Program 1 · 14% of program spending $22.5M
The 990 read · EIN 13-2654926 · NY · Fiscal year FY ending Jun 2025
Natural Resources Defense Council
Natural Resources Defense Council Inc: CEO salary, finances and where donations go
In its own words
“We safeguard the earth: its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. We work to restore the integrity of the elements that sustain life - air, land, and water - to defend endangered natural places and communities.”
Data only Figures straight from the filing, screened by our rules. Not yet reviewed in depth by a CPA.
Methodology by Amir Arani, CPA, CA · Updated
- Top pay
- $705K Manish Bapna, 0.3% of spending
- Revenue
- $248.9M 90.6% from donations and grants
- Spent
- $212.0M 75.7% on programs, as reported
- Net assets
- $539.0M end of FY ending Jun 2025
- Savings
- 30.5 months of spending, net assets ÷ spending
- People
- 829 employees, 5 volunteers
01 · Red flags
No red flags in its latest filing.
We screen every filing against twelve rules. A flag is a prompt for a closer look, not a finding of wrongdoing.
No reported asset diversions, no insider transactions, no fundraisers keeping most of the money, and the governance policies we check for are in place.
02 · Where $1 goes · FY ending Jun 2025
Of each dollar it spent, 75.7¢ went to programs, as reported.
The split the charity filed.
Moves the $4.3M of joint mail and ad costs booked as programs into fundraising.
75.7¢
Programs, $160.5M
12.7¢
Fundraising, $27.0M
11.6¢
Admin, $24.6M
73.7¢
Programs, $156.2M
14.8¢
Fundraising, $31.3M
11.6¢
Admin, $24.6M
Cost to raise $1
12¢
as reported
14¢
counting the shared mail
For each dollar donated, Natural Resources Defense Council spent 12¢ on fundraising, or about 14¢ counting joint costs.
Fundraising ÷ $225.5M contributions · Form 990 Parts VIII, IX03 · What it does
What it told the IRS it spent on.
The charity's own description of its largest programs, with what each cost.
Program 2 · 21.3% of program spending $34.1M
Program 3 · 37.1% of program spending $59.6M
Internationalnrdc has continued to urge the global community to develop comprehensive plans to tackle the biodiversity loss and environmental pollution crises. Nrdc's international work leverages our scientific, economic, and policy expertise to advance key environmental and climate programs with far-reaching impacts across the world. Our highlights from this past fiscal year include:to prepare for the effects of rising global temperatures, nrdc continued projects with its local partners in india to increase heat resilience, launching heat action plans and support for the launch of the centre…
04 · The savings
Net assets: $209.2M to $539.0M in 11 years.
Net assets at each fiscal year end, 2013 to 2025.
209
232
244
237
306
349
368
387
546
476
463
539
05 · Who gets paid
The 8 highest-paid people.
Reportable pay in FY ending Jun 2025, from the charity and related organizations.
Manish Bapna
President/CEO
$705,258
Margaret Marsh-Heine
Chief Development Officer
$565,736
Christina Goldfuss
Executive Director
$462,310
Mitchell Bernard
Chief Counsel
$403,082
Sami Yassa Thru 092024
Senior Research Specialist II
$397,841
Robyn Arville
Chief People Officer
$390,761
Wing Yee Foo
Chief Financial Officer
$385,136
Edward Yoon
Chief External Affairs Officer
$339,344
Largest outside contractors
| Contractor | Service | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| M&r Strategic Services Inc | Digital advocacy/fundraising consultant | $2,609,471 |
| Digital Dog Direct LLC | Printing services | $2,129,245 |
| Atrium Payroll Service LLC | Temp services | $1,358,937 |
| Cp Direct | Printing services | $1,147,746 |
| Eagle Hill Consulting LLC | Business management consultant | $1,045,977 |
06 · Questions
The questions people ask about the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Short, sourced answers. Each one stands on its own.
How much does the Natural Resources Defense Council CEO make?
Manish Bapna, President/CEO, received $705,258 in reportable compensation in FY ending Jun 2025, 0.3% of Natural Resources Defense Council's $212.0M in spending.
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part VIIWhat percentage of Natural Resources Defense Council donations go to programs?
Natural Resources Defense Council reported 75.7% of FY ending Jun 2025 spending as programs, 12.7% as fundraising and 11.6% as management. That includes $4.3M of joint mail and ad costs counted as programs; without them, programs were 73.7%.
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part IXHow much money does Natural Resources Defense Council have?
Net assets were $539.0M at the end of FY ending Jun 2025, about 30.5 months of spending.
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025), Part XDoes Natural Resources Defense Council have any red flags in its filing?
Its latest Form 990 triggered none of our twelve screening rules, which cover reported asset diversions, insider transactions, fundraiser costs, governance policies and spending patterns.
Form 990 (FY ending Jun 2025)07 · Sources and citing
Every number, traced.
- Natural Resources Defense Council Form 990, FY ending Jun 2025 (IRS e-file)
- Natural Resources Defense Council Form 990 history (ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer)
Cite this page
Amir Arani, “Natural Resources Defense Council: CEO salary, finances and where your dollar goes,” Charity Math, updated 2026-11-07. https://charitymath.com/charities/natural-resources-defense-council/