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Passes our checks

Center for Climate Integrity

EIN 82-1659823 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EMPOWER COMMUNITIES AND STATES WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS THEY NEED TO HOLD FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR CLIMATE DECEPTION AND THE DAMAGES THEY'VE CAUSED.

Income
$9.9 million
Spending
$7.7 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
8.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
35
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$432,262, president

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    0 of 25

    2 of 2 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 (4)
  1. $2.0 million spent. LITIGATION: CCI PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR FOSSIL FUEL ACCOUNTABILITY LITIGATION BY PROVIDING PLAINTIFFS WITH EVIDENCE OF DECEPTION, LATEST SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS, LOCALIZED ANALYSIS OF CLIMATE COSTS, AND AMICUS BRIEFS. CCI ALSO SERVES AS A CONSULTING EXPERT WHERE APPROPRIATE.
  2. $2.0 million spent. CAMPAIGNS: CCI EDUCATES POLICYMAKERS AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY'S ROLE IN THE CLIMATE AND PLASTIC WASTE CRISES. IN ADDITION, CCI PROVIDES STRATEGIC GUIDANCE AND CAMPAIGN SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITIES ORGANIZING TO HOLD THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY ACCOUNTABLE.
  3. $1.7 million spent. SCIENCE & RESEARCH: CCI DESIGNS, SUPPORTS, AND PUBLISHES ORIGINAL RESEARCH INTENDED TO QUANTIFY THE COSTS OF CLIMATE-RELATED AND OTHER DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY.
  4. $1.1 million spent. COMMUNICATIONS: CCI USES A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS AND STRATEGIES (E.G. PAID AND EARNED MEDIA, PRESS OUTREACH AND COVERAGE, SOCIAL AND DIGITAL MEDIA) TO EDUCATE KEY AUDIENCES AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT FOSSIL FUEL ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUES. CCI ALSO PROVIDES RESOURCES TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SUPPORT THEIR WORK AS MESSENGERS FOR FOSSIL FUEL ACCOUNTABILITY WITH VARIOUS AUDIENCES. .

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 October 2017.

    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.