National Caucus of Environmental Legislators

What it reported doing in 2024

Climate & energy: state legislators witness the daily impact that a changing climate has on their state. They understand that action must be taken now in order to build a clean energy economy for the future. Ncel participants are working to ensure their states make deep reductions in carbon emissions through energy efficiency, increased renewable energy, beneficial electrification, and carbon pricing. These legislators are also working to prevent environmental damage from fossil fuel development. In addition, ncel empowers state legislators by keeping them up-to-date on the most pressing climate and energy issues and providing them with the tools to pursue solutions in their states. Ocean: climate change is having drastic impacts on ocean ecosystems and coastal communities, yet oceans and coastlines also offer innovative opportunities for climate resilience and adaptation. Ncel supports lawmakers in coastal states working to adopt renewable offshore energy, preserve and protect coastal ecosystems, reduce plastic pollution and marine debris, and effectively develop coastal resilience plans that account for future impacts like sea level rises. Ncel's staff organizes state legislators to keep them up-to-date on the most pressing ocean issues, and provides them with the tools to advance protection in their states.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 59%; rating input score 59
• Program expense ratio: 79.9%; rating input score 80
• Fundraising efficiency: $31.89 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 70; 70th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd 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: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 26.2%; rating input score 82; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.01; rating input score 37; 37th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.06; rating input score 66; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 15.7%; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 14% per year; rating input score 100; 75th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 15.1% per year; rating input score 100; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 18.2% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings