Civilization Research Initiative

Tax-deductible

Carlsbad, CA501(c)(3)EnvironmentEIN 84-4016495Revenue $2.2M in FY2024

On file with the IRSconsilienceproject.org2173 Salk Ave Ste 250, 92008-7383 · Carlsbad, CATax-exempt since Jan 2020Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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Higher quality analysis and strategic intelligence applied to addressing world-scale issues.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
79¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 8 volunteers.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $82K a year · 3% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
79%
of spending
Looks good: 79% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$266K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 92% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.2 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $2.1M
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$143K
30% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 30% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
3
of 5 voting members
Looks good: 3 of 5 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.2M
-47% vs prior year
Spent
$4.3M
To programs
79%
Net assets
$340K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$2.2M
FY2024▼ -47%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.3M
FY2021$1.8M
FY2022$2.3M
FY2023$4.1M
FY2024$2.2M
Expenses
$4.3M
FY2024▲ +37%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.3M
FY2021$1.9M
FY2022$1.5M
FY2023$3.1M
FY2024$4.3M
Net assets
$340K
FY2024▼ -86%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$935K
FY2021$761K
FY2022$1.5M
FY2023$2.5M
FY2024$340K

From the FY2024 Form 990 · 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: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jan 2020.

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

Where the money goes

79 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 79% · $3.4M Management & general 18% · $774K Fundraising 3% · $122K

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

5 people listed on the 990; $266K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$242,250Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary & Treasurer
$24,000Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Daniel Schmachtenberger’s $242K as President & CEO is at the 92nd 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 · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2020
Daniel Schmachtenberger$242,250$180,000$105,000—
Zachary Stein———$65,000
Mia Grable$24,000$24,000$14,000—

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 Civilization Research Initiative 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

Provides high-quality analysis and strategic intelligence to solve world-scale issues.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $2.3M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Catastrophic Risk Research & Writing(140)

$1,093,540 - research and development on issues at the interface of catastrophic risk, civilizational collapse, and social system resilience. Researchers produced papers published and shared via various public mediums (E.G. Event forums, our website) and in privately circulated white papers.

$1.1Mprogram expense
02

Metacrisis Training(160)

$789,521- the metacrisis training is developing curriculum for people seeking to understand and effectively manage global catastrophic and existential risks. We offer a generalized curriculum as well as domain-specific tutoring. All courses are distributed via online courses and in-person workshops.

$790Kprogram expense
03

Public Education & Communications(120)

Cri offers educational and advisory services to leaders in the public, private, and civic arenas. Educational efforts also include public education (on podcasts, lectures, etc) on topics related to societal resilience. Cri's focus is on delivering frameworks to understand complex topics and provide insights towards solutions.

$384Kprogram 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 · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$2.1M
Grants paid · 3 grants · $93K · 2023–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$65,092
Unitemized GrantFY2024$15,000
Monastic AcademyVT · FY2023$12,500

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$196
Money outPt IX
$4.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.4M
Managementcol C$774K
Fundraisingcol D$122K
Owns and owesPt X
$340K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$433K
Total assetsLn 16$483K
LiabilitiesLn 26$143K
PeoplePt VI, VII
5
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b3
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.2M
Government grantsLn 1e$0
Noncash giftsLn 1g$0
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Investment incomeLn 3$196
Total revenueLn 12$2.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$433K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$433K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$38K
Total assetsLn 16$483K
LiabilitiesLn 26$143K
Net assetsLn 32$340K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 68
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.7M$433K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$32K$38K
Total assetsLn 16$2.7M$483K
LiabilitiesLn 26$202K$143K
Net assetsLn 32$2.5M$340K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$80K$80K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$266K$266K$0$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$522K$457K$24K$41K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$449K$397K$51K$291
Payroll taxesLn 10$61K$56K$3K$2K
Legal feesLn 11b$11K$0$11K$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$51K$0$51K$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$2.3M$1.8M$448K$78K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$887$0$0$887
Office expensesLn 13$172K$138K$34K$0
Information technologyLn 14$34K$17K$17K$0
OccupancyLn 16$107K$82K$25K$0
TravelLn 17$128K$95K$33K$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$1K$336$862$0
InterestLn 20$168$168
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$17K$5K$13K
InsuranceLn 23$21K$0$21K$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$77K$33K$44K$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.3M$3.4M$774K$122K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $2.2M$4.3M−$2.2M$340K 990 PDF
FY2023 $4.1M$3.1M$952K$2.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $2.3M$1.5M$778K$1.5M 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.8M$1.9M−$172K$761K 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.3M$1.3M$1.0M$935K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,154,946 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,091,343$2,154,750
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,687$196
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $101$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $4,094,131$2,154,946
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $22,058$80,092
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $339,862$1,298,722
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,780,618$2,926,265
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,142,538$4,305,079
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $951,593−$2,150,133
Part VI · Governance 3 of 5 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members3
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 $2,154,946 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$0
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,154,750
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$0
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,154,750
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $196$196
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $196$2,154,946
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $4,305,079 across 18 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $80,092$80,092
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $266,250 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$266,250
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $457,234 · Management $24,000 · Fundraising $41,182$522,416
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $397,482 · Management $51,158 · Fundraising $291$448,931
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $56,188 · Management $2,508 · Fundraising $2,429$61,125
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $0 · Management $10,968 · Fundraising $0$10,968
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $51,222 · Fundraising $0$51,222
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,781,576 · Management $447,747 · Fundraising $77,575$2,306,898
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $887$887
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $137,556 · Management $34,239 · Fundraising $0$171,795
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $17,057 · Management $17,007 · Fundraising $0$34,064
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $81,821 · Management $24,912 · Fundraising $0$106,733
IX-17 TravelPrograms $95,133 · Management $32,510 · Fundraising $0$127,643
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $336 · Management $862 · Fundraising $0$1,198
IX-20 InterestManagement $168$168
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $4,619 · Management $12,697$17,316
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $0 · Management $20,568 · Fundraising $0$20,568
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $32,871 · Management $43,934 · Fundraising $0$76,805
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,408,215 · Management $774,500 · Fundraising $122,364$4,305,079
Part X · Balance sheet $483,228 assets, 11 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,660,528$432,983
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$11,891
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $31,546$38,354
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,692,074$483,228
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $202,185$143,472
X-25 Other liabilities$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $202,185$143,472
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,489,889$264,756
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $0$75,000
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,489,889$339,756
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,692,074$483,228
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $339,756 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,154,946
XI-2 Total expenses$4,305,079
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$2,150,133
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,489,889
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$0
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$339,756

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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