Environmental Working Group

Analysis

Environmental Working Group is a registered charity in United States, based in Washington, DC. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in June 1999, 27 years ago. Its declared purposes cover environment, which this site groups under environment and conservation. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Environmental Working Group reported income of $18.1m and spending of $16.7m, spending 92% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $11.2m to $18.1m (+62%), an average of +13% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 33%. Over the whole period it spent 95% of the income it received.

Among 10,430 United States charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, Environmental Working Group sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile, and in the 92nd percentile within DC. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Everglades Foundation Inc ($18.0m), Triangle Land Conservancy Inc ($18.2m) and Greentown Collaborative Inc ($18.0m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 91% and program service revenue 8.4% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $1.7m (9.9% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $7.0m. At year end it held assets of $24.5m against liabilities of $10.4m, net assets of $14.1m. It reported 94 employees.