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Earthjustice

CharityWatch report issued
October 2021

Top-Rated Charity
A-
CharityWatch Grade
Our independent grade based
on a number of factors.
 
78%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$8
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

Earthjustice
50 California Street
Suite 500
San Francisco, CA 94111

Other Names

None

Tax Status

501(c)3

Stated Mission

Wields the power of law & the strength of partnership to preserve the wild, to fight for healthy communities, and to advance clean energy to promote a healthy climate.

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Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 06/30/2020

Program Percentage: 78%

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

$97,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $8

How many dollars Earthjustice spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$139,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Earthjustice IRS Form 990 94-1730465
Earthjustice Audited Financial Statements 94-1730465
Entity: Earthjustice
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 94-1730465
Entity: Earthjustice
Document Type: Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: 94-1730465

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?
 
Earthjustice
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Earthjustice
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 Abigail Dillen President $458,824
2 Margaret Marsh-Heine VP of Developement $377,608
3 Lisa Garcia Past VP of Litigation $373,859
1
Name: Abigail Dillen
Title: President
Compensation: $458,824
2
Name: Margaret Marsh-Heine
Title: VP of Developement
Compensation: $377,608
3
Name: Lisa Garcia
Title: Past VP of Litigation
Compensation: $373,859

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.

According to the Earthjustice audit of June 30, 2020 (Note 2 re: Donated Services):

Earthjustice received donated services in fiscal 2020 on which it placed a total value of $4,187,206. These services consisted of: (1) "donated legal services...estimated to be $3,119,889," and (2) "donated space for public service announcements in various print, television, and web-based media as well as in major U.S. airport locations and various outdoor locations" amounting to $1,067,317.

[Note: CharityWatch generally excludes the value of in-kind (non-cash) donations of goods and services from its calculations of Program % and Cost to Raise $100. More information on how grades are calculated and the treatment of in-kind donations can be found on the Our Process page.]

According to the Earthjustice audit of June 30, 2020 (Note 4, Contributions Receivables):

"One donor comprised 9% and 16% of total contributions for the years ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Another donor made a multi-year unconditional promise to give comprising of 11% of total contributions for the year ended June 30, 2020."

According to the Earthjustice audit of June 30, 2020 (Note 9, Commitments and Contingencies, COVID-19):

"On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization ('WHO') announced a global health emergency because of a new strain of coronavirus (the 'COVID-19 outbreak') and the risks to the international community as the virus spread globally beyond its point of origin. In March 2020, the WHO classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. The full impact of the COVID-19 outbreak continues to evolve as of the date of this report [October 26, 2020]. As such, it is uncertain as to the full magnitude of the effect that the pandemic will have on Earthjustice's financial condition, liquidity, and future results of operations. Management is actively monitoring the impact on its financial condition, liquidity, operations, and workforce."

According to the Earthjustice audit of June 30, 2020 (Note 12, Related Parties):

"In 2017, the Earthjustice board authorized the formation of an affiliated, but independent 501(c)(4) organization to help advance protection of the environment through political advocacy. Earthjustice Action was incorporated on June 27, 2017. Some members of the Earthjustice Action Board are also on the Earthjustice Board as of June 30, 2020. There is a formal cost-sharing agreement under which Earthjustice Action reimburses personnel and overhead costs incurred on its behalf by Earthjustice..."


According to the Earthjustice (EJ) tax filing for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, EJ reports making a cash grant in the amount of $130,000 to Earthjustice Action in fiscal 2020 (IRS Form 990, Schedule I, Part II & Schedule R, Part V).


[Note: CharityWatch does not rate Earthjustice Action at this time due to its small size. Should CharityWatch provide a rating for Earthjustice Action in the future, it will be rated separately from Earthjustice because CharityWatch separates the ratings for 501(c)(3) & 501(c)(4) organizations, even when they are included together in a consolidated 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. For more information about things to consider when donating to organizations that have related public charity and social welfare entities, read "Sorting Out Nonprofit Pairs" in the Articles & Alerts section, below.]

According to the Earthjustice (EJ) tax filing for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, EJ reports re: Compensation, Supplemental Information (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part III):

Regarding severance payments to officers, directors, trustees, key employees and highest compensated employees (Schedule J, Part I, Line 4a):

"Severance was paid to Lisa Garcia in the amount of $130,290 upon her termination on 09/05/2019..."

[Lisa Garcia is reported as "VP of Litigation (ended 9/5/2019)," with total compensation of $373,859 in calendar year 2019 (Schedule J, Part II).]


Regarding nonfixed payments to officers, directors, trustees, key employees and highest compensated employees (Schedule J, Part I, Line 7):

"One-time performance bonuses and the amounts shown in Part II, column B(ii) ['Bonus & incentive compensation'] were paid in calendar year 2019. The performance bonuses were approved by the president. No bonuses were made contingent on revenues or net income of the organization."


EJ reports "Bonus & incentive compensation" payments to four individuals in calendar year 2019. Two individuals received $10,000 each; the other two reported amounts are $5,000 and $4,500. The reported total compensation in 2019 for the four individuals ranged from $332,813 to $268,642 (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part II).