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WE MEAN BUSINESS COALITION INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 854146520 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE C60 · Environment · Large ($10M-$50M) · wemeanbusinesscoalition.org
revenue
$15.2M
expenses
$18.6M
net assets
$13.0M
employees
19
volunteers
14
program ratio
87%
mission · from form 990

THROUGH UNPRECEDENTED COLLABORATION, WE CATALYZE BUSINESS ACTION AND DRIVE AMBITIOUS POLICY TO HALVE EMISSIONS BY 2030 AND ACCELERATE AN INCLUSIVE TRANSITION TO A NET-ZERO ECONOMY BY 2050, AT THE LATEST.

profile · synthesized from sources

We Mean Business Coalition catalyzes corporate climate action and advocates for ambitious government policies to halve emissions by 2030 and achieve a net-zero economy by 2050. The organization works with companies to align their policy engagement with climate goals, strengthen corporate climate leadership, and drive systems change. It operates globally, focusing on bridging the gap between corporate climate commitments and advocacy.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $1.84M
    COMMUNICATIONSTHE WMBC COMMUNICATIONS TEAM WORKS WITH A GRANTEES TO FOCUS ON THE DELIVERY OF THE COALITION COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY, INCLUDING SHIFTING THE NARRATIVE ON BUSINESS AND CLIMATE CHANGE TO TELL INSPIRING STORIES OF SYSTEMS CHANGE, DELIVERING POWERFUL MESSAGES FROM BUSINESS TO POLICYMAKERS TO BOLSTER CLIMATE POLICY IN PRIORITY GEOGRAPHIES, AND SUPPORTING THE STRENGTHENING OF WHAT CORPORATE CLIMATE LEADERSHIP MEANS.
  2. #2 $1.32M
    SME CLIMATE HUBTHE SME CLIMATE HUB (SME CH) IS A GLOBAL INITIATIVE OF THE WE MEAN BUSINESS COALITION, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EXPONENTIAL ROADMAP INITIATIVE AND THE UN HIGH-LEVEL CHAMPIONS RACE TO ZERO CAMPAIGN, THAT HELPS SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (SMES) - THOSE WITH LESS THAN 500 EMPLOYEES - TO MAKE A CLIMATE COMMITMENT, TAKE ACTION, AND MEASURE THEIR PROGRESS TOWARDS EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS. ALL TOOLS AND RESOURCES ON THE SME CLIMATE HUB ARE FREE AND SPECIFICALLY EQUIP THE SME COMMUNITY TO TAKE CLIMATE ACTION. THE INITIATIVE IS ALSO THE KEY ENTRY POINT FOR SMES TO JOIN THE RACE TO ZERO CAMPAIGN - AN INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN THAT BRINGS TOGETHER AN UNPRECEDENTED COALITION OF REAL ECONOMY ACTORS AND 120 GOVERNMENTS COMMITTED TO ACHIEVE NET-ZERO EMISSIONS BY NO LATER THAN 2050.
named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Corporate Climate Communications
Strategic communications program that promotes narratives of corporate climate leadership, shares success stories, and strengthens the public understanding of business’s role in systems change.
Policy Advocacy
Initiative to influence climate, finance, industry, transport, and agriculture policies globally by engaging with ministries and shaping economic frameworks in line with net-zero goals.
Responsible Policy Engagement (RPE) Framework
A practical guide and resource library helping companies align their external policy advocacy with internal climate transition plans, based on five steps including governance, stakeholder engagement, and public advocacy.
SME Climate Hub
Global initiative providing free tools and resources for small and medium-sized enterprises to commit to climate action, reduce emissions, and join the Race to Zero campaign.
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Corporate Climate Accountability Initiatives 6 activities
    • Collaborating with organizations across the corporate climate action ecosystem
      Partners with organizations throughout the corporate climate action space to implement programs and initiatives aligned with shared climate transition goals.
    • Convening coalitions and alliances to scale market-based climate solutions
      Operates collaborative initiatives such as the Beyond Alliance, co-leading with companies and nonprofits to scale, strengthen, and ensure integrity in market-based climate action. Mobilizes networks of over 24,000 companies committed to bold climate action through Coalition and partner programs.
    • Developing and publishing research on corporate climate action
      Conducts and publishes research reports and data analysis on topics including supply chain resilience, supplier engagement on climate, responsible policy engagement, and the role of carbon credits in corporate strategies. Found that suppliers are 3.2 times more likely to set science-based targets when climate is included in award schemes and estimated 193 million tonnes of CO₂e could be avoided through supplier-led emissions projects.
    • Maintaining resource hubs for voluntary carbon markets and corporate climate participation
      Provides up-to-date guidance and maintains a curated resource hub to support corporate engagement in voluntary carbon markets and responsible climate action.
    • Operating the SME Climate Hub to support small and medium enterprises
      Runs the SME Climate Hub, a global initiative providing free tools, resources, and platforms for small and medium-sized enterprises to make climate commitments, measure progress, and build resilience. Supported over 24,000 companies through this program.
    • Providing capacity-building tools and guidance for corporate climate action
      Develops and maintains practical resources such as business action checklists, step-by-step guides, project management tools, and a resource library to support companies in reducing fossil fuel reliance and transitioning to clean energy across energy efficiency, buildings, electricity procurement, transportation, and process heat. Includes Climate Transition Action Plans and guidance aligned with science-based targets.
  • Climate Change Public Awareness & Advocacy 1 activity
    • Advocating for ambitious climate policies and amplifying business voices
      Engages in policy advocacy across finance, industry, transport, and agriculture sectors to advance climate goals, including through high-profile communications campaigns, joint statements by companies, and narrative-shifting events that influence policymakers in priority geographies. Represents companies accounting for 71% of the MSCI ACWI market capitalization.
  • Climate Change Research and Advocacy Funding 1 activity
    • Funding research on carbon credits and corporate climate strategies
      Funds research reports examining the role of carbon credits in corporate climate strategies, supporting evidence-based understanding and integrity in market-based climate solutions.
  • Energy Policy Advocacy & Research 1 activity
    • Running the Electric Advantage program to accelerate clean electrification
      Manages the Electric Advantage program, a multi-year initiative that convenes business and government leaders to advance industry action, policy reform, and investment in clean electrification and electrified economies.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$15.21M
Contributions & grants$15.13M99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$4K0%
Other revenue$78K
expenses
Total expenses$18.61M
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$5.72M
Grants paid out$8.39M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$21.82M
Cash$20.06M
Investments$0
Liabilities$8.86M
Net assets$12.96M
Liquid reserves12.9 mo
3 years on record · 2022–2024 · YoY revenue -23.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 10
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
DR MARIA MENDILUCE CEO 40 $524K
ANDREW PRAG MANAGING DIRECTOR, POLICY 40 $275K
RASMUS VALANKO MANAGING DIRECTOR, SYSTEMS TRANSFORMATION 40 $265K
JENNY AHLEN MANAGING DIRECTOR OF NET ZERO 40 $233K
STEVEN CASEY DEPUTY DIRECTOR, GRANTS 40 $224K
KRISTEN KING DEPUTY DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS 40 $195K
VANESSA SALINAS DIRECTOR, FINANCE 40 $193K
LUKE PRITCHARD DIRECTOR, BEYOND ALLIANCE 40 $176K
JANE JAGD DIRECTOR, NET ZERO FINANCE 40 $173K
JOSH HARRIS DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS & 40 $147K
board members · 14
  • AMBASSADOR PATRICIA ESPINOSA — DIRECTOR
  • ARON CRAMER — DIRECTOR
  • DR CELINE HERWEIJER — VICE CHAIR
  • DR STEVE HOWARD — DIRECTOR
  • ELIOT WHITTINGTON — DIRECTOR
  • HALLA TOMASDOTTIR — DIRECTOR
  • HELEN CLARKSON — DIRECTOR
  • LEAH SELIGMANN — DIRECTOR
  • MINDY LUBBER — TREASURER
  • PETER BAKKER — DIRECTOR
  • ROBERTO MARQUES — DIRECTOR
  • SHERRY MADERA — DIRECTOR
  • SIR IAN CHESHIRE — CHAIR
  • SUPRIYA SEN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 64

Who they work with

  • Amazon Partner — Co-founder and first signatory of The Climate Pledge, in partnership with the We Mean Business Coalition
  • Amazon Partner — Partner organization in The Climate Pledge
  • AstraZeneca Partner — Collaborates on fleet electrification efforts and shares implementation insights through coalition channels.
  • BSR Coalition — Founding partner of the We Mean Business Coalition, providing insight, advice, and collaborative initiatives to help member companies create long-term value and scale impact.
  • BSR Partner — Co-developed the Just Transition Resource Platform with We Mean Business Coalition
  • BSR Partner — Founding partner of the We Mean Business Coalition
  • Beyond Alliance Coalition — Co-leads the Beyond Alliance initiative with companies and nonprofits to advance market-based climate solutions.
  • CDP Coalition — Founding partner of the We Mean Business Coalition, operating the world’s only independent environmental disclosure system to drive transparency and data-driven decision-making.
  • CDP Partner — Collaborates with CDP to analyze supplier climate engagement and leverage data from the CDP Supply Chain program.
  • CDP Partner — Founding partner of the Science-based Targets initiative (SBTi)
  • CDP Partner — Founding partner of the We Mean Business Coalition
  • CIFF Partner
  • Ceres Coalition — Founding partner of the We Mean Business Coalition, working to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more just, and resilient economy through data-driven research and advocacy.
  • Ceres Partner — Collaborated on the development of the Responsible Policy Engagement (RPE) Framework, building on Ceres' 2020 Blueprint for Responsible Policy Engagement on Climate Change.
  • Ceres Partner — Founding partner of the We Mean Business Coalition
  • Climate Group Coalition — Founding partner of the We Mean Business Coalition, driving climate action by forming networks of business and government to shift markets and policies toward net zero emissions.
  • Climate Group Partner — Collaborates on RE100, EV100, Smart Energy Coalition, SteelZero, and ConcreteZero initiatives
  • Climate Group Partner — Founding partner of the We Mean Business Coalition
  • Coalition partners Coalition — Collaborates with Coalition partners to integrate business action and policy for climate goals.
  • Corporate Leaders Groups Partner — Founding partner of the We Mean Business Coalition
  • Corporate Leaders Groups (CLG) Coalition — Founding partner of the We Mean Business Coalition, convened by the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership to build business consensus and shape policy for a sustainable economy.
  • E.ON Partner — Collaborating with E.ON to supply waste heat from steelmaking for thermal energy in brewing processes.
  • ENERGYNEST Partner — Working with ENERGYNEST on thermal energy storage to decarbonize industrial heat processes.
  • Ecosystem Marketplace Partner — Funds and supports publication of research on corporate use of carbon credits.
  • Exponential Roadmap Initiative Partner — Partner in creating the SME Climate Hub
  • Exponential Roadmap Initiative Partner — Partner in the SME Climate Hub initiative to support small and medium-sized enterprises in taking climate action.
  • Geelen Counterflow Partner — Partners to scale electrification of industrial drying processes in petfood and fishfeed production.
  • Global Optimism Partner — Co-founder of The Climate Pledge, alongside Amazon
  • H&M Group Partner — Collaborates on electrifying textile production in supply chains and shares progress through coalition initiatives.
  • High Tide Foundation Partner
+ 34 more
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.

  • 4 A's Framework as Guided Climate Leadership Pathway
    methodology: 4_a_s_framework
    By structuring corporate climate leadership around Ambition, Action, Advocacy, and Accountability, the organization provides a step-by-step methodology that helps companies move from goal-setting to implementation and transparent reporting, increasing the credibility and impact of their climate commitments.
  • Business-Leveraged Systems Change Through Strategic Influence
    methodology: business_leveraged_systems_change
    By focusing on influencing high-leverage business decisions — particularly in investment and production — the organization drives systemic economic transformation toward net-zero, using corporate behavior as a catalyst for broad market and structural change.
  • Unified Business Voice to Amplify Advocacy Impact
    methodology: unified_business_advocacy
    By consolidating diverse corporate actors into a single, credible coalition, the organization increases its influence on public discourse and policy, making business advocacy more effective and harder to ignore in climate negotiations.
  • Virtuous Cycle of Business and Policy Action
    methodology: virtuous_cycle
    By aligning corporate climate commitments with policy advocacy, the organization generates mutually reinforcing progress — stronger corporate action increases credibility and leverage for policy change, while ambitious policies in turn raise the floor for corporate ambition, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of climate action.