named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Educational Workshops and Webinars
Conducts training sessions for researchers on legal rights, responsibilities, and protections related to scientific work and advocacy
Free Resources for Scientists and Attorneys
Publishes guides and informational materials to help scientists understand legal threats and protections related to climate and environmental research
Legal Aid Clinics
Provides free legal consultations and support to scientists at risk of political or legal harassment, offered at scientific conferences and on a case-by-case basis
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Constitutional and Government Accountability Litigation 2 activities
- Documenting government attacks on scientific integrityMaintains the Silencing Science Tracker, a comprehensive database documenting over 700 government attempts to suppress or censor climate science, and publishes legal analyses of state open records laws to inform scientists, attorneys, and policymakers.
- Filing amicus briefs and advocating in legal and political contextsFiles amicus briefs in court cases to defend scientific integrity, provides legal support in response to political challenges affecting scientists, and conducts outreach to support scientists’ participation in political advocacy, particularly during election cycles.
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Legal Professional Development & Networking 1 activity
- Conducting legal education programs for scientists and attorneysHosts workshops, webinars, and continuing legal education (CLE) sessions for scientists and attorneys on topics including scientific integrity, open records laws, legal self-protection, and defending against frivolous litigation.
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Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 1 activity
- Providing legal assistance and defense to climate scientistsProvides free, confidential legal counseling, pro bono legal representation, and litigation support to climate scientists and institutions facing politically motivated legal challenges, harassment, or censorship. This includes one-on-one legal sessions at scientific conferences such as the AGU Fall Meeting and direct support in high-profile cases, such as the defense of climate scientist Michael Mann.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Producing and distributing educational legal resources for scientistsCreates and disseminates free toolkits, publications, and legal guides—including the Climate Litigation Toolkit and Political Action Toolkit—to help scientists understand their legal rights, navigate advocacy boundaries, and protect themselves from legal risks associated with research and public engagement.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$466K
Contributions & grants$463K99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$2K1%
Other revenue$348
expenses
Total expenses$415K
Program expenses61%
Admin / overhead20%
Fundraising19%
Salaries & benefits$209K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.30M
Cash$1.28M
Investments$0
Liabilities$27K
Net assets$1.27M
Liquid reserves36.9 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -11.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAUREN KURTZ | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $103K |
board members · 12
- ANDREW FREY — VICE-CHAIR OF THE BOARD
- ARADHNA TRIPATI — DIRECTOR
- CHARLES ZELLER — DIRECTOR
- CYMIE PAYNE — DIRECTOR
- JEFFREY MASTERS — TREASURER
- JOSHUA WOLFE — CHAIR OF THE BOARD
- KATRINA KUH — DIRECTOR
- MICHAEL GERRARD — DIRECTOR
- MICHAEL OPPENHEIMER — DIRECTOR
- NAOMI ORESKES — DIRECTOR
- PETER FONTAINE — DIRECTOR (FROM DEC 2024)
- SCOTT MANDIA — SECRETARY
relationships · 13
Who they work with
- AGU Partner — Collaborates with AGU to offer free legal consultations to scientists attending the AGU Fall Meeting 2025.
- AGU (American Geophysical Union) Partner — Co-hosts a webinar series on free speech rights during election season with CSLDF participation.
- American Association of Geographers Partner — Partners with CSLDF to present legal perspectives on academic freedom at the AAG Department Leadership Workshop.
- American Geophysical Union Partner — Collaborates with CSLDF to host legal education sessions and provide counseling at its annual Fall Meeting.
- Climate Science Rapid Response Team Partner — Co-founded alongside the Climate Science Legal Defense Fund to provide rapid scientific and legal support to targeted scientists.
- Columbia University Partner — Cosponsors the Second Conference on Attribution Science and Climate Law at The Forum at Columbia University.
- Cozen O’Connor Partner — Collaborates with board member Pete Fontaine, a lawyer at Cozen O’Connor, who led the legal team in a defamation case supporting climate scientist Michael Mann.
- ESA (Ecological Society of America) Partner — Co-presented a conference session on the legal landscape for scientific research and advocacy at ESA 2026.
- Michael Mann Partner — Provided legal and financial support to climate scientist Michael Mann in defense of a lawsuit challenging his climate research.
- National Science Board Government — Monitors and comments on legal and political threats to the National Science Board, including mass dismissals of members.
- Pro bono lawyers and law firms Partner — Collaborates with pro bono legal professionals who provide direct legal advice to scientists through the organization.
- Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Partner — Collaborative relationship through board member Michael Gerrard, who is faculty director of the Sabin Center.
- University of Virginia Partner — Provided legal and financial support for a climate scientist affiliated with the university in a high-profile legal case.
strategies · 2
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.
- Integrated Legal and Educational Empowermentmethodology: defend-and-educateBy combining direct legal defense with legal education, institutional outreach, and public advocacy, we increase scientists' capacity to resist intimidation and censorship, because knowledge of legal rights and access to support systems reduces vulnerability to harassment and strengthens academic freedom.
- Legal Defense as Scientific Integrity Protectionmethodology: legal defense as scientific protectionBy providing legal defense and advocacy support to climate scientists facing ideological attacks, we protect scientific integrity and enable the continuation of open research and communication, because legal threats and harassment otherwise suppress scientific expression and inquiry.