Rocky Mountain Institute
Rocky Mountain Institute reported $174.9 million in revenue and $159.0 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $82.40 went to program services, $12.59 to management and general costs and $5.01 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 83.8% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $794,911 (Chief Executive Officer). 315 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 183% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $159MFor context, the median across 2,433 covered unclassified charities: $88.27 programs, $11.68 management, $0.05 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $175MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.4% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.6% | 11.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 5.0% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.05 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 83.8% | 29.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 4.1% | 3.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 14.4% | 58.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $794,911 | $301,601 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.50% | 1.38% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 315 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 9.2 | 6.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 6 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
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseDecarbonizing Key Sectors: Carbon-Free Buildings is revolutionizing energy usage in buildings in partnership with industry, governments, businesses, NGOs, financial institutions, and real estate decision makers. Together, we research, test, and drive solutions that reduce climate pollution, lower energy costs, enhance health and resilience, and ensure thermally comfortable buildings for all. Carbon-Free Electricity works with partners to create and scale solutions that advance decarbonization objectives while maintaining energy reliability, improving energy access, advancing equity outcomes…
Applying Powerful Market Catalysts: Catalytic Finance (previously The Climate Finance Access Network) helps developing countries secure and structure finance for climate investments, with a focus on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Africa, Pacific Islands, and the Caribbean through our Climate Finance Access Network and other market interventions. Climate Intelligence makes emissions visible - improving access to timely, trustworthy data that can help drive climate-aligned decisions and transactions globally. Climate Finance partners with the…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executive Officer Director/trustee, officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $609,854 | $0 | $185,057 | $794,911 |
| Board Co-Chair Through 4/25; General Counsel Director/trustee, officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $421,453 | $0 | $110,018 | $531,471 |
| Chief People Officer Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $381,168 | $0 | $115,074 | $496,242 |
| Managing Director Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $381,755 | $0 | $112,331 | $494,086 |
| Managing Director Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $383,058 | $0 | $109,929 | $492,987 |
| Chief Strategy Officer Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $390,409 | $0 | $95,359 | $485,768 |
| Interim Chief Financial Officer Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $344,744 | $0 | $95,455 | $440,199 |
| Chief Financial Officer (END 01/25) Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $389,099 | $0 | $49,843 | $438,942 |
315 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Rocky Mountain Institute (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.1M (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–1b8 · 6 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 5717
- Volunteers Part I, line 66
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Managed Solution Information Technology | $812,961 |
| M Harris & Co Publication | $686,747 |
| Axion Solutions LLC Consulting | $646,163 |
| Nelson Nygaard Consulting Assoc Inc Consulting | $571,682 |
| in our backyards inc Consulting | $569,088 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 52 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
85 private foundations reported grants to Rocky Mountain Institute totaling $23M 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 Rocky Mountain 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 Rocky Mountain Institute, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Rocky Mountain Institute spent in FY2025, $82.40 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of ChicagoChicago, IL · revenue $175M · programs 88.2% · FY2025
- Adventist Health PartnersLa Grange, IL · revenue $175M · programs 97.5% · FY2025
- National Park FoundationWashington, DC · revenue $174M · programs 74.4% · FY2025
- Neighborhood Reinvestment CorporationWashington, DC · revenue $179M · programs 92.2% · FY2025
- City YearBoston, MA · revenue $173M · programs 82.6% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Rocky Mountain Institute's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Rocky Mountain Institute reported that 82.4% of its $159.0 million in expenses went to program services, 12.6% to management and general and 5.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Rocky Mountain Institute pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Rocky Mountain Institute reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $794,911, for the role of Chief Executive Officer (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Rocky Mountain Institute get its money?
Of $174.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 83.8% came from contributions and grants (including 4.1% from government grants) and 14.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Rocky Mountain Institute a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 74-2244146 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 June 30, 2025, object 202641329349305669 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202501349349310640 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202431039349301683 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202331229349303003 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202211089349301126 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020 (amended), object 202143479349300349 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 74-2244146: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.