To advance research in support of transformations to global sustainability.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
93¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$808K 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

FY2025 · 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
2 of 4
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $291K a year · 13% of revenue · last 4 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 4 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 4 filings
Spent on programs
93%
of spending
Looks good: 93% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$808K
to officers and key staff · 26% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 26% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.4 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $50
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$619K
33% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 33% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
4
of 4 voting members
Looks good: 4 of 4 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.0M
-15% vs prior year
Spent
$3.1M
To programs
93%
Net assets
$1.3M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$2.0M
FY2025▼ -15%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$66K
FY2022$665K
FY2023$4.2M
FY2024$2.3M
FY2025$2.0M
Expenses
$3.1M
FY2025▲ +8%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021Not on file
FY2022$432K
FY2023$1.6M
FY2024$2.9M
FY2025$3.1M
Net assets
$1.3M
FY2025▼ -48%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$113K
FY2022$346K
FY2023$3.0M
FY2024$2.4M
FY2025$1.3M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending March 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Sep 2018.

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

Where the money goes

93 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 93% · $2.9M Management & general 7% · $228K

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

9 people listed on the 990; $808K 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
$256,891Pt VII · Sec A
$171,467Pt VII · Sec A
Associate Director
$145,182Pt VII · Sec A
Communications Manager
$119,264Pt VII · Sec A
Latin America and Caribbean Regional Lead
$115,500Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Erica Key’s $257K as CEO is at the 94th 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 · 5 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022
Erica Key$256,891$244,559$117,789$43,488
Laurel Milliken$171,467$163,267$129,686—
Veera Mitzner$145,182———
Bridget Blake$119,264———
Makyba Charles-Ayinde$115,500———

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.

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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 15aNo

Programs and updates

Funds research to help the world become more sustainable.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $2.9M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Global Sustainability Research

As part of an international network with the mission to advance research in support of transformations to global sustainability, the organization leads several key functions of the distributed global secretariat, which includes communications, finance, research and innovation, networks, as well as coordination.

$1.5Mprogram expense
02

Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress (sri)

An annual, global convening of the global sustainability community aimed at inspiring action and promoting a sustainability transformation.

$847Kprogram expense
03

Anthropocene Magazine

A first-of-its kind publication to focus specifically on the anthropocene, a new epoch in the geologic history of the planet named for humanity's influence on the globe. Its global audience has grown dramatically.

$529Kprogram 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
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$50
Grants paid · 5 grants · $401K · 2023–2024
Spatial Informatics Group LLCFY2024$7,500

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.0M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$232K
Investment incomeLn 3$39K
Money outPt IX
$3.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.9M
Managementcol C$228K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.3M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$893K
Total assetsLn 16$1.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$619K
PeoplePt VI, VII
9
listed · VII A
PaidVII A5
Voting boardVI 1a4
IndependentVI 1b4
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.7M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.6M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$232K
Investment incomeLn 3$39K
Other incomeLn 4–11$7K
Total revenueLn 12$2.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$893K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$893K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$5K
Other assetsLn 15$500
Total assetsLn 16$1.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$619K
Net assetsLn 32$1.3M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 57
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderMarch
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.3M$893K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$7K$5K
Total assetsLn 16$2.9M$1.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$422K$619K
Net assetsLn 32$2.4M$1.3M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$395K$395K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$513K$513K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$490K$436K$54K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$716K$716K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$44K$44K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$134K$131K$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$86K$82K$4K
Legal feesLn 11b$147K$570$147K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$255K$255K
Office expensesLn 13$94K$83K$12K
TravelLn 17$232K$230K$2K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$8K$8K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$3K$456$2K
InsuranceLn 23$2K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$17K$16K$1K
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.1M$2.9M$228K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $2.0M$3.1M−$1.2M$1.3M 990 PDF
FY2024 $2.3M$2.9M−$582K$2.4M 990 PDF
FY2023 $4.2M$1.6M$2.7M$3.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $665K$432K$233K$346K 990 PDF
FY2021 $66K$113K 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 F · Foreign J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,976,450 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,953,393$1,698,448
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $312,934$231,959
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $31,025$39,166
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $18,035$6,877
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,315,387$1,976,450
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $199,275$908,613
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,419,724$1,470,153
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,278,144$759,235
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,897,143$3,138,001
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$581,756−$1,161,551
Part VI · Governance 4 of 4 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body4
VI-1b Independent voting members4
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
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
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,976,450 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$1,601,585
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$96,863
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,698,448
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $231,959$231,959
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $39,166$39,166
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $6,877$6,877
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $238,836 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $39,166$1,976,450
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,138,001 across 15 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $395,195$395,195
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $513,418$513,418
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $436,309 · Management $54,002$490,311
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $716,463$716,463
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $43,511$43,511
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $130,692 · Management $3,452$134,144
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $82,166 · Management $3,558$85,724
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $570 · Management $146,802$147,372
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $255,342$255,342
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $82,569 · Management $11,822$94,391
IX-17 TravelPrograms $230,423 · Management $1,896$232,319
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $7,601$7,601
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $456 · Management $2,456$2,912
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $2,287$2,287
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $15,721 · Management $1,290$17,011
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,910,436 · Management $227,565 · Fundraising $0$3,138,001
Part X · Balance sheet $1,896,860 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,309,853$892,658
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $78,974$929,449
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $64,763$68,942
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $6,833$5,311
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $0$500
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,861,825$1,896,860
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $82,283$83,416
X-18 Grants payable$399,700
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $339,942$135,695
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $422,225$618,811
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $106,353$161,876
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $2,333,247$1,116,173
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,439,600$1,278,049
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,861,825$1,896,860
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,278,049 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,976,450
XI-2 Total expenses$3,138,001
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,161,551
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,439,600
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,278,049

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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