To develop, promote & support innovative, credible market-based Climate change solutions (sch o) that benefit economies, ecosystems and society. The Climate Action Reserve was approved by the california air resources board (arb) in 2012 to serve as an offset project registry in accordance with the regulations implementing the california cap-and-trade program. The Reserve has had many of the offset projects in its system recognized by the arb for rewarding early actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Four Reserve offset protocols have been adopted and two others adapted by arb for use in the compliance offset system under the cap-and-trade program.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
67¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$597K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2021 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $152K a year · 3% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
67%
of spending
Fine: 67% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$597K
to officers and key staff · 18% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 18% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
11 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 10.6 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $11K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2.5M
42% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 42% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
11
of 11 voting members
Looks good: 11 of 11 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$3.9M
-23% vs prior year
Spent
$3.2M
To programs
67%
Net assets
$3.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$3.9M
FY2021▼ -23%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$5.0M
FY2021$3.9M
FY2022$4.5M
FY2023$4.8M
FY2024$5.3M
FY2025$5.8M
Expenses
$3.2M
FY2021▼ -18%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$3.9M
FY2021$3.2M
FY2022$4.8M
FY2023$4.7M
FY2024$5.6M
FY2025$6.2M
Net assets
$3.5M
FY2021▲ +23%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.9M
FY2021$3.5M
FY2022$3.2M
FY2023$3.4M
FY2024$3.1M
FY2025$2.7M

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending June 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Nov 2001.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

67 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 67% · $2.2M Management & general 33% · $1.1M Fundraising 1% · $21K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

15 people listed on the 990; $597K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
President
$199,416Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Operations
$144,453Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Communications
$135,564Pt VII · Sec A
Controller
$117,402Pt VII · Sec A
Nominating Committee Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Craig Ebert’s $281K as President Until 3.23.25 is at the 96th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1851 $1–10M 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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Craig Ebert$280,931$263,490$240,073$206,488$199,416$197,464
Kristen Gorguinpour$186,189$175,092$161,112———
Jennifer Weiss$181,706$179,462$164,593$125,682$135,564$134,522
Ramon Lee$152,862$149,173$144,934$101,511$117,402$116,527
Gillian Calof————$144,453$145,023
Jonathan Remucal$144,478$123,470————
Amy Portillo-Kessler$142,741$140,216$122,977———
Christopher Reid Lee$136,154—————

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 Climate Action Reserve executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Develops and promotes market-based solutions for climate change, benefiting economies and ecosystems.

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Your first name shows with your question. Climate Action Reserve answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $2.2M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

The climate action reserve is an international carbon offsets program focused on ensuring environmental integrity of GHG emissions reductions projects to create and support financial and environmental value in the north american voluntary carbon market, the california cap-and-trade program, and international cap-and-trade programs.

$1.9Mprogram expense
02

In FY2021 the reserve continued to engage in international initiatives, including the development of international emissions reduction standards, collaborating with partners and serving as an expert consultant for governments and others.

$160Kprogram expense
03

The climate action reserve is also active in the development of climate change policy. As a non-partisan organization, the climate action reserve works to bring together thought leaders on climate change, including policymakers, businesses, academics and a variety of ngos to advocate for globally standardized greenhouse gas reporting and…

$63Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2023
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$11K
See all 3 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.9M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$3.3M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$540K
Investment incomeLn 3$633
Money outPt IX
$3.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.2M
Managementcol C$1.1M
Fundraisingcol D$21K
Owns and owesPt X
$3.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.9M
Total assetsLn 16$6.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.5M
PeoplePt VI, VII
15
listed · VII A
PaidVII A4
Voting boardVI 1a11
IndependentVI 1b11
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$540K
Government grantsLn 1e$365K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$3.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$633
Total revenueLn 12$3.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$2.2M
SavingsLn 2$660K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$37K
Other assetsLn 15$2.3M
Total assetsLn 16$6.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.5M
Net assetsLn 32$3.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 523
VolunteersI 615
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.2M$2.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$22K$37K
Total assetsLn 16$5.5M$6.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.6M$2.5M
Net assetsLn 32$2.9M$3.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$390K$164K$225K$463
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.2M$894K$335K$14K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$21K$14K$7K$190
Other employee benefitsLn 9$237K$159K$76K$2K
Payroll taxesLn 10$121K$78K$41K$1K
Legal feesLn 11b$617$617
Accounting feesLn 11c$41K$41K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$622K$584K$37K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$893$893
Office expensesLn 13$62K$2K$60K
Information technologyLn 14$63K$424$63K
OccupancyLn 16$229K$149K$78K$2K
TravelLn 17$8K$200$8K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$59K$59K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$7K$7K
InsuranceLn 23$83K$54K$28K$756
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$30K$4K$26K
All other expensesLn 24e$29K$3K$25K
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.2M$2.2M$1.1M$21K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $5.8M$6.2M−$402K$2.7M 990 PDF
FY2024 $5.3M$5.6M−$287K$3.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 $4.8M$4.7M$127K$3.4M 990 PDF
FY2022 $4.5M$4.8M−$261K$3.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $3.9M$3.2M$644K$3.5M 990 PDF
FY2020 $5.0M$3.9M$1.1M$2.9M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $3,889,191 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $140,963$539,746
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $4,884,122$3,348,812
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $4,259$633
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $5,029,344$3,889,191
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,130,529$2,011,393
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,805,734$1,233,384
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,936,263$3,244,777
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,093,081$644,414
Part VI · Governance 11 of 11 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body11
VI-1b Independent voting members11
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
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 $3,889,191 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$365,330
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$174,416
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$539,746
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $3,348,812$3,348,812
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $633$633
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $3,348,812 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $633$3,889,191
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,244,777 across 18 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $164,400 · Management $225,307 · Fundraising $463$390,170
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $894,057 · Management $334,573 · Fundraising $14,234$1,242,864
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $13,604 · Management $7,106 · Fundraising $190$20,900
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $158,731 · Management $75,917 · Fundraising $2,281$236,929
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $78,455 · Management $40,981 · Fundraising $1,094$120,530
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $617$617
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $40,641$40,641
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $584,332 · Management $37,427$621,759
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $893$893
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $1,735 · Management $59,882$61,617
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $424 · Management $62,863$63,287
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $149,251 · Management $77,962 · Fundraising $2,081$229,294
IX-17 TravelPrograms $200 · Management $7,632$7,832
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $58,550$58,550
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $6,858$6,858
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $54,146 · Management $28,283 · Fundraising $756$83,185
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $4,236 · Management $25,742$29,978
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $3,380 · Management $25,493$28,873
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,166,394 · Management $1,057,284 · Fundraising $21,099$3,244,777
Part X · Balance sheet $6,017,828 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $179,695$2,194,416
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,026,976$660,480
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$52,500
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $2,177,056$581,082
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $95,109$239,396
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $22,047$37,325
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,996,442$2,252,629
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $5,497,325$6,017,828
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $238,761$243,384
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $2,396,566$2,268,032
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,635,327$2,511,416
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,809,498$3,356,412
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $52,500$150,000
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,861,998$3,506,412
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $5,497,325$6,017,828
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $3,506,412 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,889,191
XI-2 Total expenses$3,244,777
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$644,414
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,861,998
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$3,506,412

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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