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Top Rated

Environmental Defense Fund

CharityWatch report issued
October 2021

Top-Rated Charity
B+
CharityWatch Grade
Our independent grade based
on a number of factors.
 
76%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$20
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

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

Other Names

EDF

Tax Status

501(c)3

Website

www.edf.org

Stated Mission

To preserve the natural systems on which all life depends; guided by science and economics, finds practical and lasting solutions to the most serious environmental problems.

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Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 09/30/2020

Program Percentage: 76%

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

$196,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $20

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

$195,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Joint Costs

Environmental Defense Fund'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
78% $18
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
Environmental Defense Fund Audited Consolidated Financial Statements Multiple
Environmental Defense Fund IRS Form 990 11-6107128
Entity: Environmental Defense Fund
Document Type: Audited Consolidated Financial Statements
Tax ID: Multiple
Entity: Environmental Defense Fund
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 11-6107128

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 Fund
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Environmental Defense 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

  Name Title Compensation
1 Frederic D. Krupp President $825,102
2 Jessica Issacs Past Chief Administrative Officer $632,582
3 Catherine Nardone Chief Development Officer $570,952
1
Name: Frederic D. Krupp
Title: President
Compensation: $825,102
2
Name: Jessica Issacs
Title: Past Chief Administrative Officer
Compensation: $632,582
3
Name: Catherine Nardone
Title: Chief Development Officer
Compensation: $570,952

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 Fund (EDF) includes the financial activities of the 501(c)(3) public charity (tax ID #11-6107128), as well as its wholly owned and controlled limited liability companies, MethaneSAT and SATMgmt. (MethaneSAT and SATMgmt are identified as disregarded entities in the EDF tax filing for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020; their primary activity is reported as "Srvc Provider" (IRS Form 990, Schedule R, Part I).)

CharityWatch provides a separate rating for Environmental Defense Action Fundthe related 501(c)(4) tax-exempt, social welfare organization (tax ID #90-0080500).

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)(3) & 501(c)(4) organizations, even when they 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 Fund (EDF) consolidated audit of September 30, 2020 (Note 15, 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 Organization's financial condition, liquidity and future results of operations. Management is actively monitoring the global situation on its consolidated financial condition, liquidity, operations, suppliers, industry and workforce.

"Although the Organization cannot estimate the length or gravity of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak at this time, it may have an adverse effect on the Organization's 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 CARES Act appropriated funds for the Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that are forgivable in certain situations to promote continued employment, as well as Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to provide liquidity to small businesses harmed by the COVID-19 outbreak. EDF has not applied for or received any SBA PPP loans or EIDL.

"Management continues to examine the impact that the COVID-19 outbreak and CARES Act may have on its business. Management is currently evaluating any impact on its consolidated financial condition, results of operation or liquidity."

According to the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) tax filing for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020, EDF 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):

"Jessica Issacs, Chief Administrative Officer thru August 2019, received severance payments totaling $156,608, which is reported on Schedule J, Part II, column (B) (iii) ['Other reportable compensation']."

[The reported total compensation for Jessica Issacs in calendar year 2019 is $632,582 (Schedule J, Part II).]


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