Is it real?
Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Mar 1970.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
76 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.
Something off? Claim to add context
Who runs it and what they're paid
55 people listed on the 990; $6.1M paid to officers and key staff.
Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
President/CEO
$705,258Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Development Officer
$565,736Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director
$462,310Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Counsel
$403,082Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Research Specialist II
$397,841Pt VII · Sec A
Chief People Officer
$390,761Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Financial Officer
$385,136Pt VII · Sec A
Chief External Affairs Officer
$339,344Pt VII · Sec A
SVP, Environmental Health
$316,836Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Litigation Officer
$309,465Pt VII · Sec A
Former Cpo (thru 10/22); SVP, Nature
$303,475Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Communications Officer
$302,830Pt VII · Sec A
CIO & International Operation
$299,829Pt VII · Sec A
General Counsel
$297,985Pt VII · Sec A
Chief of Staff
$265,065Pt VII · Sec A
Former Managing Director Comms
$224,583Pt VII · Sec A
Cdo (thru 3/23); Board Relations Off
$131,738Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee (thru 12/2024)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee (as of 10/2024)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Chair Emeritus/Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Chair/Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee (as of 10/2024)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Assistant Secretary (as of 6/2025)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Assistant Secretary (thru 6/2025)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Assistant Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Assistant Secretary (as of 6/2025)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer/Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Manish Bapna’s $705K as President/CEO is at the 61st percentile of top reported officer pay among 18 $100M+ environment nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.
Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII
| Name | FY2025 | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gina McCarthy | — | — | — | $102,511 | $856,171 | — |
| Manish Bapna | $705,258 | $720,535 | $688,612 | $238,031 | — | — |
| Mitchell Bernard | $403,082 | $426,605 | $436,922 | $630,508 | $674,054 | $337,585 |
| Rhea Suh | — | — | — | — | $277,400 | $648,244 |
| Margaret Marsh-Heine | $565,736 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mollie Marsh-Heine - Chief | — | $512,899 | — | — | — | — |
| Anika Rahman Thru 072021 | — | — | — | $479,943 | — | — |
| Christina Goldfuss | $462,310 | — | — | — | — | — |
Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.
See Natural Resources Defense Council INC executive salaries →Questions the 990 asks
The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.
- Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
- Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes
Programs and updates
Protects the Earth’s people, plants, animals, and natural systems through advocacy, legal action, and scientific research to safeguard the environment.
Questions for Natural Resources Defense Council INC
Your first name shows with your question. Natural Resources Defense Council INC answers here, for everyone.
3 programs · $100.9M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01
See schedule o
$44.3Mprogram expense
02
See schedule o
$34.1Mprogram expense
03
See schedule o
$22.5Mprogram expense
Funders
Who pays for it.
From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.
Grants
Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Clean Economy FundFY2025$150K
Wyeast FoundationFY2025$125K
Roni Horn FoundationFY2025$60K
The Ayco Charitable FoundationFY2025$50K
Whitefish Community Foundation INCFY2025$28K
Give Lively Foundation INCFY2025$27K
Total grants receivedfrom 36 funders$737K
Grants paid · 833 grants · $60.4M · 2019–2024
NRDC Action Fund INCNY · FY2024$2,000,000
Coming Clean INCVT · FY2024$400,000
The Partnership Project INCDC · FY2024$153,000
Dogwood Alliance INCNC · FY2024$151,400
Communities for a Better EnvironmentCA · FY2024$100,000
Center for Earth Energy and DemocracyMN · FY2024$100,000
Western Resource AdvocatesCO · FY2024$80,000
Woodrow Wilson International Center for ScholarsDC · FY2024$75,000
Windward FundDC · FY2024$75,000
Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs INCCA · FY2024$69,300
Nw Energy CoalitionWA · FY2024$62,500
United Tribes of Bristol BayFY2024$60,000
The International Center for Dialogue & PeacebuildingMN · FY2024$60,000
Southern Poverty Law Center INCAL · FY2024$60,000
Central United Methodist ChurchMI · FY2024$58,000
Michigan Environmental CouncilMI · FY2024$52,500
Partnership for Policy Integrity INCMA · FY2024$50,000
Dalberg CatalystDC · FY2024$50,000
By the numbers
The FY2025 990, line by line.
Download 990
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$248.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$225.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$20.4M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.9M
Money outPt IX
$212.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$160.5M
Managementcol C$24.6M
Fundraisingcol D$27.0M
Owns and owesPt X
$539.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$80.6M
Total assetsLn 16$657.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$118.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
55
listed · VII A
PaidVII A17
Voting boardVI 1a32
IndependentVI 1b32
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$225.5M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$9.6M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.9M
Investment incomeLn 3$20.4M
Other incomeLn 4–11$79K
Gains on assetsLn 7$8.1M
Total revenueLn 12$248.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$51.3M
SavingsLn 2$29.3M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$80.6M
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$26.5M
Accounts receivableLn 4$369K
Notes and loans receivableLn 7$925K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$3.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$31.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$482.6M
Other assetsLn 15$31.8M
Total assetsLn 16$657.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$118.3M
Net assetsLn 32$539.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5829
VolunteersI 65
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Grants to other countriesSch F Pt II–III$7.2M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$9.6M
Investment feesPt IX, Sch D
Investment fees, as reportedPt IX 11f$1.2M
Share of the $396.4M endowmentSch D 1g0.31%
Typical, median of 1,806 orgs0.44%
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
| Line | FY25 | FY24 | FY23 | FY22 | FY21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| End of yearLn 1g | $396.4M | $392.9M | $362.4M | $308.6M | $336.8M |
| Given inLn 1b | $400K | $150K | $32.5M | $11.5M | $19.4M |
| SpentLn 1d–1f | $36.0M | $10.9M | $3.9M | $4.2M | $7.6M |
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
| Line | Start FY25 | End FY25 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $38.2M | $80.6M |
| InvestmentsLn 11–13 | $458.7M | $482.6M |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $34.2M | $31.1M |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $600.6M | $657.2M |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $122.9M | $118.3M |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $477.7M | $539.0M |
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1 | $5.3M | $5.3M | ||
| Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3 | $7.2M | $7.2M | ||
| Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5 | $4.4M | $1.2M | $2.5M | $639K |
| Pay of disqualified personsLn 6 | $372K | $372K | ||
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $94.6M | $71.9M | $12.4M | $10.2M |
| Pension plan contributionsLn 8 | $8.9M | $6.7M | $1.3M | $961K |
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $14.8M | $11.3M | $1.9M | $1.6M |
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $6.7M | $5.0M | $989K | $725K |
| Management feesLn 11a | $421K | $386K | $35K | |
| Legal feesLn 11b | $1.3M | $1.0M | $166K | $111K |
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $302K | $226K | $44K | $32K |
| Lobbying feesLn 11d | $186K | $186K | ||
| Professional fundraising feesLn 11e | $1.4M | $1.4M | ||
| Investment management feesLn 11f | $1.2M | $916K | $180K | $132K |
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $23.3M | $21.4M | $1.2M | $819K |
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $3.8M | $883K | $11K | $2.9M |
| Office expensesLn 13 | $11.7M | $7.9M | $389K | $3.5M |
| Information technologyLn 14 | $5.7M | $4.2M | $803K | $645K |
| OccupancyLn 16 | $7.4M | $5.5M | $1.1M | $792K |
| TravelLn 17 | $3.5M | $2.9M | $348K | $230K |
| Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19 | $1.3M | $902K | $155K | $223K |
| InterestLn 20 | $793K | $591K | $116K | $85K |
| Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22 | $3.2M | $2.4M | $464K | $341K |
| InsuranceLn 23 | $733K | $546K | $108K | $79K |
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $3.0M | $1.3M | $223K | $1.4M |
| All other expensesLn 24e | $458K | $282K | $103K | $73K |
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $212.0M | $160.5M | $24.6M | $27.0M |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS May 12, 2026 | $248.9M | $212.0M | $36.9M | $539.0M | 990 PDF |
| FY2024Filed with the IRS May 13, 2025 | $204.3M | $219.9M | −$15.6M | $477.7M | 990 PDF |
| FY2023Filed with the IRS May 13, 2024 | $193.1M | $226.9M | −$33.7M | $462.5M | 990 PDF |
| FY2022Filed with the IRS May 11, 2023 | $186.2M | $212.0M | −$25.8M | $476.0M | 990 PDF |
| FY2021Filed with the IRS May 4, 2022 | $273.7M | $182.1M | $91.7M | $545.5M | 990 PDF |
| FY2020Filed with the IRS May 12, 2021 | $197.6M | $185.0M | $12.6M | $386.5M | 990 PDF |
Schedules filed Part IV
III · Programs
R · Related orgs
G · Fundraising
L · Interested persons
I · Grants
A · Public support
F · Foreign
M · Noncash
J · Pay
O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $248,922,592 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $190,053,364$225,516,773
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $948,070$2,916,471
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $13,273,422$20,410,023
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$21,674$79,325
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $204,253,182$248,922,592
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $11,970,154$12,515,997
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $137,037,940$129,793,131
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $2,193,754$1,412,841
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $68,696,148$68,287,733
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $219,897,996$212,009,702
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$15,644,814$36,912,890
Part VI · Governance 32 of 32 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body32
VI-1b Independent voting members32
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $248,922,592 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1b Membership dues$51,942,257
VIII-1d Related organizations$100,000
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$173,474,516
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$9,583,372
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$225,516,773
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,916,471$2,916,471
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $12,354,563$12,354,563
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $6,911 · Excluded from tax $64,891$71,802
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $8,055,460$8,055,460
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $7,523$7,523
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,923,382 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $20,482,437$248,922,592
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $212,009,702 across 26 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $5,315,685$5,315,685
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $7,200,312$7,200,312
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $1,206,945 · Management $2,541,679 · Fundraising $638,901$4,387,525
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $372,163$372,163
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $71,949,942 · Management $12,442,897 · Fundraising $10,160,456$94,553,295
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $6,651,202 · Management $1,309,720 · Fundraising $960,878$8,921,800
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $11,312,151 · Management $1,916,301 · Fundraising $1,594,909$14,823,361
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $5,020,933 · Management $988,696 · Fundraising $725,358$6,734,987
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $385,779 · Fundraising $35,178$420,957
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $1,041,418 · Management $165,853 · Fundraising $111,029$1,318,300
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $226,101 · Management $43,695 · Fundraising $32,057$301,853
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $186,151$186,151
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $1,412,841$1,412,841
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $916,334 · Management $180,440 · Fundraising $132,380$1,229,154
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $21,350,269 · Management $1,161,339 · Fundraising $819,116$23,330,724
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $882,929 · Management $11,166 · Fundraising $2,941,318$3,835,413
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $7,865,870 · Management $389,054 · Fundraising $3,486,374$11,741,298
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $4,237,811 · Management $803,268 · Fundraising $644,531$5,685,610
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $5,481,600 · Management $1,079,404 · Fundraising $792,155$7,353,159
IX-17 TravelPrograms $2,898,546 · Management $347,628 · Fundraising $230,001$3,476,175
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $901,822 · Management $154,974 · Fundraising $222,914$1,279,710
IX-20 InterestPrograms $591,220 · Management $116,420 · Fundraising $85,412$793,052
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $2,358,110 · Management $464,347 · Fundraising $340,669$3,163,126
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $546,424 · Management $107,598 · Fundraising $78,942$732,964
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,315,637 · Management $223,397 · Fundraising $1,443,109$2,982,143
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $281,925 · Management $103,250 · Fundraising $72,769$457,944
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $160,497,279 · Management $24,551,126 · Fundraising $26,961,297$212,009,702
Part X · Balance sheet $657,232,154 assets, 19 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $9,845,412$51,306,784
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $28,359,839$29,261,971
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $32,648,003$26,515,060
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $40,858$368,840
X-7 Notes and loans receivableStart of year $0$925,000
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $1,426,756$3,410,829
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $34,152,400$31,060,045
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $374,516,629$393,612,704
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $84,169,838$88,949,000
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $35,433,393$31,821,921
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $600,593,128$657,232,154
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $30,377,077$31,136,089
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $32,157,244$31,154,586
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $60,405,481$55,961,292
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $122,939,802$118,251,967
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $360,824,581$402,243,060
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $116,828,745$136,737,127
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $477,653,326$538,980,187
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $600,593,128$657,232,154
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $538,980,187 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$248,922,592
XI-2 Total expenses$212,009,702
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$36,912,890
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$477,653,326
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$22,859,052
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$1,554,919
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$538,980,187
Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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