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Project Drawdown

EIN 38-3705448 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROJECT DRAWDOWN'S MISSION IS TO DRIVE MEANINGFUL CLIMATE ACTION BY ADVANCING SCIENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS AND STRATEGIES. PROJECT DRAWDOWN'S WORK IS FOCUSED ON THREE PILLARS: SCIENCE - ADVANCING SCIENCE-BASED CLIMATE SOLUTIONS AND STRATEGIES; STAKEHOLDERS - ENGAGING KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND EMPOWERING BOLD CLIMATE LEADERSHIP; AND STORIES - TELLING HUMAN STORIES OF SOLUTIONS IN ACTION.

Income
$5.8 million
Spending
$5.6 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
10.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
28
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$476,625, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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, 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. $2.9 million spent. SCIENCE: THE DRAWDOWN SCIENCE TEAM GENERATES AND SHARES SCIENCE-BASED INSIGHTS AND TOOLS TO ENABLE THOSE WITH THE CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT CLIMATE SOLUTIONS TO DO SO. THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTS CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH TO IDENTIFY THE BEST POSSIBLE CLIMATE SOLUTIONS AND DESIGN THE MOST EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO BRING THEM TO SCALE.
  2. $345,034 spent. COMMUNICATIONS: OUR RIGOROUS, CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH IDENTIFIES THE BEST POSSIBLE CLIMATE SOLUTIONS AND DESIGNS THE MOST EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO BRING THEM TO SCALE. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES THE MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS TEAM, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ORGANIZATION'S PEOPLE AND PROGRAMS IN EXPANDING ITS REACH, INFLUENCE, AND IMPACT AMONG TARGET AUDIENCES. THE ORGANIZATION SHARES FINDINGS WITH THE WORLD THROUGH EFFECTIVE SCIENCE COMMUNICATION, MARKETING CAMPAIGNS, AND MEDIA PARTNERSHIPS.
  3. $770,085 spent. DRAWDOWN LABS: PROJECT DRAWDOWN USES SCIENCE TO INFORM, INSPIRE, AND EMPOWER KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND EMERGING CLIMATE LEADERS - INCLUDING POLICYMAKERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, PHILANTHROPISTS, INVESTORS, BUSINESS LEADERS, AND OTHERS - TO TAKE BOLD ACTION AND BRING THE MOST EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE WORLD. WE HELP RAPIDLY ACCELERATE GLOBAL CLIMATE INVESTMENT BY SHOWING THE WORLD WHAT IS POSSIBLE AND MOST EFFECTIVE IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE. THE DRAWDOWN CAPITAL COALITION IS A PROGRAM NESTED WITHIN DRAWDOWN LABS.
  4. $375,404 spent. ADDITIONALLY, DRAWDOWN STORIES CONTRIBUTED TO OUR 2025 ACCOMPLISHMENTS. DRAWDOWN STORIES: THE ORGANIZATION LEVERAGES STORYTELLING AND ENGAGEMENT AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN SCIENCE-BASED CLIMATE SOLUTIONS AND EVERYDAY PEOPLE LOOKING TO FIND THEIR ROLES IN STOPPING CLIMATE CHANGE. DRAWDOWN STORIES INCLUDES DRAWDOWN'S NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE GLOBAL SOLUTIONS DIARY.
  5. ADDITIONALLY, DRAWDOWN STORIES CONTRIBUTED TO OUR 2025 ACCOMPLISHMENTS. DRAWDOWN STORIES: THE ORGANIZATION LEVERAGES STORYTELLING AND ENGAGEMENT AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN SCIENCE-BASED CLIMATE SOLUTIONS AND EVERYDAY PEOPLE LOOKING TO FIND THEIR ROLES IN STOPPING CLIMATE CHANGE. DRAWDOWN STORIES INCLUDES DRAWDOWN'S NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE GLOBAL SOLUTIONS DIARY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2006.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.