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CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY INC
TUCSON, AZ · EIN 273943866 · Form 990 · FY2022 · NTEE D20 · Animal-Related · Large ($10M-$50M) · www.biologicaldiversity.org
revenue
$27.6M
expenses
$27.0M
net assets
$38.6M
employees
230
volunteers
5
program ratio
90%
mission · from form 990

THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY INC, WORKS TO SECURE A FUTURE FOR ALL SPECIES, GREAT AND SMALL, HOVERING ON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION. WE DO SO THROUGH SCIENCE, LAW AND CREATIVE MEDIA, WITH A FOCUS ON PROTECTING THE LANDS, WATERS AND CLIMATE THAT SPECIES NEED TO SURVIVE.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Center for Biological Diversity protects biodiversity and human health from toxic substances and promotes clean, renewable energy. It uses legal action, policy advocacy, research, and grassroots campaigning to address environmental contamination and advocate for energy justice.

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 $4.35M
    THE CENTER'S PUBLIC LANDS PROGRAM AIMS TO ENSURE THAT OUR PUBLIC LANDS AND WATERS ARE PROTECTED, RESTORED AND MANAGED FOR THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT TO OUR NATION'S WILDLIFE AND ECOSYSTEMS.
  2. #2 $4.22M
    THE CENTER'S CLIMATE PROGRAM WORKS TO REDUCE U.S. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND AIR POLLUTION TO PROTECT BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES INCLUDE SECURING PROTECTIONS FOR SPECIES THREATENED BY THE IMPACTS OF GLOBAL WARMING, ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW IN ORDER TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION, AND EDUCATING AND MOBILIZING THE PUBLIC ON GLOBAL WARMING ISSUES.
named programs · 18 · from sources

what they call their work

Endocrine Disruptors Campaign
Works to control endocrine disruptors and reduce their impacts on the environment, wildlife, and humans.
Energy Justice
Legal and policy campaigns to transition to clean, renewable, wildlife-friendly, and equitable energy systems, with a focus on utility accountability and community solar
Energy Justice During Crises
Challenges the fossil fuel-powered, corporate utility status quo and advances clean and renewable energy solutions during crises.
Energy Justice North Carolina
A coalition working to end the Duke Energy monopoly and hasten a just and clean energy transition in North Carolina.
Energy Justice Program
Wages legal and grassroots campaigns to transition to clean, renewable, wildlife-friendly, and equitable energy, challenging utility corruption and advocating for anti-racist energy policies.
Environmental Health Program
Protects biodiversity and human health from toxic substances through strategic legal action, media, policy advocacy, research, and grassroots campaigning.
Fight Harmful Effects of Coal Energy
Addresses the toxic impacts of air pollution from coal-fired power plants, waste from coal mining, and mountaintop-removal coal mining.
Fossil-Free FEMA
Campaign to reform FEMA's rebuilding practices to avoid perpetuating fossil fuel dependence and instead support climate-resilient, clean energy infrastructure
Fossil-Free FEMA Campaign
Advocates for FEMA to rebuild communities after disasters without exacerbating climate and energy justice crises by relying on fossil fuels.
Fracking
Legal and grassroots campaigns to halt fracking in California and beyond, including offshore, to protect watersheds and wildlife from water contamination and methane pollution
Fracking Campaign
Works to fight hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") to protect watersheds and wildlife from water contamination and methane production.
Get the Lead Out
National campaign to replace lead-based hunting ammunition and fishing tackle with safer, nontoxic alternatives and clean up historic lead pollution
Get the Lead Out Campaign
Devoted to replacing lead-based ammunition and fishing tackle with safer, nontoxic alternatives and cleaning up historic lead pollution.
Grand Canyon Uranium Mining Campaign
Fights uranium mining on public lands and aims to limit uranium's toxic legacy, particularly in the Grand Canyon area.
Pesticides Reduction Campaign
Seeks programmatic changes in the pesticide registration process and prevents toxic pesticides from entering fish and wildlife habitats
TVA Can Lead the Way Campaign
Works to transform the Tennessee Valley Authority into a leader for energy democracy, renewable power, and climate justice.
Wild Energy Research Partnership
Collaborative research initiative with the University of California Davis to advance sustainable energy solutions for wildlife and wild places
Wildlife-Friendly Community Power Toolkit
Provides resources to help communities thrive and support animals and plants dependent on clean energy.
activities · 8 groups

what they do

  • Endangered Species Legal Protection 19 activities
    • Advocacy Against Legislative Weakening of Environmental Protections
      Defeats legislative efforts to weaken environmental protections, such as the Endangered Species Act, by providing scientific and statistical analysis to policymakers.
    • Advocacy Against Legislative Weakening of Environmental Protections
      Defeats legislative efforts to weaken environmental protections, such as the Endangered Species Act, by providing scientific and statistical analysis to policymakers.
    • Advocacy for Climate Change Mitigation
      Safeguards species and habitats from climate change through efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, including compelling government agencies to regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant and challenging climate change denial.
    • Advocacy for Climate Change Mitigation
      Works to safeguard species and habitats from climate change through efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, including securing the first Endangered Species Act listing for species threatened by global warming and compelling the EPA to regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant.
    • Advocacy for Endangered Species Act Protections
      Advocates for and secures Endangered Species Act protection for species and their critical habitats, including over 760 species and more than 700 million acres of critical habitat, leveraging a legal success rate of 83 percent.
    • Advocacy for Endangered Species Act Protections
      Advocates for and secures Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection for species and their critical habitats, including over 760 species and more than 700 million acres of critical habitat. This includes marine species, carnivores, and species threatened by climate change.
    • Advocacy for Endangered Species Act Protections
      Advocates for and secures Endangered Species Act protection for species and their critical habitats, including over 760 species and more than 700 million acres of habitat, leveraging a legal success rate of 83 percent.
    • Advocacy for Endangered Species Act Protections
      Advocates for and secures Endangered Species Act protection for species and their critical habitats, including over 760 species and more than 700 million acres of critical habitat, leveraging a legal success rate of 83 percent.
    • Advocacy for International Species Protection
      Protects global biodiversity by applying U.S. law where applicable and monitoring U.S. actions that impact endangered species abroad, including securing a seafood import ban to protect vaquita porpoises and seeking protection for various international species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
    • Advocacy for Marine Species Protection
      Secures legal protections for endangered marine species and their habitats from destructive fishing gear and practices, including sea otters, leatherback sea turtles, Hawaiian monk seals, humpback whales, and North Atlantic right whales.
    • Advocacy for Marine Species and Habitat Protection
      Conducts species protection efforts in marine environments, including securing legal protections for endangered marine species from destructive fishing gear and advocating for the conservation and recovery of ocean habitats.
    • Advocacy for Marine Species and Ocean Habitats
      Conducts species protection efforts in marine environments, including securing legal protections for endangered marine species from destructive fishing gear and challenging offshore oil drilling expansion.
    • International Biodiversity Protection Advocacy
      Protects global biodiversity by applying U.S. law where applicable, monitoring U.S. actions impacting endangered species abroad, and securing international trade protections for threatened species.
    • International Species and Habitat Protection
      Protects global biodiversity by applying U.S. law to international issues, monitoring U.S. actions abroad, and securing international trade protections for threatened species. This includes efforts in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, North and South Poles, and specific actions related to vaquita porpoises and African wildlife.
    • International Wildlife and Habitat Protection
      Protects global biodiversity by applying U.S. law to international issues, monitoring U.S. actions abroad, and securing international trade protections for threatened species, including efforts in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, North and South Poles, and specific campaigns for vaquita porpoises, leopards, giraffes, and pangolins.
    • Marine species and ocean habitat protection
      Protects marine biodiversity through legal actions to safeguard species from destructive fishing practices, offshore drilling, and climate change, securing protections for species such as sea otters, right whales, and vaquita porpoises, and blocking oil drilling in sensitive Arctic and Gulf waters.
    • Protection of Marine Species from Destructive Fishing
      Secures legal safeguards and protections for endangered marine species, including sea otters, sea turtles, seals, and whales, from entanglement in destructive fishing gear and from harmful fishing practices such as gillnets, trawling, longline hooks, and crab/lobster pots.
    • Securing Endangered Species Act protections and critical habitat designations
      Secures legal protections for endangered species and designates critical habitats through litigation, petitions, and negotiations, resulting in protections for over 760 species and hundreds of millions of acres of terrestrial and marine habitat, including polar bears, sea turtles, and marine mammals.
    • Wildlife trafficking and international species protection
      Seeks international protections for threatened species through petitions, litigation, and trade bans, targeting wildlife trafficking and unsustainable imports of species such as pangolins, giraffes, and primates, and enforcing environmental agreements like USMCA.
  • Toxic Pollution & Plastic Advocacy 7 activities
    • Advocacy Against Plastic Pollution
      Launches national campaigns to regulate and limit plastic production, successfully blocking the construction of large plastic-making plants.
    • Advocacy Against Toxic Substances and Pollution
      Works to defend biodiversity and human health from toxic substances and pollution, including campaigns to reduce pesticide use, limit mercury in seafood, establish national limits on air pollution from coal mines, and prevent mercury contamination from mining.
    • Advocacy Against Toxic Substances and Pollution
      Engages in advocacy to protect biodiversity and human health from toxic substances, including a Pesticides Reduction Campaign, efforts to limit mercury in seafood, and legal challenges against coal production plants.
    • Advocacy Against Toxic Substances and Pollution
      Runs campaigns to reduce pesticides, petitions for stricter regulations on mercury in seafood, and advocates for national limits on air pollution from coal mines to defend biodiversity and human health from toxic substances.
    • Advocacy Against Toxic Substances and Pollution
      Works to defend biodiversity and human health from toxic substances by advocating for stricter regulations on pesticides, mercury in seafood, and air pollution from coal mines, and by challenging lead contamination.
    • Pesticides and toxic substances regulation
      Runs campaigns to reduce pesticide use and regulate toxic substances by petitioning federal agencies, challenging harmful practices in court, and advocating for limits on pollutants such as mercury and lead that threaten wildlife and human health.
    • Plastic production regulation and pollution prevention
      Leads a national campaign to limit plastic production, including blocking major plastic manufacturing projects and advocating for policies to reduce plastic pollution's impact on wildlife and communities.
  • Opposition to Industrial Resource Extraction 6 activities
    • Advocacy Against Destructive Land Use Practices
      Engages in advocacy to stop destructive land use practices, including shutting down major timber operations, securing orders to remove cattle from vulnerable desert streams, and preventing uranium mining near the Grand Canyon.
    • Advocacy Against Destructive Resource Extraction
      Engages in legal and advocacy efforts to stop destructive resource extraction activities, including major timber operations, cattle grazing in vulnerable desert streams, uranium mining, fracking, and offshore oil drilling, particularly in sensitive ecosystems and public lands.
    • Advocacy Against Fracking
      Works to oppose fracking in various regions, including California and offshore areas, to protect watersheds and wildlife from contamination and habitat disruption, and has helped ban fracking in multiple California communities.
    • Land use and habitat defense on public lands
      Defends public lands from industrial threats including logging, uranium mining, and border wall construction through litigation and grassroots campaigns, particularly in the Southwest and Arctic regions.
    • Legal and Grassroots Campaigns Against Destructive Industries
      Conducts legal and grassroots campaigns to oppose and halt environmentally destructive industrial activities such as large-scale logging, offshore drilling, fracking, uranium mining, and the construction of plastic-making plants, particularly in sensitive ecosystems and public lands.
    • Legal and Grassroots Campaigns Against Destructive Industries
      Conducts legal and grassroots campaigns to oppose and halt environmentally destructive industrial activities such as large-scale logging, cattle grazing in sensitive areas, offshore oil drilling, uranium mining, fracking, and the construction of large plastic manufacturing plants.
  • Environmental Justice Advocacy Campaigns 6 activities
    • Advocacy for Climate Change Mitigation and Energy Justice
      Engages in advocacy and litigation to combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting renewable energy, and advocating for energy justice, including compelling government agencies to regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant and challenging anti-solar utility practices.
    • Advocacy for Energy Justice and Renewable Energy
      Conducts legal and grassroots campaigns to advance energy justice and a rapid transition to 100% renewable energy, including challenging utility monopolies, opposing anti-environment trade groups, and advocating for policies that support public ownership and prevent utility shutoffs.
    • Advocacy for Energy Justice and Renewable Energy
      Conducts legal and grassroots campaigns to advance a rapid transition toward energy justice, including advocating for 100% renewable energy by 2030, opposing utility rate hikes, and challenging anti-competitive practices by utility companies.
    • Advocacy for Energy Justice and Renewable Energy
      Conducts legal and grassroots campaigns to advance a rapid transition toward energy justice, including opposing utility rate hikes, challenging anti-competitive practices, and advocating for 100% renewable energy and public ownership of energy systems.
    • Climate change litigation and policy advocacy
      Advances climate action through strategic litigation and policy advocacy, including compelling federal agencies to regulate greenhouse gases, blocking fossil fuel projects, and securing court mandates for climate impact analyses in federal decision-making.
    • Energy justice and renewable energy transition
      Advocates for a just transition to 100% renewable energy by challenging utility monopolies, opposing fossil fuel infrastructure, promoting community solar, and drafting policy initiatives to end utility shutoffs and public utility debt.
  • Scientific Research & Monitoring 5 activities
    • Research and Policy Development
      Publishes scientific articles and comprehensive reports on species recovery, the effectiveness of environmental laws, zoonotic disease risks, and policy materials to accelerate a just energy transition, including a community solar toolkit.
    • Research and Policy Development
      Conducts research and publishes scientific articles, comprehensive reports, and policy materials on topics such as species recovery, effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act, zoonotic disease risks, and sustainable energy to inform advocacy efforts and accelerate a just energy transition.
    • Research on Environmental Issues
      Publishes scientific articles and comprehensive reports on species recovery, the effectiveness of environmental laws, zoonotic disease risks, and the impacts of energy policies, often in partnership with academic institutions.
    • Research on Species Recovery and Environmental Impacts
      Publishes scientific articles and comprehensive reports on species recovery, the effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act, wildlife trafficking, zoonotic disease risks, and the impacts of energy systems on wildlife and natural habitats.
    • Scientific research and policy reporting on biodiversity and energy
      Conducts and publishes scientific research on species recovery, zoonotic disease risks, and energy policy, including reports on wildlife trafficking, pandemic impacts on utilities, and tools for community solar development.
  • Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery 4 activities
    • Advocacy for Predator Species Protection
      Uses science-based advocacy to defend predator species from exploitation and extinction, including efforts to reintroduce Mexican gray wolves and protect grizzly bears.
    • Advocacy for Predator Species Protection
      Defends predator species, such as wolves, grizzly bears, wolverines, and Humboldt martens, from exploitation and extinction through science-based advocacy, legal challenges, and efforts to maintain or restore protections and critical habitat designations.
    • Advocacy for Predator Species Protection
      Uses science-based advocacy to defend predator species from exploitation and extinction, including securing Endangered Species Act protection for carnivores, reintroducing Mexican gray wolves, and challenging inhumane killing methods.
    • Predator Species Conservation
      Defends predator species from exploitation and extinction through science-based advocacy, including reintroduction efforts for Mexican gray wolves, protection of Yellowstone grizzly bears, and legal challenges against inhumane killing methods and wildlife-killing contests.
  • Internal Equity Committee Development 1 activity
    • Internal organizational equity and inclusion initiatives
      Advances justice, equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion within the organization through a dedicated committee established in 2015.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Climate Change Advocacy and Litigation
      Engages in advocacy and litigation to combat climate change, including securing Endangered Species Act listings for climate-threatened species, compelling government agencies to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, and challenging policies that undermine climate action.
financials · form 990 · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$27.59M
Contributions & grants$24.18M88%
Program service revenue$2.43M9%
Investment income$783K3%
Other revenue$188K
expenses
Total expenses$27.02M
Program expenses90%
Admin / overhead4%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$20.58M
Grants paid out$460K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$43.12M
Cash$5.00M
Investments$21.13M
Liabilities$4.53M
Net assets$38.60M
Liquid reserves11.6 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue -24.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 10
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
PETER GALVIN DIRECTOR OF 40 $405K
KIERAN SUCKLING EXECUTIVE DI 40 $384K
PAULA SIMMONDS CHIEF DEV. O 40 $282K
BRENDAN CUMMINGS CONSERVATION 40 $277K
MICHAEL HUDSON COO 40 $276K
ROBIN SILVER SECRETARY 40 $266K
TODD SCHULKE SENIOR STAFF 40 $212K
CARI SAKASHITA OCEANS DIREC 40 $190K
ERIC GLITZENSTEIN LITIGATION D 40 $187K
HEATHER RAUCH CHIEF OF STA 40 $187K
board members · 7
  • MARCEY OLAJOS — CHAIR
  • MATI WAIYA — BOARD DIRECT
  • MATT FRANKEL — BOARD DIRECT
  • REGINA ROMERO — BOARD DIRECT
  • SARAIN FOX — BOARD DIRECT
  • STEPHANIE ZILL — TREASURER
  • TERRY TEMPEST WILLIAMS — BOARD DIRECT
relationships · 14

who they work with

  • 350.org Partner — Jointly petitioned the EPA to establish a national, science-based CO2 pollution cap of 350 ppm under the Clean Air Act.
  • Californians Against Fracking Partner — Collaborated to ban fracking in multiple California communities and build momentum for a statewide ban.
  • Endangered Species program Coalition — Internal program of the Center for Biological Diversity focused on species protection.
  • Energy Justice North Carolina Coalition — Co-launched the Energy Justice North Carolina coalition to end Duke Energy's monopoly and advance a just clean energy transition through community mobilization.
  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Government — Petitioned to stop utility companies from using ratepayer funds to finance anti-environment trade groups.
  • Tohono O'odham Tribe Partner — Partnered to file an endangerment petition for El Pinacate and Gran Desierto Biosphere Reserve in Mexico.
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Government — Co-petitioned by the Center and coalition to establish national air pollution limits from coal mines.
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Government — Engaged in legal agreements and litigation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to secure carnivore protections and recovery plans.
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Government — Reached a legal settlement with the Center requiring cleanup of lead contamination on Midway Atoll.
  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration Government — Subject of a petition by the Center to implement stricter regulations on mercury in seafood.
  • U.S. Forest Service Government — Former employer of founders during owl surveys; target of early advocacy due to timber sale practices.
  • U.S. Representatives Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush Partner — Collaborated to draft a congressional resolution to transition the national energy system to 100% renewable energy by 2030 and ban utility shutoffs.
  • University of California Davis Partner — Co-launched the Wild Energy research partnership to advance a sustainable energy future for wildlife and wild places.
  • Wildlife Services Government — Challenged Wildlife Services' practices through litigation and advocacy to stop inhumane killing of carnivores and other wildlife.