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Windward Fund

EIN 47-3522162 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WINDWARD FUND ADVANCES PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT CONSERVATION, CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS, AND THE PROTECTION OF LAND, WILDLIFE, AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)AS A 501(C)(3) PUBLIC CHARITY, WINDWARD HOSTS PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS AND GRANT-MAKING PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS CONSERVATION FROM A RANGE OF ANGLES. WINDWARD ALSO PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR DONORS TO CONVENE AND COLLABORATE ON THESE ISSUES, LEVERAGING THE WORK OF OTHER CONSERVATION PROJECTS HOUSED AT THE FUND TO STRENGTHEN THEIR EFFORTS AND ADVANCE THE FIELD. WINDWARD IS GOVERNED BY TRUSTEES WITH DEEP EXPERIENCE IN RUNNING ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, MANAGING GRANTMAKING PORTFOLIOS, AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

Income
$308.2 million
Spending
$251.3 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
181
Volunteers
90
Highest pay
$350,030, project program director

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (environment, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 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 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (environment, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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 (4)
  1. $224.2 million spent. ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS - WINDWARD FUND'S ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS FOCUS ON A RANGE OF CONSERVATION, CLIMATE, AND ENERGY ISSUES IN THE U.S. AND ABROAD. THESE ISSUES INCLUDE WATER SOLUTIONS IN THE AMERICAN WEST, CLIMATE RESILIENCE, ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES, REDUCTION OF DEFORESTATION, AND CONSERVATION PLANNING. OUR WORK PRIMARILY INCLUDES CONVENING, GRANTMAKING, COMMUNICATIONS, COORDINATION AMONG STAKEHOLDERS, CIVIC AND MEDIA ENGAGEMENT, AND PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS.
  2. $12.9 million spent. AGRICULTURE, FOOD, AND NUTRITION - WINDWARD'S AGRICULTURE, FOOD, AND NUTRITION PROJECTS SUPPORT COMMUNITY FOOD PRODUCTION AND STRENGTHEN REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS BY INCREASING ACCESS TO INFORMATION, SERVICES AND RESOURCES FOR FOOD PRODUCERS.
  3. $1.3 million spent. PUBLIC SAFETY, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RELIEF - WINDWARD'S PUBLIC SAFETY, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RELIEF PROGRAMS FOCUS ON A RANGE OF ISSUES INCLUDING ASSISTING PUBLIC AGENCIES ON DISASTER RESPONSE, IMPROVING RISK MITIGATION MEASURES, AND DEVELOPING ADVANCED SAFETY SOLUTIONS.
  4. $1.1 million spent. CAPACITY BUILDING - WINDWARD'S CAPACITY BUILDING PROJECTS SUPPORT THE CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT OF GRANTEES WHO WORK ACROSS ENVIRONMENTAL, CLIMATE, ENERGY, AND OTHER CHARITABLE ISSUES.

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 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 2024.

    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 June 2015.

    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.