue priorities and donor base.
• Sierra Club (Illinois Chapter): Illinois chapter of the Sierra Club engaging in state-level environmental advocacy, lobbying, and grassroots organizing. Comparable to IEC on Illinois policy engagement, though part of a larger national federation.
• Openlands: Chicago-based conservation nonprofit that works on land preservation, including the Space to Grow program and Okàn Savanna project that IEC also participates in. Operates in the same Illinois conservation policy space and is a strategic partner.

Regional players

• Environmental Law & Policy Center: Midwest-based environmental legal and policy advocacy organization with strong Illinois presence, active on clean energy, transportation, and Great Lakes issues. Comparable to IEC on Midwest environmental policy advocacy but uses litigation as a primary tool.

Broad incumbents

• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Large national environmental advocacy organization with active Illinois policy work on clean energy, climate, and water. Comparable to IEC on core mission but operates nationally with a far larger budget and staff.
• Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): Major national environmental advocacy organization working on climate, energy, and health. Comparable on advocacy mission and clean energy policy work; overlaps with IEC on Illinois-relevant federal and state initiatives.
• League of Conservation Voters (LCV): National environmental political organization and affiliate network (state LCVs) that publishes environmental scorecards and engages in electoral advocacy. Directly comparable to IEC's legislative scorecard tool and political accountability model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ilenviro
• Facebookfacebook.com/ilenviro
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/illinois-environmental-council
• Instagraminstagram.com/ilenviro
• Xx.com/ilenviro

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Illinois Environmental Council