Windward Fund
Windward Fund reported $308.2 million in revenue and $251.3 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $95.29 went to program services, $4.23 to management and general costs and $0.48 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 95.8% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $350,030 (PROJECT PROGRAM DIRECTOR). 58 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 594% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $251MFor 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 $308MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 95.3% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 4.2% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.5% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 95.8% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.2% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $350,030 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.14% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 58 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 15.3 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 8 of 8 | 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 expenseEnvironmental programs - Windward Fund's environmental programs focus on a range of conservation, climate, and energy issues in the U.S. And abroad. These issues include water solutions in the american west, climate resilience, alternative energy sources, reduction of deforestation, and conservation planning. Our work primarily includes convening, grantmaking, communications, coordination among stakeholders, civic and media engagement, and public awareness campaigns
Agriculture, food, and nutrition - windward's agriculture, food, and nutrition projects support community food production and strengthen regional food systems by increasing access to information, services and resources for food producers
Public safety, disaster preparedness and relief - windward's public safety, disaster preparedness and relief programs focus on a range of issues including assisting public agencies on disaster response, improving risk mitigation measures, and developing advanced safety solutions
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PROJECT PROGRAM DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $296,200 | $0 | $53,830 | $350,030 |
| PROJECT CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $280,165 | $0 | $37,181 | $317,346 |
| PROJECT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $258,938 | $0 | $30,633 | $289,571 |
| PROJECT CO-DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $253,826 | $0 | $28,108 | $281,934 |
| PROJECT CO-DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $257,026 | $0 | $23,329 | $280,355 |
| PRESIDENT Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $240,597 | $0 | $24,554 | $265,151 |
58 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Windward Fund (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $265K (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
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–1b8 · 8 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5181
- Volunteers Part I, line 690
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ARABELLA ADVISORS LLC Admin., operations & support services | $7,666,363 |
| PURPOSE VENTURE ADVISORS LLC Consulting services | $1,835,000 |
| MISSION OPERATIONS LLC Project management | $675,000 |
| ABERNETHY SCHWARTZ PARTNERS LLC Consulting services | $367,554 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 27 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
60 private foundations reported grants to Windward Fund totaling $74M 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 Windward 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 Windward Fund, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Windward Fund spent in 2024, $95.29 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Iso New EnglandHolyoke, MA · revenue $303M · programs 87.9% · 2025
- Conservation International FoundationArlington, VA · revenue $309M · programs 87.3% · FY2025
- The Trust for Public LandSan Francisco, CA · revenue $301M · programs 84.6% · FY2025
- The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit CorporationArlington, VA · revenue $329M · programs 95.4% · 2025
- Climate Imperative FoundationSan Francisco, CA · revenue $272M · programs 72.0% · 2024
All environment charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Windward Fund's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Windward Fund reported that 95.3% of its $251.3 million in expenses went to program services, 4.2% to management and general and 0.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Windward Fund pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Windward Fund reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $350,030, for the role of PROJECT PROGRAM DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Windward Fund get its money?
Of $308.2 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 95.8% came from contributions and grants and 0.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Windward Fund a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 47-3522162 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
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202513159349305886 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202423169349305292 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202323149349302457 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202203139349304570 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202143169349311234 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202033179349309353 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 47-3522162: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.