Council on the Environment
Also known as Grownyc
Council on the Environment reported $24.1 million in revenue and $21.2 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $74.43 went to program services, $17.84 to management and general costs and $7.73 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 55.7% of the total. Government grants made up 24.2%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $352,216 (PRESIDENT/CEO). 18 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 22% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $21MFor 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 June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $24MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 74.4% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 17.8% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.7% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.12 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 55.7% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 24.2% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 41.2% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $352,216 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.66% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 18 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 30.2 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 24 of 24 | 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 expenseWholesale, which purchases fresh produce and other farm products from northeast regional farms and distributes to food pantries, senior centers, daycares, hospitals, and other institutional buyers. Under this not-for-profit model, farmers get a fair price for their product and program beneficiaries gain reliable access to affordable, nutrient-dense foods. Nearly 80% of the food distributed goes to nutritionally at-risk populations
Food access & agriculture, which operates 60 retail food access locations including greenmarkets and farmstands. These locations provide more than 200 small, regional producers with the opportunity to sell their fruits, vegetables, and other farm products to new yorkers. All locations promote and accept snap and other nutrition incentives. The farmer assistance program provides technical and material assistance and training to experienced and beginning farmers to increase long-term viability
Green space , which creates, rejuvenates, and provides substantial material and technical assistance to several new community gardens each year in addition to helping more than 100 gardens created in prior years; builds rainwater harvesting systems and promotes best practices in green infrastructure through workshops and collaborative installations; and operates a substantial teaching garden on governors island
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/CEO Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $303,087 | $0 | $49,129 | $352,216 |
| COMPTROLLER Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $187,038 | $0 | $12,149 | $199,187 |
| EXEC DIR STRATEGY & OPS / ASST SECRETARY Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $165,576 | $0 | $21,595 | $187,171 |
| DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $172,026 | $0 | $14,778 | $186,804 |
| DIRECTOR, FOOD ACCESS & AG Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $158,048 | $0 | $6,822 | $164,870 |
| DIRECTOR, GREEN SPACE Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $139,587 | $0 | $13,968 | $153,555 |
| DIRECTOR, ADVANCEMENT Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $142,657 | $0 | $9,637 | $152,294 |
| DIRECTOR, ZERO WASTE PROGRAMS Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $134,499 | $0 | $11,752 | $146,251 |
18 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Council on the Environment (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $783K (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–1b24 · 24 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 11aYes
- 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 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5299
- Volunteers Part I, line 64,869
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| LITTLER MENDELSON PC Legal services | $223,019 |
| 3311 MERRITT AVENUE LLC Warehouse lease | $222,013 |
| F8 CONSULTING LLC It services | $212,120 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
19 private foundations reported grants to Council on the Environment totaling $2.4M 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 Council on the Environment's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Council on the Environment, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Council on the Environment spent in FY2025, $74.43 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Neighborhood Recycling CorporationMinneapolis, MN · revenue $24M · programs 93.6% · 2025
- Conservation Law FoundationBoston, MA · revenue $24M · programs 81.8% · FY2025
- Project InnerspaceBoston, MA · revenue $23M · programs 87.1% · 2024
- Highlander Research & Education CenterNew Market, TN · revenue $24M · programs 88.2% · FY2025
- Guided DiscoveriesSan Clemente, CA · revenue $23M · programs 79.2% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Council on the Environment's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Council on the Environment reported that 74.4% of its $21.2 million in expenses went to program services, 17.8% to management and general and 7.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Council on the Environment pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Council on the Environment reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $352,216, for the role of PRESIDENT/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Council on the Environment get its money?
Of $24.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 55.7% came from contributions and grants (including 24.2% from government grants) and 41.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Council on the Environment a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 13-2765465 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 June 30, 2025, object 202631349349306348 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024 (amended), object 202511639349301726 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023 (amended), object 202412369349301106 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022 (amended), object 202343539349300319 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021 (amended), object 202300309349300730 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202131379349302293 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 13-2765465: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.