Rocky Mountain Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TRANSFORM THE GLOBAL ENERGY SYSTEM TO SECURE A CLEAN, PROSPEROUS, ZERO-CARBON FUTURE FOR ALL.
- Income
- $174.9 million
- Spending
- $159.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 1.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 717
- Volunteers
- 6
- Highest pay
- $794,911, chief executive officer
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: 71 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 256 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $51.6 million spent. Decarbonizing Key Sectors: Carbon-Free Buildings is revolutionizing energy usage in buildings in partnership with industry, governments, businesses, NGOs, financial institutions, and real estate decision makers. Together, we research, test, and drive solutions that reduce climate pollution, lower energy costs, enhance health and resilience, and ensure thermally comfortable buildings for all. Carbon-Free Electricity works with partners to create and scale solutions that advance decarbonization objectives while maintaining energy reliability, improving energy access, advancing equity outcomes, and securing a just transition. We support US utilities in climate-aligned planning, support China use of wind and solar to meet its growing electricity demand, and transform utility business models to support clean energy investment in the Global South. Climate-Aligned Industries engages with the public and private sectors to kick-start first-of-a-kind industrial projects that reduce emissions and accelerate the deployment of clean energy worldwide. With partners, we leverage "hubs" to complete first-mover commercial scale projects, encourage the build-out of green hydrogen, and accelerate carbon dioxide removal projects. Carbon-Free Transportation spearheads a rapid and equitable transition to a zero-emission transportation future globally through a whole-systems approach. We work with decision makers within all levels of government, businesses, and utilities to avoid unnecessary miles traveled, shift to more efficient modes, accelerate electrification of all vehicle types, and facilitate investment in affordable, future-ready EV infrastructure for all.
- $38.2 million spent. Scaling solutions around the world: Accelerates decarbonization of China's biggest carbon-producing sectors, offering in-depth technical expertise and solution-based implementation strategies to help reduce emissions and increase clean energy through innovative, market-based, and scalable solutions. The Global South Program works on the ground to accelerate the energy transition, with a focus on improving energy access, increasing clean energy supply, building capacity and supporting climate resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and islands nations in the Caribbean and the Pacific. RMI India supports the transformation of India's economy for a clean, thriving, and inclusive energy future to achieve a net-zero economy by 2070. The US Program raises the ambition and impact of US federal and state climate policy and aims to accelerate investments in communities and create tangible examples to show that ambitious climate goals are not only possible but are economically and socially advantageous.
- $34.3 million spent. Applying Powerful Market Catalysts: Catalytic Finance (previously The Climate Finance Access Network) helps developing countries secure and structure finance for climate investments, with a focus on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Africa, Pacific Islands, and the Caribbean through our Climate Finance Access Network and other market interventions. Climate Intelligence makes emissions visible - improving access to timely, trustworthy data that can help drive climate-aligned decisions and transactions globally. Climate Finance partners with the finance community close the gaps in the financial sector that are currently preventing capital from flowing into decarbonization projects, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors by increasing both the supply and demand for climate capital and enabling capital to flow to underserved communities. The Energy Transition Academy is a leadership, capacity, and workforce development platform for energy leaders around the world. It offers tools and services to advance projects, programs, and policies that will empower communities across the Global South to tackle climate challenges, create jobs, and seize clean energy opportunities. Strategy Team maximizes RMI's impact by providing portfolio-level strategic insights and intelligence, both internally and externally, supporting strategic engagement with critical stakeholders, driving our organizational strategy planning process, and supporting Strategy Council decision making. Third Derivative guides and supports the climate tech entrepreneurs who are solving the world's toughest climate challenges, connecting them with a vast and diverse network of experts, corporate partners, and investors to help these startups go to market faster, advance climate tech innovation with their breakthrough ideas, achieve real climate impacts, and transform markets.
- $6.9 million spent. Other RMI Initiatives: Influence Team: As an audience-first, multi-channel storytelling force, RMI leverages our cutting-edge research to move more audiences-including stakeholders, the media, and key decision-makers-to act. Through partnerships, strategic communications, and multi-channel storytelling we inform global leaders to adopt and spread the message of the accelerating energy transition. MiQ: MiQ is an independent methane emissions certification standard that aims to differentiate natural gas production by emissions intensity, creating incentives for the drastic reduction of methane emissions across the oil and gas sector by delivering a thriving market for independently certified gas. New Energy Industrial Strategy Center (NEIS): An initiative of RMI, the NEIS Center is designed to harness clean and advanced energy technologies as a driver of economic strength, national security, and innovation. The launch of the NEIS Center supports RMI's mission while expanding into broader global work.
- (Expenses $ 6,933,727 including grants of $ 252,558)(Revenue $ 1,185,760) Other RMI Initiatives: Influence Team: As an audience-first, multi-channel storytelling force, RMI leverages our cutting-edge research to move more audiences-including stakeholders, the media, and key decision-makers-to act. Through partnerships, strategic communications, and multi-channel storytelling we inform global leaders to adopt and spread the message of the accelerating energy transition. MiQ: MiQ is an independent methane emissions certification standard that aims to differentiate natural gas production by emissions intensity, creating incentives for the drastic reduction of methane emissions across the oil and gas sector by delivering a thriving market for independently certified gas. New Energy Industrial Strategy Center (NEIS): An initiative of RMI, the NEIS Center is designed to harness clean and advanced energy technologies as a driver of economic strength, national security, and innovation. The launch of the NEIS Center supports RMI's mission while expanding into broader global work.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1982.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.