Climate Policy Initiative
Climate Policy Initiative reported $22.5 million in revenue and $20.6 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $90.82 went to program services, $8.24 to management and general costs and $0.94 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 84.6% of the total. Government grants made up 40.5%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $409,410 (GMD & ED, CLIMATE FINANCE). 20 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 58% between 2021 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · 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
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $23MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 90.8% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.2% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.9% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.01 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 84.6% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 40.5% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 13.3% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $409,410 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.98% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 20 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 20.4 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 4 of 5 | 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
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseClimate finance - known for tracking sustainable investment trends, identifying innovative business models, and supporting the solutions that can drive a transition to a low carbon, climate resilient economy. Cpi conducts the most comprehensive mapping of climate finance flows available and convenes public and private stakeholders to design and implement innovative financial instruments though the global innovation lab for climate finance. Cpi also works with governments, companies, investors, and foundations around the world to assess, test, and replicate their policies, programs, and…
Brazil policy center - combines rigorous economic, institutional, and legal analysis to identify areas for improving public policies and provides concrete recommendations on how to reconcile economic development with environmental conservation. Cpi works closely with government agencies and civil society to chart paths for improvement. Cpi's brazil policy center focuses on strategic areas, including climate law and governance, conservation, energy, financial instruments, infrastructure, and sustainable agriculture and is based out the pontifical catholic university of rio de janeiro…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMD & ED, CLIMATE FINANCE Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $369,792 | $0 | $39,618 | $409,410 |
| ED, BRAZIL POLICY CENTER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $358,935 | $0 | $0 | $358,935 |
| PROGRAM DIR., CLIMATE FINANCE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $185,253 | $0 | $42,018 | $227,271 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $202,555 | $0 | $21,621 | $224,176 |
| ASSOC. PROGRAM DIR., CLIMATE FINANCE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $160,359 | $0 | $36,806 | $197,165 |
| DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $154,788 | $0 | $35,279 | $190,067 |
| DIRECTOR UK Highest compensated employee, 32.00 hrs/week | $174,458 | $0 | $13,169 | $187,627 |
| HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $145,506 | $0 | $25,487 | $170,993 |
20 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Climate Policy Initiative (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.8M (Part IX, line 5).
4 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · 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–1b5 · 4 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 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 555
- Volunteers Part I, line 66
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| CLIMATE POLICY INITIATIVE INDIA PRIVATE Research & analysis | $1,389,814 |
| SQUARE ASSOCIATES Research & analysis | $430,300 |
| AGROICONE Advisory, research & analysis | $418,000 |
| QUATRO CONSULTORIA ECONOMICA Advisory, research & analysis | $346,079 |
| VIKRAM WIDGE Strategic advisory services | $325,458 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 16 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
7 private foundations reported grants to Climate Policy Initiative totaling $2.9M 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 Policy Initiative'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 Policy Initiative, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Climate Policy Initiative spent in 2024, $90.82 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Ecology Action of Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA · revenue $22M · programs 77.5% · 2025
- Guided DiscoveriesSan Clemente, CA · revenue $23M · programs 79.2% · FY2025
- Land Trust AllianceWashington, DC · revenue $22M · programs 85.6% · 2024
- Project InnerspaceBoston, MA · revenue $23M · programs 87.1% · 2024
- NaturebridgeSausalito, CA · revenue $22M · programs 82.8% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Climate Policy Initiative's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Climate Policy Initiative reported that 90.8% of its $20.6 million in expenses went to program services, 8.2% to management and general and 0.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Climate Policy Initiative pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Climate Policy Initiative reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $409,410, for the role of GMD & ED, CLIMATE FINANCE (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Climate Policy Initiative get its money?
Of $22.5 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 84.6% came from contributions and grants (including 40.5% from government grants) and 13.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Climate Policy Initiative a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 26-4129153 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 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202533189349302198 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202443129349303139 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202312409349301111 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202233119349301573 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 26-4129153: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.