Environmental Defense Fund
Environmental Defense Fund reported $443.3 million in revenue and $356.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $88.20 went to program services, $4.73 to management and general costs and $7.07 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 92.8% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,233,884 (President). 423 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 121% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $357MFor context, the median across 371 covered environment charities: $85.82 programs, $10.80 management, $3.38 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $443MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 88.2% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 4.7% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.1% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.06 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 92.8% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.9% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $1,233,884 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.35% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 423 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 13.0 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 42 of 42 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseProtect public health and the environment - in FY 2025, edf relied on data from the methanesat satellite and methaneair flights to provide the first comprehensive global look at how much methane is being emitted by oil and gas producers. At the international maritime organization, edf participated in technical discussions about the shipping decarbonization strategy, focused on efficiency, and a fuel standard. In the U.S., edf helped advance clean affordable energy and permitting for clean energy projects in california, florida, illinois, new mexico, north carolina, connecticut, maine, new…
Core capacities and education - in FY 2025, edf delivered results across our core capacities, including corporate engagement, economics and science. Edf worked with three new corporate members into the dairy methane action alliance to reduce methane emissions across dairy supply chains. Edf advanced science by demonstrating a cutting-edge hydrogen sensor being used in a research study coordinated by edf to measure hydrogen emissions. Edf's water leadership institute worked with more than 70 rural and tribal leaders, in technical discussions on skills, knowledge and networks to address water…
Strengthen people's and nature's ability to thrive - in FY 2025, edf made progress on resilient water supplies in california, colorado, new mexico and texas. Edf advanced policy and management recommendations for fisheries, helping to strengthen conservation efforts, improve regulation of fishing practices and modernize governance
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President Officer, 36.0 hrs/week | $1,167,858 | $0 | $66,026 | $1,233,884 |
| Executive Director Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $625,826 | $0 | $52,825 | $678,651 |
| EVP, Chief Administrative Officer Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $433,015 | $0 | $52,846 | $485,861 |
| EVP, Impact Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $416,099 | $0 | $59,881 | $475,980 |
| SVP, Chief Scientist Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $422,614 | $0 | $43,569 | $466,183 |
| EVP, Solutions Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $404,431 | $0 | $59,246 | $463,677 |
| SVP, Energy Transition Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $381,721 | $0 | $57,207 | $438,928 |
| SVP, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $380,698 | $0 | $56,695 | $437,393 |
423 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Environmental Defense Fund (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.8M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b42 · 42 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aNo
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 51,058
- Volunteers Part I, line 642
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Donahue & Goldberg LLP dba Donahue Goldberg & Herzog Legal consulting services | $651,523 |
| Lincoln Room Strategies LLC Public policy and communications consulting services | $602,097 |
| Berlin Rosen Ltd Communication and marketing services | $523,591 |
| Bully Pulpit Interactive LLC Public policy and communications services | $345,595 |
| Ridgely Walsh LLC Public affairs consulting services | $330,854 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 51 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
492 private foundations reported grants to Environmental Defense Fund totaling $97M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Environmental Defense Fund's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Environmental Defense Fund, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Environmental Defense Fund spent in FY2025, $88.20 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Ducks UnlimitedMemphis, TN · revenue $380M · programs 85.5% · FY2025
- New Venture FundWashington, DC · revenue $662M · programs 94.7% · 2024
- World Wildlife FundWashington, DC · revenue $367M · programs 78.9% · FY2025
- The Nature ConservancyArlington, VA · revenue $1.75B · programs 71.3% · FY2025
- Center for Sustainable EnergySan Diego, CA · revenue $336M · programs 92.9% · 2024
Questions people ask
How much of Environmental Defense Fund's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Environmental Defense Fund reported that 88.2% of its $356.8 million in expenses went to program services, 4.7% to management and general and 7.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Environmental Defense Fund pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Environmental Defense Fund reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $1,233,884, for the role of President (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Environmental Defense Fund get its money?
Of $443.3 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 92.8% came from contributions and grants (including 0.9% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Environmental Defense Fund a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 11-6107128 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, object 202641529349300984 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202531909349301613 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202431379349302338 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202330899349301483 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202211319349301236 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202112189349300241 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 11-6107128: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.