Our Climate Education Fund

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
263059927
IRS 990 coverage
2010–2023
Forms available
Form 990 2023, Form 990-N 2016
Location
Washington, DC, USA
Phone
2028100124
Rating
74
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Environmental Education and Outdoor Survival Programs

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$796,801
Expenses
$934,690
Assets
$332,470
Liabilities
$4,662

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2023. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

8 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • NADYA DUTCHIN (PRESIDENT)
  • DARCY WINSLOW (VICE PRESIDENT)
  • JASMINE SANDERS (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UNTIL JANUARY)
  • CATHERINE MONGELLA (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AS OF JUNE)

Highest reported compensation

  • CATHERINE MONGELLA (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AS OF JUNE): $66,135 total reported compensation
  • JASMINE SANDERS (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UNTIL JANUARY): $23,139 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2023. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

We engage and train youth from affected communities to participate in broad and diverse advocacy coalitions. We build deep partnerships, mobilize, and center those most impacted by climate change to dismantle systemic oppression and achieve systemic change.

What it reported doing in 2023

In 2023, our climate mobilized over 3,300 youth leaders across five states--New York, Massachusetts, Florida, Washington, and Oregon--along with our federal program. We focused on developing the next generation of climate leaders by providing hands-on advocacy training, leadership development, and mental health support through programs like resilience as resistance. Our work included hosting 92 collaborative calls with partners, organizing 60 youth leadership events, and expanding our fellowship program, which engaged 13 youth leaders in advocating for science-based, equitable climate policies.our climate had a significant impact on policy advancement, contributing to the passage of 13 pieces of climate legislation at the state and federal levels. We organized statewide advocacy events, including a climate day of action in Washington and a youth summit in Massachusetts, bringing together over 2,350 youth to participate in lobbying, letter-writing campaigns, and policy discussions. Our communications team also grew our online presence by 35%, launching our first communications volunteer program and amplifying youth voices through social media, blogs, and podcasts.on the organizational front, we expanded our staffing to support our growing initiatives, with key promotions and hires to strengthen our team. We developed a multi-year strategic plan focused on organizational growth and impact, while deepening our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and action (deiba). Our efforts included ensuring that youth leaders from frontline communities were compensated for their work and creating space for professional development across staff. These accomplishments laid a solid foundation for continued success in advancing climate justice, empowering youth leaders, and building a more inclusive and resilient movement.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 98% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and most voting board members are independent. The filing reports few safeguards for money sent abroad and the filing does not identify recipients for some grant dollars.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 82
  • Transparency & Controls: 55
  • Accountability: 90
  • Sustainability: 24
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 94.2%; rating input score 94
  • Program expense ratio: 80.3%; rating input score 80
  • Fundraising efficiency: $7.62 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
  • Grant itemization coverage: Scored; rating input score 0
  • 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: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Missing
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -17.3%; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.36; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 68; 68th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 7.2%; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 21.4% per year; rating input score 100; 83rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 15.9% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 14.1% per year; rating input score 100; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 94.2% of revenue deployed · 80.3% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 6 of 6 board members independent · 6 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $751K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $66K · 8 people listed
  • Consistency: 24 of 24 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 6 filed schedules · includes major donors and foreign activity
  • Filing history: 10 filing years from 2010 to 2023
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: Resolved incoming and outgoing counterparties from filed money flows.
  • Related organizations: 1 filed related-organization link
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Transparency & Controls: Foreign activity oversight scored 0/100.
  • High — Transparency & Controls: Grant itemization coverage scored 0/100.
  • Moderate — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 30/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 12/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 16/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: Independent financial-statement audit not reported.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 46/100.