Earthjustice

Tax-deductible

San Francisco, CA501(c)(3)Since 1970EnvironmentEIN 94-1730465

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Earthjustice is a premier nonprofit public interest environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
81¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 33 volunteers and 698 employees.
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 $6.3M a year · 5% 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
81%
of spending
Looks good: 81% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$4.8M
to officers and key staff · 3% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 50% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 3% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.4 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
17
named funders · $412K
Looks good: 17 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$48.2M
15% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 15% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
33
of 33 voting members
Looks good: 33 of 33 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$170.8M
+22% vs prior year
Spent
$167.5M
To programs
81%
Net assets
$267.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$170.8M
FY2024▲ +22%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$147.0M
FY2021$114.9M
FY2022$135.3M
FY2023$126.0M
FY2024$139.6M
FY2024$170.8M
Expenses
$167.5M
FY2024▲ +10%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$96.6M
FY2021$106.8M
FY2022$127.7M
FY2023$148.0M
FY2024$152.1M
FY2024$167.5M
Net assets
$267.5M
FY2024▲ +10%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$223.6M
FY2021$273.4M
FY2022$245.8M
FY2023$238.3M
FY2024$244.0M
FY2024$267.5M

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 Feb 1971.

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

Where the money goes

81 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 81% · $136.2M Management & general 10% · $16.6M Fundraising 9% · $14.7M

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

46 people listed on the 990; $4.8M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$563,813Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Development
$463,064Pt VII · Sec A
SVP of Programs
$447,759Pt VII · Sec A
SVP of Op.; Asst. Secretary
$433,642Pt VII · Sec A
SVP of Communications & Marketing
$416,137Pt VII · Sec A
Cfo; Asst. Treasurer (from 02/24)
$369,319Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Litigation
$343,751Pt VII · Sec A
General Counsel; Asst. Secretary
$342,345Pt VII · Sec A

Abigail Dillen’s $564K as President is at the 50th 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

NameFY2024FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Abigail Dillen$563,813$550,428$518,145$473,920$433,424$402,070
Elizabeth Marsh$463,064$414,233$339,784$309,134$264,869$244,070
Margaret Marsh-Heine——$450,565$430,144$382,189$319,331
Sambhav Sankar$447,759—$402,117$368,374$355,351$292,115
Sambhav Nott Sankar—$438,197————
Joseph Andrew Jackson$433,642$427,621$410,603$394,473$323,373—
Stephen Smith$416,137$394,472————
Connor Fournier$369,319—————

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 Earthjustice 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

Uses the power of the law to litigate and advocate for environmental protection, public health, and solutions to climate change.

Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $136.2M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Provide free legal representation, working through the courts on behalf of citizen groups, scientists, environmental and other organizations to ensure that government agencies and private interests follow the law.

$90.7Mprogram expense
02

Provide increased public, media, and policy maker awareness of environmental issues and the role of law in solving them.

$45.5Mprogram 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
See all 17 funders →
Grants paid · 56 grants · $15.3M · 2019–2024
Earthjustice ActionDC · FY2024$3,900,000
Tides FoundationCA · FY2024$1,000,000
The Partnership Project INCDC · FY2024$125,000
GreenlatinosCO · FY2024$65,000
Coming Clean INCVT · FY2024$50,000
Harambee House INCGA · FY2024$40,000
Tides FoundationCA · FY2023$1,000,000
Earthjustice ActionDC · FY2023$315,000
The Partnership Project INCDC · FY2023$257,000
Coming Clean INCVT · FY2023$50,000
Alaska Wilderness LeagueDC · FY2023$25,000
Climate GenerationMN · FY2023$12,600
Tides CenterCA · FY2022$1,000,000
See all 56 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$170.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$154.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$10.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$5.8M
Money outPt IX
$167.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$136.2M
Managementcol C$16.6M
Fundraisingcol D$14.7M
Owns and owesPt X
$267.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$34.1M
Total assetsLn 16$315.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$48.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
46
listed · VII A
PaidVII A13
Voting boardVI 1a33
IndependentVI 1b33
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$154.1M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$17.1M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$5.8M
Investment incomeLn 3$10.5M
Other incomeLn 4–11$391K
Gains on assetsLn 7$4.0M
Total revenueLn 12$170.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$28.9M
SavingsLn 2$5.2M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$34.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$210.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$5.8M
Other assetsLn 15$39.5M
Total assetsLn 16$315.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$48.2M
Net assetsLn 32$267.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5698
VolunteersI 633
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$17.0M$34.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$201.1M$210.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$5.8M$5.8M
Total assetsLn 16$297.4M$315.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$53.4M$48.2M
Net assetsLn 32$244.0M$267.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$5.8M$5.8M
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$423K$423K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$3.5M$2.4M$681K$407K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$88.9M$72.9M$8.0M$8.0M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$7.5M$6.3M$640K$644K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$9.2M$7.3M$946K$891K
Payroll taxesLn 10$6.7M$5.5M$590K$589K
Legal feesLn 11b$635K$455K$113K$67K
Accounting feesLn 11c$261K$187K$46K$28K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$49K$49K
Investment management feesLn 11f$341K$341K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$7.4M$5.3M$1.4M$699K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$4.4M$4.1M$15K$245K
Office expensesLn 13$5.4M$3.6M$986K$799K
Information technologyLn 14$5.0M$3.4M$822K$690K
OccupancyLn 16$9.9M$8.5M$640K$745K
TravelLn 17$2.7M$1.8M$500K$415K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$1.1M$708K$193K$161K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1.6M$1.3M$141K$129K
InsuranceLn 23$490K$470K$10K$10K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$6.3M$5.6M$606K$136K
Total functional expensesLn 25$167.5M$136.2M$16.6M$14.7M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 $139.6M$152.1M−$12.5M$244.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 $126.0M$148.0M−$22.1M$238.3M 990 PDF
FY2022 $135.3M$127.7M$7.6M$245.8M 990 PDF
FY2021 $114.9M$106.8M$8.1M$273.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 $147.0M$96.6M$50.3M$223.6M 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 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $170,827,511 across 9 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for −$20,999 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$154,130,256
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$17,147,556
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$154,130,256
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $5,787,062$5,787,062
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $6,502,391$6,502,391
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $248,291$248,291
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $4,016,815$4,016,815
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $163,695$163,695
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $5,787,062 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $10,910,193$170,827,511
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $167,548,000 across 21 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $5,760,000$5,760,000
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $422,778$422,778
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $2,416,557 · Management $680,702 · Fundraising $407,283$3,504,542
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $72,896,668 · Management $7,964,083 · Fundraising $8,026,883$88,887,634
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $6,255,630 · Management $640,239 · Fundraising $643,682$7,539,551
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $7,316,222 · Management $946,050 · Fundraising $890,984$9,153,256
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $5,502,554 · Management $590,261 · Fundraising $589,370$6,682,185
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $455,246 · Management $112,903 · Fundraising $67,299$635,448
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $187,020 · Management $46,382 · Fundraising $27,647$261,049
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $48,670$48,670
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $341,130$341,130
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $5,331,608 · Management $1,377,625 · Fundraising $699,204$7,408,437
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $4,121,292 · Management $14,818 · Fundraising $244,618$4,380,728
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $3,645,770 · Management $985,530 · Fundraising $799,143$5,430,443
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $3,448,778 · Management $821,874 · Fundraising $689,800$4,960,452
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $8,491,122 · Management $639,894 · Fundraising $744,696$9,875,712
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,832,123 · Management $500,484 · Fundraising $415,342$2,747,949
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $708,048 · Management $193,419 · Fundraising $160,514$1,061,981
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,347,504 · Management $140,679 · Fundraising $128,528$1,616,711
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $470,300 · Management $9,798 · Fundraising $9,798$489,896
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $5,597,056 · Management $606,426 · Fundraising $135,966$6,339,448
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $136,206,276 · Management $16,612,297 · Fundraising $14,729,427$167,548,000
Part X · Balance sheet $315,692,421 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $9,039,004$28,893,535
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $7,959,660$5,186,730
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $28,376,681$17,027,574
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,533,033$3,545,309
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $2,907,145$5,569,234
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $5,840,933$5,847,195
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $201,056,105$210,081,541
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $40,705,180$39,541,303
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $297,417,741$315,692,421
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $12,462,466$12,093,686
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $850,000$1,000,000
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $39,671,259$31,899,338
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $53,398,325$48,162,271
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $209,429,540$243,150,963
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $34,589,876$24,379,187
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $244,019,416$267,530,150
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $297,417,741$315,692,421
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $267,530,150 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$170,827,511
XI-2 Total expenses$167,548,000
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$3,279,511
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$244,019,416
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$19,174,514
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$1,056,709
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$267,530,150

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

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