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Center for International Environmental Law Inc

EIN 52-1633220 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INVESTIGATE, RESEARCH, WRITE, PUBLISH, PRESENT CONFERENCES AND TEACH WITH RESPECT TO GLOBAL, REGIONAL, TRANSBOUNDARY, AND COMPARATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND TO MAKE THE FINDINGS FROM SUCH ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC; TO CONDUCT CASE INVESTIGATION AND ADVOCACY, INCLUDING MEDIATION, ARBITRATION AND LITIGATION IN MATTERS INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, THE OUTCOME OF WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC; AND TO PERFORM SUCH OTHER CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AS MAY BE NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THE FOREGOING PURPOSES.

Income
$14.4 million
Spending
$11.7 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
47
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$217,379, vp/interim president & ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 118% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 June 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. $3.3 million spent. CLIMATE AND ENERGY PROGRAM: CIEL'S CLIMATE & ENERGY PROGRAM WORKS TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND ACCELERATE A FULL, FAIR, AND FUNDED TRANSITION TO A RENEWABLE ENERGY ECONOMY.
  2. $3.2 million spent. FOSSIL ECONOMY PROGRAM:CIEL'S FOSSIL ECONOMY PROGRAM WORKS TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE AND HEALTH IMPACTS OF OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOSSIL FUELS. CIEL WORKS WITH A WIDE RANGE OF PARTNERS AND ALLIES ACROSS THEMATIC ISSUES AND GEOGRAPHIES, PROVIDING RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, AND STRENGTHENING POLICIES.
  3. $1.7 million spent. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM: THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM WORKS TO REDUCE EXPOSURE TO TOXIC CHEMICALS AND PLASTIC POLLUTION AROUND THE WORLD.
  4. $646,250 spent. IPEN SECRETARIAT AND MISCELLANEOUS PROJECTS
  5. $410,985 spent. THE PEOPLE, LAND & RESOURCES (PL&R) PROGRAM WORKS TO ENSURE THAT STRONG HUMAN RIGHTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARDS GOVERN DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES, THAT IMPACTED COMMUNITIES EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO FREE, PRIOR, AND INFORMED CONSENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 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 November 1990.

    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.