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World Resources Institute
World Resources Institute reported $213.0 million in revenue and $270.2 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $91.53 went to program services, $7.17 to management and general costs and $1.30 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 91.9% of the total. Government grants made up 23.6%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $808,385 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 364 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 9% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $270MFor context, the median across 469 covered international, foreign affairs & national security charities: $89.04 programs, $8.28 management, $2.68 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $213MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 91.5% | 86.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 7.2% | 8.0% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.3% | 2.6% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.02 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 91.9% | 96.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 23.6% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $808,385 | $341,362 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.30% | 1.06% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 364 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 23.1 | 7.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 24 of 25 | 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 expenseFood, land, water, and ocean program - see schedule owri focuses on seven urgent global challenges: food, forests, water, ocean, cities, climate and energy. Food: to help the world sustainably feed its people, wri is catalyzing action to cut food loss and waste in half by 2030, shift toward plant-based diets and make a compelling case for sustainable food and land systems. Land: wri protects forests against loss and degradation and restores forests in landscapes where they are needed most. We track forest change, combat deforestation and illegal logging, and help communities and businesses…
Climate, economics, finance, and governance - see schedule oclimate: wri works to advance climate strategies that cut greenhouse gas emissions while creating strong, job-rich, equitable and resilient economies. We develop tools and conduct analyses that measure emissions, set ambitious targets and take bold action. Economics: wri conducts analysis and modeling to improve environmental management and advance economic development that is good for people, nature, and climate.finance: wri promotes the shift of global finance and investments away from environmentally destructive activities toward…
Wri ross center for sustainable cities - see schedule othe wri ross center for sustainable cities helps turn cities into resilient, inclusive, low-carbon places. Through applied research, tools and advice, our international network of experts work on innovative projects that put cities on a sustainable trajectory
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, 40.00 hrs/week | $757,785 | $0 | $50,600 | $808,385 |
| MD, PROGRAMS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $371,550 | $0 | $57,802 | $429,352 |
| MD, STRATEGY, LEARNING, & RESULTS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $364,393 | $0 | $30,113 | $394,506 |
| EVP, GOVERNANCE & DEVELOPMENT Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $327,941 | $0 | $47,160 | $375,101 |
| MD, AFRICA & GLOBAL P'SHIPS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $311,250 | $0 | $49,266 | $360,516 |
| CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $278,881 | $0 | $51,102 | $329,983 |
| MD, GLOBAL DELIVERY - TO 10/2024 Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $263,024 | $0 | $57,328 | $320,352 |
| CHIEF OF COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $264,841 | $0 | $43,183 | $308,024 |
364 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from World Resources Institute (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.9M (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–1b25 · 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 4Yes
- 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 51,067
- Volunteers Part I, line 628
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| WORKDAY INC It software | $2,895,600 |
| SIMBIOTICA (VIZZUALITY) Consulting | $2,688,475 |
| HURON CONSULTING SERVICES It support | $1,839,892 |
| BLUE CODING LLC It support | $1,822,520 |
| PALLADIUM INTERNATIONAL Consulting | $743,637 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 143 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
65 private foundations reported grants to World Resources Institute totaling $57M 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 World Resources Institute's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for World Resources Institute, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 World Resources Institute spent in FY2025, $91.53 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Childfund International USARichmond, VA · revenue $210M · programs 75.4% · FY2025
- Children's Hunger FundRancho Cascades, CA · revenue $215M · programs 97.8% · FY2026
- World Relief Corp of National Association of EvangelicalsTowson, MD · revenue $206M · programs 86.0% · FY2025
- CIEEBoston, MA · revenue $218M · programs 88.1% · FY2025
- Myriad USANew York, NY · revenue $201M · programs 97.3% · 2024
All international, foreign affairs & national security charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of World Resources Institute's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, World Resources Institute reported that 91.5% of its $270.2 million in expenses went to program services, 7.2% to management and general and 1.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does World Resources Institute pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation World Resources Institute reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $808,385, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does World Resources Institute get its money?
Of $213.0 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 91.9% came from contributions and grants (including 23.6% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is World Resources Institute a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-1257057 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 September 30, 2025, object 202602259349300915 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202512279349302131 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202412279349303861 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202322269349301462 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202222279349302852 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202142289349302604 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-1257057: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.