irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $2.85MNATURETHE NRDC ACTION FUND LOBBIED AGAINST LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO WEAKEN KEY NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS, INCLUDING THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT. THE ACTION FUND ALSO LOBBIED TO PROTECT WILDLIFE AND WILDLANDS FROM EXPANDED OIL AND GAS DRILLING.
- #2 $959KENVIRONMENTAL HEALTHTHE NRDC ACTION FUND SUPPORTED CAMPAIGNS TO ENACT LEADING EDGE CLIMATE-FRIENDLY AND EQUITABLE TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC HEALTH AND BUILDING POLICIES IN STATES AND MUNICIPALITIES. WE ADVOCATED FOR ELIMINATING DANGEROUS PESTICIDES IN SEVERAL STATES, FOR REMOVING AND REPLACING LEAD PIPES THAT TAINT DRINKING WATER, AND FOR THE ELIMINATION OF HARMFUL CHEMICALS FROM CONSUMER GOODS.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Elect Environmental Champions
Endorses and supports pro-environment candidates for federal and state offices through campaign contributions and public advocacy, coordinated via GiveGreen.com
Environmental Health Campaigns
Advocates for elimination of dangerous pesticides, removal of lead pipes, and reduction of harmful chemicals in consumer goods at state and municipal levels
Federal and State Advocacy
Lobbies against efforts to weaken environmental laws and promotes policies related to clean energy, climate resilience, and protection of wildlife and wildlands
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Environmental Policy Advocacy & Litigation 3 activities
- Advocacy campaigns to defend and strengthen environmental laws and regulationsOrganizes federal and state-level advocacy campaigns to protect national environmental laws such as the Endangered Species Act, oppose legislative attacks on environmental protections, and reverse policies enabling expanded oil and gas drilling, including efforts to restore the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and national monuments.
- Public mobilization and volunteer engagement for environmental advocacyTrains and organizes volunteers to contact elected officials and corporate leaders, testify at public hearings, send messages to Congress, and participate in urgent campaigns to influence environmental policy decisions at federal, state, and local levels.
- Public statements and coalition advocacy on environmental and democratic issuesIssues public statements in response to major policy developments, including Supreme Court rulings on the Voting Rights Act, state withdrawals from climate initiatives like RGGI, and political figures’ legacies; collaborates with allies to release letters urging political candidates to withdraw from races when their presence threatens environmental progress.
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Energy Policy Advocacy & Research 3 activities
- Advocacy for clean energy transition and sustainable infrastructureConducts federal lobbying and media campaigns to advance legislation transitioning the U.S. to clean energy and sustainable infrastructure; supports state and municipal efforts promoting renewable energy, battery storage, and equitable reductions in fossil gas investment, contributing to over 90% of new U.S. electricity generation capacity in recent years.
- Research and reporting on environmental policy progressPublishes research reports tracking state-level progress in equitably reducing fossil gas infrastructure investments across six U.S. states.
- State and local policy advocacy for climate-friendly transportation, buildings, and public healthSupports campaigns in cities and states—including Denver, Chicago, Honolulu, San Jose, Columbus, Portland, New York, California, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania—to enact equitable climate-friendly transportation, building codes, pesticide elimination, lead pipe replacement, and removal of harmful chemicals from consumer products.
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Animal Protection Advocacy & Campaigns 1 activity
- Advocacy for marine species protectionAdvocates for congressional action to reject legislative threats to endangered marine species, including Rice’s whales and North Atlantic right whales.
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Labor-Backed Candidate Endorsements & Electoral Support 1 activity
- Election engagement and political advocacy to elect environmental championsMobilizes public action to defeat extremist candidates, supports pro-environment candidates through endorsements (including Joe Biden’s re-election and a 2026 slate of 66 candidates), and conducts voter outreach via texts, calls, and letter-writing to increase participation and hold lawmakers accountable.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Policy advocacy for agricultural sustainability and soil healthAdvocates for inclusion of cover cropping and soil health provisions in the Farm Bill to promote regenerative agriculture and restore degraded soils.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$9.18M
Contributions & grants$8.14M89%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$1.04M11%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$16.97M
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising12%
Salaries & benefits$3.39M
Grants paid out$6.29M
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$11.47M
Cash$5.57M
Investments$2.89M
Liabilities$2.49M
Net assets$8.98M
Liquid reserves6.0 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -40.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 14
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MANISH BAPNA | PRESIDENT/CEO | 2 | $793K |
| MOLLIE MARSH-HEINE | CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER | 4 | $637K |
| CHRISTINA GOLDFUSS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 3 | $534K |
| MITCHELL BERNARD | CHIEF COUNSEL | 1 | $473K |
| VERONICA FOO | CFO AND TREASURER | 3 | $462K |
| ROBYN ARVILLE | CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER | 1 | $448K |
| EDWARD YOON | CHIEF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICER | 1 | $402K |
| KEVIN CURTIS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (THRU 02/2025) | 40 | $344K |
| KRISTIN WILSON-PALMER | CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER | 1 | $333K |
| SUSAN CASEY-LEFKOWITZ | CHIEF OF STAFF | 1 | $318K |
| MICHAEL CASSESSO | SENIOR DIRECTOR, POLITICAL AFFAIRS | 40 | $223K |
| TIMOTHY MEINKE | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $221K |
| DENIS DISON | COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR | 40 | $195K |
| ARDEN PARKER | CLIMATE LEADERSHIP COLLECTIVE DIR | 40 | $142K |
board members · 9
- ADAM SWEENEY — DIRECTOR
- ANA MENDEZ — DIRECTOR (AS OF 06/2025)
- ANNE BARTLEY — DIRECTOR
- CHRISTOPHER ARNDT — DIRECTOR (THRU 06/2025)
- CYNTHIA SNELL — DIRECTOR (AS OF 06/2025)
- DAVID C VLADECK — DIRECTOR
- FRANCES BEINECKE — CHAIR (AS OF 6/20/25)/DIRECTOR
- GERALD TORRES — DIRECTOR
- HAMILTON CANDEE — DIRECTOR
relationships · 9
Who they work with
- GiveGreen.com Partner — Partner platform through which supporters can donate to endorsed environmental candidates.
- League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund Partner — Jointly endorsed Daniel Biss for U.S. House of Representatives.
- NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL Partner — Primary organizational partner whose goals the NRDC Action Fund supports through political advocacy.
- NRDC Action Fund Network — Member organization using advocacy to advance environmental policy and support pro-environment political candidates.
- Natural Resources Defense Council Network — NRDC Action Fund is the 501(c)(4) affiliate of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
- Natural Resources Defense Council Partner — Collaborates with NRDC ACTION FUND INC on environmental advocacy and legal action
- Natural Resources Defense Council Partner — NRDC Action Fund is an affiliated but separate organization from the Natural Resources Defense Council.
- Politico/Public First Partner — Cited polling data from Politico/Public First on voter preferences regarding energy costs.
- Slack Partner — Platform used to host a community for volunteers to connect and coordinate climate action.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Centered Advocacy for Equitable Environmental Outcomesmethodology: community-centered_advocacyBy centering community impacts and equity in clean energy advocacy, the organization ensures that environmental policies benefit people directly, because inclusive advocacy produces more just and durable environmental solutions.
- Digital-First Volunteer Mobilization to Scale Climate Actionmethodology: digital-volunteer-mobilizationBy using digital platforms to connect and activate volunteers, the organization amplifies its advocacy reach, because decentralized, tech-enabled networks enable rapid coordination and sustained engagement in climate campaigns.
- Electoral and Grassroots Mobilization for Environmental Policy Changemethodology: electoral_and_grassroots_advocacyBy electing pro-environment candidates and mobilizing public advocacy, the organization produces environmental policy change, because political representation and constituent pressure are effective levers for countering threats to environmental laws and reducing the influence of polluters.
- Multidisciplinary Advocacy Combining Science, Law, and Public Mobilizationmethodology: multidisciplinary_advocacyBy integrating science, policy, law, and grassroots mobilization, the organization strengthens the credibility and reach of its advocacy, because combining technical expertise with public pressure creates multiple pathways to influence decision-makers.