Center for Biological Diversity
Center for Biological Diversity reported $42.9 million in revenue and $40.6 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $89.03 went to program services, $2.78 to management and general costs and $8.19 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 89.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $389,811 (EXECUTIVE DI). 3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 90% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $41MFor context, the median across 245 covered animal-related charities: $83.96 programs, $9.42 management, $6.62 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 $43MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 89.0% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 2.8% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 8.2% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.09 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 89.2% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 6.3% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $389,811 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.96% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 3 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 17.4 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 7 of 10 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseThe center's climate program work to reduce U.S. Greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution to protect Biological Diversity, the environment and human health. Some of the programs accomplishments in 2025 include securing protections for species threatened by climate change, ensuring compliance with applicable law in order to reduce pollution, advocating for new laws and policies to reduce pollution and speed the adoption of clean renewable energy, and educating and mobilizing the public on climate science and policy issues
The center's endangered species program works to protect endangered species and their habitats across the united states through scientific research, public education, administrative processes, and litigation. It leads many protection campaigns and provides support for campaigns in other programs
The center's public lands law center uses legal analysis and litigation to protect america's federal public lands, most often through collaboration with the center's regional programs. In 2025, we worked to protect public lands in utah, arizona, new mexico, california, colorado, montana, minnesota, and other states from illegal logging, mining, livestock grazing and other impacts
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DI Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $329,461 | $0 | $60,350 | $389,811 |
| DIRECTOR OF Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $303,669 | $0 | $51,610 | $355,279 |
| CHIEF DEV. O Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $303,433 | $0 | $37,987 | $341,420 |
| CONSERVATION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $276,224 | $0 | $41,374 | $317,598 |
| SECRETARY Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $215,919 | $0 | $47,144 | $263,063 |
| LITIGATION D Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $202,679 | $0 | $38,987 | $241,666 |
| OCEANS DIREC Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $183,481 | $0 | $47,739 | $231,220 |
| LAW INST. DI Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $190,586 | $0 | $32,087 | $222,673 |
3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Center for Biological Diversity (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.5M (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–1b10 · 7 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 4Yes
- 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 5274
- Volunteers Part I, line 69
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| CIMA CONSULTING Grant writing | $649,500 |
| DEWING COMMUNICATIONS LLC Consultant | $156,000 |
| ADRIANE J HOFMEYR Consultant | $112,602 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
140 private foundations reported grants to Center for Biological Diversity totaling $4.6M 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 Center for Biological Diversity's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Center for Biological Diversity, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Center for Biological Diversity spent in 2025, $89.03 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Atlanta Fulton County ZooAtlanta, GA · revenue $42M · programs 90.0% · 2025
- Zoological Society of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA · revenue $44M · programs 74.2% · FY2025
- Humane Society of Tampa BayTampa, FL · revenue $42M · programs 86.7% · 2025
- International Fund for Animal WelfareWashington, DC · revenue $44M · programs 71.0% · FY2025
- Animal CARE and Control of New York CityNew York, NY · revenue $42M · programs 87.0% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Center for Biological Diversity's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Center for Biological Diversity reported that 89.0% of its $40.6 million in expenses went to program services, 2.8% to management and general and 8.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Center for Biological Diversity pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Center for Biological Diversity reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $389,811, for the role of EXECUTIVE DI (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Center for Biological Diversity get its money?
Of $42.9 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 89.2% came from contributions and grants and 6.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Center for Biological Diversity a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 27-3943866 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 202612659349300121 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202542749349300514 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023 (amended), object 202522659349300117 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202342639349300549 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202221229349300137 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202103169349308305 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202041919349302169 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 27-3943866: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.