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Environmental Defense Fund Incorporated

EIN 11-6107128 · New York, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE THE NATURAL SYSTEMS ON WHICH ALL LIFE DEPENDS. GUIDED BY SCIENCE & ECONOMICS, WE FIND PRACTICAL & LASTING SOLUTIONS TO THE MOST SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS. WE WORK TO STABILIZE THE CLIMATE, STRENGTHEN THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE AND NATURE TO THRIVE AND SUPPORT PEOPLE'S HEALTH.

Income
$443.3 million
Spending
$356.8 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
1,058
Volunteers
42
Highest pay
$1.2 million, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (environment, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 48% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (environment, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    42 of 42 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $94.0 million spent. PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT - IN FY 2025, EDF RELIED ON DATA FROM THE METHANESAT SATELLITE AND METHANEAIR FLIGHTS TO PROVIDE THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE GLOBAL LOOK AT HOW MUCH METHANE IS BEING EMITTED BY OIL AND GAS PRODUCERS. AT THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION, EDF PARTICIPATED IN TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE SHIPPING DECARBONIZATION STRATEGY, FOCUSED ON EFFICIENCY, AND A FUEL STANDARD. IN THE U.S., EDF HELPED ADVANCE CLEAN AFFORDABLE ENERGY AND PERMITTING FOR CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS IN CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, ILLINOIS, NEW MEXICO, NORTH CAROLINA, CONNECTICUT, MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, TEXAS, AND OTHER STATES.
  2. $89.7 million spent. CORE CAPACITIES AND EDUCATION - IN FY 2025, EDF DELIVERED RESULTS ACROSS OUR CORE CAPACITIES, INCLUDING CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT, ECONOMICS AND SCIENCE. EDF WORKED WITH THREE NEW CORPORATE MEMBERS INTO THE DAIRY METHANE ACTION ALLIANCE TO REDUCE METHANE EMISSIONS ACROSS DAIRY SUPPLY CHAINS. EDF ADVANCED SCIENCE BY DEMONSTRATING A CUTTING-EDGE HYDROGEN SENSOR BEING USED IN A RESEARCH STUDY COORDINATED BY EDF TO MEASURE HYDROGEN EMISSIONS. EDF'S WATER LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE WORKED WITH MORE THAN 70 RURAL AND TRIBAL LEADERS, IN TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS ON SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND NETWORKS TO ADDRESS WATER CHALLENGES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
  3. $58.0 million spent. STRENGTHEN PEOPLE'S AND NATURE'S ABILITY TO THRIVE - IN FY 2025, EDF MADE PROGRESS ON RESILIENT WATER SUPPLIES IN CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, NEW MEXICO AND TEXAS. EDF ADVANCED POLICY AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FISHERIES, HELPING TO STRENGTHEN CONSERVATION EFFORTS, IMPROVE REGULATION OF FISHING PRACTICES AND MODERNIZE GOVERNANCE.
  4. $73.0 million spent. PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES TO SUPPORT PEOPLE'S HEALTH AND REGIONALLY FOCUSED WORK.
  5. (Expenses $ 72,968,353 including grants of $ 5,843,734)(Revenue $ 0) PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES TO SUPPORT PEOPLE'S HEALTH AND REGIONALLY FOCUSED WORK.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1969.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.