Climate Central
Climate Central reported $22.3 million in revenue and $11.5 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $78.42 went to program services, $9.67 to management and general costs and $11.91 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 97.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $391,991 (CEO & CHIEF SCIENTIST). 19 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 161% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $12MFor context, the median across 192 covered science & technology charities: $84.33 programs, $15.67 management, $0.00 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $22MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 78.4% | 83.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.7% | 15.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 11.9% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.06 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 97.6% | 51.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.1% | 3.2% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 1.5% | 19.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $391,991 | $513,729 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.40% | 1.72% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 19 | 27 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 15.5 | 14.7 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 9 of 9 | 94.3% |
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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseAttribution science + climate fingerprints: the organization played a lead role in transforming the public narrative to recognize that some extreme weather events can be attributed to climate change, a claim validated by the national academy of sciences in 2016. This pioneering research is just one example of how the organization's scientists helped change the global climate conversation. The organization continues to advance science that will enable the quantification of climate fingerprints in worldwide local weather daily a true grail for climate communications. To achieve this impact, the…
Climate matters: climate matters is a climate reporting resource program grounded in the latest science that helps meteorologists and journalists report on climate impacts and solutions in ways that are local, immediate, and personal. The organization's team of scientists, data analysts and visual artists identify and interpret data and produce easy-to-understand text and visual materials, including graphics, interactive content and videos, to help journalists build stories that will engage and enlighten their audience. The organization's reporting tools are available, free of charge, to…
Realtime climate: realtime climate is an initiative to dispatch timely alerts and related content to meteorologists, other journalists, and other subscribers when current local conditions present a notable opportunity to communicate about climate change, its impacts, or its solutions. At realtime climate's core is a continually updated software system that monitors a growing range of data streams from local weather forecasts to coastal water levels to local renewable energy generation. When key thresholds are met, the system assembles related content, largely leveraging research and materials…
Highest reported compensation
2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO & CHIEF SCIENTIST Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $309,795 | $0 | $82,196 | $391,991 |
| PRINCIPAL COMPUTATIONAL SCIENTIST Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $256,391 | $0 | $73,340 | $329,731 |
| CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $236,554 | $0 | $71,135 | $307,689 |
| CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $225,000 | $0 | $61,284 | $286,284 |
| VP FOR ENGAGEMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $213,001 | $0 | $68,643 | $281,644 |
| CHIEF OF STAFF Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $213,750 | $0 | $49,832 | $263,582 |
| VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $158,958 | $0 | $55,400 | $214,358 |
19 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Climate Central (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $606K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · 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–1b9 · 9 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 557
- Volunteers Part I, line 69
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ORR GROUP INC Outsourced development | $554,524 |
| SWIRL CREATIVE LLC Software development | $194,200 |
| DATANA TRACEWSKI LUKASZ Software development | $172,405 |
| LEAR & PANNEPACKER LLP Outsourced accounting function | $149,055 |
| TWOJ STARTUP Consulting | $133,747 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 8 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
27 private foundations reported grants to Climate Central totaling $6.3M 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 Climate Central's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Climate Central, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Climate Central spent in 2025, $78.42 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- American Astronomical SocietyWashington, DC · revenue $22M · programs 80.2% · 2024
- The Hack FoundationWest Hollywood, CA · revenue $22M · programs 93.8% · 2024
- Future of Life InstituteNarberth, PA · revenue $21M · programs 91.1% · 2024
- National Society of Black EngineersAlexandria, VA · revenue $23M · programs 70.4% · FY2025
- New Jersey Innovation InstituteNewark, NJ · revenue $21M · programs 83.1% · FY2025
All science & technology charities · Largest charities in New Jersey
Questions people ask
How much of Climate Central's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Climate Central reported that 78.4% of its $11.5 million in expenses went to program services, 9.7% to management and general and 11.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Climate Central pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Climate Central reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $391,991, for the role of CEO & CHIEF SCIENTIST (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Climate Central get its money?
Of $22.3 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 97.6% came from contributions and grants (including 0.1% from government grants) and 1.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Climate Central a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 26-1797336 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, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202631769349300823 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202501819349300705 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202423179349300627 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202323199349317692 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202233139349303758 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202133169349306048 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202003219349303690 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 26-1797336: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.