Ceres

What it reported doing in 2024

Nature and biodiversity loss: ceres supports investors and companies working to reverse nature and biodiversity loss by addressing key drivers such as deforestation, pollution, water scarcity and climate change in a way that safeguards a healthy planet for all. Ceres supports and educates investors to help them address these escalating risks within their own investment strategies and with the companies they invest in. Our food emissions 50 initiative supports investors in engaging 50 of the largest food companies operating in north america to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the sector and capitalize on opportunities in the transition to a more resilient food system. We are also a founding partner of nature action 100, a voluntary initiative for investors to engage companies in key sectors to act on the financial impacts of nature loss and biodiversity decline. Ceres also works with some of the largest companies to understand and reduce their impact on natural ecosystems and advocate for policies that will help protect nature and biodiversity now and for years to come. Ceres is the convener of the u.s. Consultation group for the taskforce for nature-related financial disclosures (tnfd), an initiative that has released recommendations for companies to assess and disclose their nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks, and opportunities.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 90.6%; rating input score 91
• Program expense ratio: 80.4%; rating input score 80
• Fundraising efficiency: $9.32 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.4%; rating input score 94; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: 3 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 38
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Fail
  • Conducts field audits: Pass
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Pass
  • Conducts site visits: Fail
  • Requires grant agreements: Fail
  • May require repayment: Fail
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 43rd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 95.5%; rating input score 95; 29th 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: -12.4%; rating input score 8; 8th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.93; rating input score 34; 34th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.16; rating input score 63; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 9.3%; rating input score 23; 23rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 13.8% per year; rating input score 100; 81st percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 12.1% per year; rating input score 100; 81st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 12.9% per year; rating input score 100; 75th percentile among comparable filings