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Silverlining Inc

EIN 37-1908884 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SILVERLINING IS DEDICATED TO ENSURING THAT SOCIETY HAS THE INFORMATION AND CAPABILITIES NEEDED TO ENSURE A SAFE AND SECURE ATMOSPHERE. WE SUPPORT OPEN RESEARCH, SCIENCE-BASED POLICY AND BROAD STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT TO ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING AND PROTECTION OF THE ATMOSPHERE IN A WORLD WITH EMERGING INTERVENTIONS IN WEATHER AND CLIMATE. OUR WORK FOCUSES ON ADVANCING RIGOROUS, INDEPENDENT SCIENCE AND EVIDENCE-BASED DECISION-MAKING TO PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY, ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND NATIONAL SECURITY.

Income
$6.7 million
Spending
$6.5 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
-5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
12
Volunteers
2
Highest pay
$452,000, chief climate scientist

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 79% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 81% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    2 of 3 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
  1. $1.4 million spent. POLICY - SILVERLINING UNDERTAKES AND SUPPORTS RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS ON U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL POLICY ON THE ATMOSPHERE; ACTIVITIES INCLUDE GRANTMAKING, SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION, PUBLICATION, CONVENING AND EDUCATION.
  2. $1.9 million spent. RESEARCH & INNOVATION - THE SAFE EARTH SYSTEM RESEARCH INITIATIVE (SESRI) SUPPORTS AND UNDERTAKES RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS TO ACCELERATE ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE AND FORECASTING TO RAPIDLY ADVANCE SOCIETY'S ABILITY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE AMOSPHERE. SESRI PROVIDES RESEARCH FUNDING AND COORDINATION ACROSS RESEARCH EFFORTS, CONVENING, PUBLICATION SUPPORT AND THE COLLABORATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF A RESEARCH ROADMAP.
  3. $1.1 million spent. STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT - SILVERLINING'S ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION EFFORTS INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT, MEDIA ENGAGEMENT, WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA, VIRTUAL AND LIVE EVENTS AND PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDER COMMUNITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 June 2019.

    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.