Western Resource Advocates
Western Resource Advocates reported $12.4 million in revenue and $15.3 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $80.61 went to program services, $5.99 to management and general costs and $13.40 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 94.4% of the total. Government grants made up 8.9%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $367,288 (President). 45 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 22% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $15MFor context, the median across 274 covered crime & legal-related charities: $87.85 programs, $11.30 management, $0.85 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 $12MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 80.6% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 6.0% | 11.1% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 13.4% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.18 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 94.4% | 94.8% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 8.9% | 50.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 1.7% | 0.7% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $367,288 | $245,814 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.40% | 1.41% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 45 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 11.5 | 6.4 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 21 of 21 | 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 expenseClean Energy - The vision of our clean energy work is that our homes, buildings and transportation systems will be powered by clean energy and the West is prospering in a zero-carbon economy. WRA uses public policy to align the financial interests of electricity producers and consumers with decarbonizing electricity production and electrifying other sectors of the economy. By working to retire coal, replace generation with clean energy and transportation, advance clean energy markets, and modernize the grid, WRA is transforming the region
Healthy Rivers - The vision of our healthy rivers work is that Western rivers are thriving even in the face of climate change and these critical waterways are protected to support ecosystems, local communities, and world-class recreation. Water is conserved and key river reaches are revitalized and managed to support healthy river ecology, sustainable water use, and resilience to a changing climate. WRA develops, advocates for, and implements policies, programs and river management that saves water and protects rivers through improving stream flow, reducing water use, and improved water…
Western Lands - The vision of our Western lands work is that at least half of the land in each major ecoregion are legally protected in order to conserve biodiversity in the face of rapid habitat loss and climate change. Public lands need to be shielded from new development, restored, and managed sustainably for ecological health. Layers of protections ensure diverse wildlife habitat, thriving populations of native species, and enduring cultural values of lands and watersheds
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $328,083 | $0 | $39,205 | $367,288 |
| Executive Vice President Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $231,660 | $0 | $24,632 | $256,292 |
| VP of Finance and Administration Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $209,976 | $0 | $23,496 | $233,472 |
| VP of People, Equity, and Culture Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $200,447 | $0 | $23,052 | $223,499 |
| VP of Campaigns and Political Strategy Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $187,349 | $0 | $27,321 | $214,670 |
| Senior Fellow/VP of Policy and Programs Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $182,854 | $0 | $25,747 | $208,601 |
| Clean Energy Director Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $169,179 | $0 | $21,986 | $191,165 |
| Healthy Rivers Director Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $159,846 | $0 | $27,004 | $186,850 |
45 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Western Resource Advocates (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $601K (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–1b21 · 21 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 593
- Volunteers Part I, line 621
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Current Energy Group LLC Consulting services | $237,215 |
| AG Policy Solutions LLC Consulting services | $140,850 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
40 private foundations reported grants to Western Resource Advocates totaling $5.2M 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 Western Resource Advocates's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Western Resource Advocates, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Western Resource Advocates spent in 2025, $80.61 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Legal Aid of NebraskaOmaha, NE · revenue $12M · programs 80.8% · 2025
- Thomas More SocietyChicago, IL · revenue $12M · programs 78.0% · 2025
- Ujima the National Center on Violence Against WomenWashington, DC · revenue $12M · programs 94.2% · FY2025
- The Chaldean Community FoundationSterling Heights, MI · revenue $12M · programs 95.4% · FY2025
- Exodus Transitional CommunityNew York, NY · revenue $12M · programs 87.6% · 2024
All crime & legal-related charities · Largest charities in Colorado
Questions people ask
How much of Western Resource Advocates's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Western Resource Advocates reported that 80.6% of its $15.3 million in expenses went to program services, 6.0% to management and general and 13.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Western Resource Advocates pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Western Resource Advocates reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $367,288, for the role of President (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Western Resource Advocates get its money?
Of $12.4 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 94.4% came from contributions and grants (including 8.9% from government grants) and 1.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Western Resource Advocates a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 84-1113831 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 202612309349303136 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202502679349301520 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202442979349302014 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202343199349326224 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202213199349318816 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202103199349311800 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202003219349305955 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 84-1113831: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.