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SIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION

OAKLAND, CA · EIN 946069890 · Form 990 · FY2022 · NTEE C300 · Environment · Very Large (>$50M) · www.sierraclubfoundation.org
revenue
$87.7M
expenses
$113.4M
net assets
$176.9M
employees
19
volunteers
27
program ratio
86%
filing since
2020
mission · from form 990

EDUCATE AND EMPOWER PEOPLE TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE NATURAL AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Sierra Club Foundation advances climate solutions, conservation, and environmental justice through strategic philanthropy and support for grassroots advocacy. It serves as the fiscal sponsor for Sierra Club's charitable programs, funding initiatives that promote clean energy, land and water protection, outdoor access, and a more inclusive environmental movement. The organization operates nationwide with a focus on systemic change and large-scale capital reallocation toward sustainability.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2022

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $17.20M
    OUR WILD AMERICA - THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO PROTECT, CONSERVE, AND RESTORE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDS TO RETAIN NATURAL SYSTEMS AND BENEFIT PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN A CLIMATE-CHANGING WORLD. THE CAMPAIGN CONTINUES THE SIERRA CLUB'S LEGACY OF PROTECTING PUBLIC LANDS AND WILD PLACES; GETTING PEOPLE ACROSS ECONOMIC LINES, CULTURES, AND COMMUNITIES - INCLUDING MILITARY AND YOUTH - OUT IN NATURE; GIVING GRASSROOTS VOLUNTEERS THE KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT NATIONALLY AND IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES; AND EXPANDING AND DIVERSIFYING THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT. THE OUR WILD AMERICA CAMPAIGN IS ADVANCING THREE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES: (1) OPPOSING DIRTY FUELS EXTRACTION, PARTICULARLY ON PUBLIC LANDS, (2) PROTECTING LANDS, WATER, AND WILDLIFE, AND (3) GETTING PEOPLE OUTDOORS TO EXPLORE, ENJOY, AND PROTECT THE NATURAL WORLD.
  2. #2 $10.93M
    CHAPTER AND GROUP EDUCATION PROJECT (CGEP) - THIS PROJECT SUPPORTS THE STATE AND LOCAL CHAPTERS AND GROUPS OF THE SIERRA CLUB IN THEIR WORK TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE THREATS TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM. THE OVERARCHING GOALS OF THE CGEP ARE TO PROTECT THE NATURAL AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC, TO ENFORCE LOCAL AND FEDERAL LAWS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, AND TO TRAIN AND PREPARE ACTIVISTS FOR PUBLIC ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. IT IS A PROJECT THROUGH WHICH THE SIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION WORKS TO ACHIEVE ITS MISSION TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER PEOPLE TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE NATURAL AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT.
named programs · 10 · from sources

what they call their work

Build a Movement
Invests in building a diverse, inclusive environmental movement that links environmental health with social justice.
Climate Solutions Initiative
Supports efforts to transition to a clean energy economy and address the climate crisis through strategic grantmaking and advocacy
Environmental Movement Building
Builds a diverse and inclusive environmental movement that integrates social justice and environmental health
Get People Outdoors
Supports programs and policies that expand outdoor access for people across economic, cultural, and community lines.
Lands and Waters Protection Program
Funds initiatives to secure protections for public lands and waters, promote healthy ecosystems, and ensure clean air and water
Outdoors for All
Supports programs and policies that increase access to the outdoors across economic, cultural, and community lines
Secure Lands Protections
Funds efforts to protect public lands and waters, promote healthy ecosystems, and ensure clean air and water for communities.
Shifting Trillions Campaign
A campaign to redirect capital away from fossil fuels and toward a sustainable, renewable energy economy that supports climate justice and environmental health
Shifting Trillions for Climate Justice
Leads efforts to redirect global capital from fossil fuels to renewable energy and restorative economic models through advocacy and shareholder engagement.
Solve the Climate Crisis
Supports the transition to a clean energy economy by funding initiatives that reduce fossil fuel dependence and promote renewable energy and resource efficiency.
activities · 2

what they do

advocacy · 1
  • Shareholder advocacy for fossil fuel transition Fossil Fuel Financial Accountability
    Co-files shareholder resolutions at major fossil fuel companies, such as BP, to compel planning for the decline of oil and gas production.
capacity building · 1
  • Leadership investment for environmental protection and energy transformation Scientific Research & Regeneration Initiatives
    Invests in leadership communities focused on protecting millions of acres of land and driving transformation in the energy sector.
strategies · 3

how they think

Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any approach shared with other orgs to see the full field.

  • Building an inclusive environmental justice movement environmental_justice_movement_building unique to this org
    We grow a diverse and equitable environmental movement by integrating social justice into environmental health advocacy, ensuring marginalized communities are central to movement building.
  • Double-bottom-line investment decisions integrating environmental and social impact impact_investing unique to this org
    We apply an impact investing framework by evaluating all investment decisions based on both financial return and positive environmental or social outcomes.
  • Strategic philanthropy and grassroots advocacy to scale environmental impact strategic_philanthropy_and_grassroots_advocacy unique to this org
    We leverage strategic philanthropy and grassroots advocacy as complementary tools to advance climate solutions, protect natural ecosystems, and strengthen the broader environmental movement.
financials · form 990 · fy2022

the money

revenue
Total revenue$87.75M
Contributions & grants$83.36M95%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$3.12M4%
Other revenue$1.28M
expenses
Total expenses$113.45M
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead2%
Fundraising12%
Salaries & benefits$1.88M
Grants paid out$96.75M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$207.98M
Cash$16.10M
Investments$129.57M
Liabilities$31.03M
Net assets$176.94M
Liquid reserves15.4 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue -19.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 6
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
DAN CHU EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $439K
KEVIN MCGAHAN CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 40 $338K
HENRY HOLMES SR. DIRECTOR, PROGRAMS & COMPLIANCE 40 $248K
AGANA MORENO DIRECTOR OF FINANCE 40 $211K
JENNIE PALMER DIR. OF ADMIN & BOARD RELATIONS 40 $157K
TING LEE ASST. DIR., PROGRAMS & COMPLIANCE 40 $125K
board members · 18
  • CHRISTIAN OKOYE — DIRECTOR
  • CLAIRE BROIDO JOHNSON — DIRECTOR
  • DARREN ARONOFSKY — DIRECTOR (THRU 03/05/22)
  • DONNEL BAIRD — DIRECTOR
  • EVA KATHLEEN SCHULTE — MEMBER-AT-LARGE
  • GAIL GREENWALD — CHAIR (THRU 05/20/22)
  • JESSICA SAROWITZ — TREASURER
  • JILL SOFFER — DIRECTOR
  • JOEL SANDERS — VICE CHAIR
  • LOREN BLACKFORD — DIRECTOR (THRU 08/15/22)
  • MARK WALTERS — DIRECTOR
  • PAUL RISSMAN — DIRECTOR
  • PEDRO HENRIQUES DA SILVA — DIRECTOR
  • PETER LIU — DIRECTOR
  • RAMON CRUZ — DIRECTOR
  • REBEKAH SAUL BUTLER — SECRETARY
  • ROBIN MANN — CHAIR
  • STEPH SPEIRS — DIRECTOR
relationships · 2

who they work with

  • BP Coalition — Co-filed a shareholder resolution with institutional investors to urge BP to plan for fossil fuel decline.
  • Sierra Club Partner — Independent fiscal sponsor of Sierra Club's charitable environmental programs.