Center for Biological Diversity

What it reported doing in 2024

1. Urban wildlands program- the center's urban wildlands program works to protect open space and wildlife from inapprorpiate development and development-associated impacts, especially in California. In 2024 we issued a report on the cost of sprawl and reservoirs to humans, wildlife and our climate, we won legal agreements and/or suits to protect wildlands in lake and san diego county, we won policy change to improve wildlife connectivity and limit unnecessary rat poisons in California. 2. Oceans program- in 2024, the center's oceans program continued to make significant strides in marine conservation. Our advocacy aimed at preventing whale entanglements in fishing gear, protecting the oceans from plastic pollution and oil spills, and securing endangered marine species and their habitats' protections. We used law, science, organizing, and communications to protect healthy oceans and coastal communities. 3. Southwest program- the center's southwest program works to protect wildlife and wild places in Arizona, New Mexico and northern mexico. 4. Population & sustainability program- the center's population and sustainability program educates the public and policymakers on the connections between human population pressure, unsustainable consumption, and the climate and extinction crises, and advocates for solutions that advance reproductive freedom, gender empowerment, conscious consumption, and just, humane and sustainable food system. In 2024, we released a global white paper and roadmap for a just food transition, analyzed and advocated for sustainability in dietary guidelines, and advanced food code policy to support reuse and reduce plastic pollution. We launched campaigns to stop deforestation in the avocado industry, distribute kits to support reproductive health in climate-related disasters, establish sustainable consumption programs on campuses, and support secondhand retailers. Our team also engaged on reproductive rights and food policy issues at the local, state, national, and international level, often with the support of our members and supporters. 5. International program- the center's international program seeks to protect global biodiversity through u.s. And international laws. In 2024, we sought u.s. Trade protections for numerous species threatened by the pet and decor trade including bats from southeast asia and secured deadlines for protections for critically endangered lizards and whales and dolphins entangled in fishing net abroad. We worked under several treaties to garner international proessure on the mexican government to enforce its own wildlife laws to protect the gravely imperiled vaquita, protect world heritage habitat in ecuador, brazil, and mexico, and tighten trade protections under convention for international trade in endangered species. 6. Carnivore conservation program- the center's carnivore conservation program won protections in 2024 for ecologically important carnivores and their habitats including grey wolves, red wolves, mountain lions, grizzly bears, and martens. It won the designation and protection of fedral critical habitat areas, fought against damaging state and federal policies, and supported pro-carnivore policies. 9. The center had program service accomplishments in other programs including: Florida and the caribbean, the great basin, northern and southern rockies, the southeast, and Hawaii.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 68.8%; rating input score 69
• Program expense ratio: 88.3%; rating input score 88
• Fundraising efficiency: $12.89 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.9%; rating input score 93; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 1 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 17
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 64.4%; rating input score 64; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 60%; rating input score 60; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 24.3%; rating input score 85; 85th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.71; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.07; rating input score 78; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 8.3%; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 12% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 12.1% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 12.3% per year; rating input score 100; 73rd percentile among comparable filings