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Environmental Defense Action Fund

CharityWatch rating issued
October 2021

Top-Rated Charity
A
CharityWatch Rating
Our independent rating based
on a number of factors.
 
90%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$15
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

Environmental Defense Action Fund
257 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10010

Other Names

None

Tax Status

501(c)4

Stated Mission

To educate the public regarding environmental and conservation issues, and advocate legislation and policies that protect the environmental rights of all people.

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Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 09/30/2020

Program Percentage: 90%

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

$27,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $15

How many dollars Environmental Defense Action Fund spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$18,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Environmental Defense Action Fund Audited Financial Statements 90-0080500
Environmental Defense Action Fund IRS Form 990 90-0080500
Entity: Environmental Defense Action Fund
Document Type: Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: 90-0080500
Entity: Environmental Defense Action Fund
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 90-0080500

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?
 
Environmental Defense Action Fund
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Environmental Defense Action Fund
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 Frederic Krupp Executive Director $825,102
2 William O'Brien CFO $422,817
3 Joe Bonfiglio President $299,044
1
Name: Frederic Krupp
Title: Executive Director
Compensation: $825,102
2
Name: William O'Brien
Title: CFO
Compensation: $422,817
3
Name: Joe Bonfiglio
Title: President
Compensation: $299,044

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 Environmental Defense Action Fund includes the financial activities of the 501(c)(4) tax-exempt, social welfare organization (tax ID #90-0080500).

CharityWatch provides a separate rating for Environmental Defense Fund, the related 501(c)(3) public charity (tax ID #11-6107128).

According to the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) consolidated audit of September 30, 2020 (Note 11, Wholly Controlled Entity Transactions), in fiscal 2020, EDF made a grant in the amount of $8,724,879 to the Environmental Defense Action Fund, "representing a portion of the grass-roots lobbying and the direct lobbying allowances permitted by EDF as a 501(c)(3) organization."


CharityWatch separates the ratings for 501(c)(4) & 501(c)(3) organizations, even if their financial activities are included together in a combined or 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 Environmental Defense Action Fund audit of September 30, 2020 (Note 8, Risks and Uncertainties):

"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 spreads globally... 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 [January 27, 2021]. As such, it is uncertain as to the full impact that the pandemic will have on The Action Funds [sic] financial condition, liquidity and future results of operations. Management is actively monitoring the global situation on its financial condition, liquidity, operations, suppliers, industry and workforce.

"Although The Action Fund cannot estimate the length or gravity of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak at this time, or if it may have an adverse effect on the results of future operations, financial position and liquidity in fiscal year 2021.

"On March 27, 2020, The President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act). The CARES Act, among other things, includes provisions relating to refundable payroll tax credits... The Action Fund did not apply for funding under the CARES Act.

"The Action Fund continues to examine the impact that the CARES Act may have on its business."