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Top Rated

Center for Biological Diversity

CharityWatch report issued
February 2022

Top-Rated Charity
A
CharityWatch Grade
Our independent grade based
on a number of factors.
 
84%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$9
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

Center for Biological Diversity
PO Box 710
Tucson, AZ 85702

Other Names

None

Tax Status

501(c)3

Stated Mission

Works to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction, through science, law and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters and climate that species need to survive.

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Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 12/31/2020

Program Percentage: 84%

The percentage of Center for Biological Diversity's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$22,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $9

How many dollars Center for Biological Diversity spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$21,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Joint Costs

Center for Biological Diversity's rating was adjusted for Joint Costs. If you are a donor who considers direct mail, telemarketing, and other Joint Cost solicitations to be true charitable programs, the below efficiency ratios, which were not adjusted for joint costs, may better reflect your goals.

Program % Cost to Raise $100
85% $8
Accounting rules allow charities to report some telemarketing, direct mail, and other solicitation costs as Program expenses. CharityWatch believes that most donors do not consider a charity's solicitation activities to be the Programs they are intending to support with their donations. We therefore adjust such expenses out of a charity's reported Program expense and add it to Fundraising expense prior to calculating its rating.

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Center for Biological Diversity IRS Form 990 27-3943866
Center for Biological Diversity Audited Combined Financial Statements multiple
Entity: Center for Biological Diversity
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 27-3943866
Entity: Center for Biological Diversity
Document Type: Audited Combined Financial Statements
Tax ID: multiple

Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
This charity is Top-Rated
What does it mean to be Top-Rated?
 
Center for Biological Diversity
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Center for Biological Diversity
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Opt-Out Policy  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Kieran Suckling Executive Director $218,684
2 Paula Simmonds Chief Development Officer $210,265
3 Peter Galvin Director of Programs $209,096
1
Name: Kieran Suckling
Title: Executive Director
Compensation: $218,684
2
Name: Paula Simmonds
Title: Chief Development Officer
Compensation: $210,265
3
Name: Peter Galvin
Title: Director of Programs
Compensation: $209,096

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

CharityWatch's rating of Center for Biological Diversity (the Center) is for the 501(c)(3) public charity (tax ID #27-3943866).

The rating does not include the financial activities of the Center Action Fund (CAF), the Center's commonly managed affiliate, which is organized as a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt, social welfare organization. CAF is not rated separately by CharityWatch at this time given its small size, with total contributions of less than $200,000 in 2020, including a $75,000 grant from the Center, according to the Center's audited Combining Statement of Activities for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2020 IRS Form 990 tax filing.


CharityWatch separates the ratings for 501(c)(3) & 501(c)(4) organizations, even when they are included together in a combined audit, due to their differing treatments under the IRS tax code. For more information on this topic, please see our sections on Types of Non-Profits, Tax Status, and Treatment of Related Organizations, which can be found on the Our Process page.

According to the Center for Biological Diversity combined audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 13, Forgivable Loan – Paycheck Protection Program):

"On April 29, 2020, the Center was granted a loan from Beneficial State Bank ('Lender') in the amount of $2,907,079 pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program ('PPP') under the federal Cares [sic] Act. The PPP loan, which is in the form of a note dated April 29, 2020, matures on April 29, 2022, bears interest at a rate of 1.0% per annum, and is payable monthly beginning on November 29, 2020. ... The Company may be eligible for forgiveness of all or a portion of the loan amount, including accrued interest on the forgiven portion, by providing evidence that the loan proceeds were used to fund eligible costs, during either an eight or twenty-four week period, and that additional criteria for forgiveness have been met...

"The Center is accounting for the proceeds as a conditional contribution... Under this guidance, the loan forgiveness is recognized as contribution revenue as the conditions of forgiveness are substantially met. As of December 31, 2020, the Center has expended 100% of the proceeds for eligible expenses during the covered period of the loan and fulfilled the additional forgiveness criteria under the Program... The Center submitted the loan forgiveness application to the Lender on March 22, 2020. As a result, the Center has recognized grant revenue in the amount of $2,907,079 for the year ended December 31, 2020."