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Nrdc Action Fund Inc at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Public charity

Nrdc Action Fund Inc

To build political support for advancing the goals of the natural resources defense council.

$6.3M
Granted FY2025still arriving
24
Grants FY2025still arriving
11
States reached
$3.6M
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Environment$19MCommunity Improvement$275kCivil Rights$217kPublic Benefit$174kEducation$150kInternational$60kReligion$45kRecreation & Sports$30kOther$0
02FY2025 · 24 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k1 grant · $7k
  • $10k–50k11 grants · $217k
  • $50k–250k9 grants · $873k
  • $250k+3 grants · $5.2M
$50,000
Median grant
11
States reached
$11M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
NRDC ACTION VOTES$3,560,000
LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS INC$878,324
GIVEGREEN UNITED ACTION$750,000
DEVELOPMENT NOW FOR CHICAGO$200,000
VOTE SAVE AMERICA$127,500
BLUEGREEN ALLIANCE FOUNDATION$110,000
MULTIPLIER$100,000
NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL$100,000
PROTECT US FAMILIES$80,000
CONSERVATION VOTERS OF PENNSYLVANIA$55,000
CENTER FOR INNOVATIVE POLICY$50,000
MOVING NJ TOGETHER INC$50,000
CALIFORNIA COASTKEEPER DBA CALIFORNIA COASTKEEPER ALLIANCE$40,000
NEW JERSEY PRIORITIES$40,000
COMMITTEE FOR CLEAN WATER NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARKS$20,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY22–24, $115k) land where the poverty rate runs at 9%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 43% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants spread fairly evenly across need levels.

area typical 10%HARAMBEE HOUSE INC: $15k → 16%RETHINK ENERGY NJ A NEW JERSEY NONPROFIT CORPORATION: $65k → 5%ALLIANCE OF THE SOUTHEAST: $10k → 14%COLORADO PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE: $25k → 12%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

ME
WA
MT
MN
IL
MI
NY
OR
NV
IA
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CA
CO
VA
MD
NM
NC
DC
HI
GA
TX
FL
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

86%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$17M · 20 repeat orgs$2.7M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +65% since the first grant, against 0% for those funded once.

20 repeat relationships: 10 still active in FY2025, 10 since wound down; 13 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

20
61

Total granted

$17M
$2.0M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+65%
0%

Still filing today

90%
72%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 89% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $683k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’21’22’23’24’25
EnvironmentCivil RightsCommunity ImprovementEducationHuman ServicesInternationalOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • LO
    LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS INC
    7× · 2017–2025 · $4.7M · revenue +388%
  • NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INC
    5× · 2019–2025 · $936k · revenue +37%
  • MULTIPLIER
    4× · 2021–2025 · $260k · revenue +65%

Funded once

  • LV
    LCV VICTORY FUND
    one grant, 2021 · $335k
  • NC
    NORTH CAROLINA BLACK ALLIANCE INC
    one grant, 2024 · $120k · revenue 0%
  • BA
    BlueGreen Alliance Inc
    one grant, 2024 · $100k · revenue -27%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
California Environmental Justice Alliance

Our mission is to fight against fossil fuel executives and industries that have turned our communities into dumping grounds for toxic waste, poisoning our air, water, lan, and bodies. We organize to oppose giant oil refineries, dirty…

Environment
2
Clean Future Action Fund Inc

To educate, lobby and advocate for policies that advance clean energy development and deployment.

Environment
3
Nw Energy Coalition

The NW Energy Coalition is an alliance of over 100 environmental, civic, and human service organizations, utilities, and businesses in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia, plus many individual members. The NW Energy…

—
4
Clean Energy for America Inc

Clean Energy for Americas purpose is to engage with clean energy workers and advance the clean energy movement. CE4A highlights the feasibility and positive impact of a clean energy economy, educates policymakers and the general public on…

Environment
5
Advocates for Climate Innovation
Philanthropy
6
Western Resource Advocates

Western Resource Advocates (WRA) is a regional nonprofit advocacy organization fighting climate change and its impacts to sustain the environment, economy, and people of the West. As the region's go-to experts for more than three decades,…

Crime & Legal
7
National Caucus of Environmental Legislators

The national caucus of environmental legislators empowers a nonpartisan network of legislative champions to protect, conserve, and improve the natural and human environment.

Education
8
Policy Action for a Clean Tomorrow Inc

Clean Tomorrow advances policies that reduce climate emissions by turning policy ambition into action. We work to catalyze rapid change that will accelerate the innovation and growth of clean energy.

Environment
9
Climate Equity Action Fund

The climate equity action fund (ceaf) works hand-in-hand with community-based partners in critical states across the country to secure and sustain policy wins for climate and clean energy. building on over a decade of trust with leading…

Environment
10
Center for Environmental Accountability

The Center for Environmental Accountability (CEA) is a not-for-profit organization that educates Americans on the importance of transparency and accountability in environmental and energy policy. CEA's work is informed by its core…

Environment
11
Electoral Collective Action

Electoral Collective Action coordinates a broad-based coalition of existing entities active in the climate justice and community organizing space to raise public awareness and educational opportunities.

Civil Rights
12
The Climate Center

The Climate Center is a climate and energy policy nonprofit working to rapidly reduce climate pollution at scale, starting in California.

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Environment America Inc; the most unlike its peers is SixOneForward. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

79 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 79 of the 94 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
21
Early backer (in before they grew)
71/79
Grantees still filing
35/79
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

NRDC ACTION VOTES: $7,751,842 · OtherNRDC ACTION VOTESGIVEGREEN UNITED ACTION: $2,000,000 · OtherGIVEGREEN UNITED ACTION+44 more: $1,864,061 · Other+44 moreLEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS INC: $4,708,324 · Civil RightsLEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTER…+6 more: $222,000 · Civil RightsNATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INC: $935,761 · EnvironmentNATURAL RESOU…MULTIPLIER: $260,000 · EnvironmentMULTIPLIERBlueGreen Alliance Foundation: $185,000 · EnvironmentBlueGreen All…Natural Resources Council of Maine Inc: $137,000 · EnvironmentNatural Resou…The Partnership Project Action Fund: $100,000 · EnvironmentBlueGreen Alliance Inc: $100,000 · EnvironmentENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE ACTION FUND: $97,954 · Environment+19 more: $517,225 · Environment+19 moreDEVELOPMENT NOW FOR CHICAGO: $200,000 · Community ImprovementAmerica Votes: $53,300 · Community ImprovementCOMMUNITY PARTNERS: $25,000 · Community ImprovementPROGRESSNOW COLORADO EDUCATION: $15,000 · Community Improvement+2 more: $20,000 · Community ImprovementNORTH CAROLINA BLACK ALLIANCE INC: $120,000 · EducationNEW JERSEY PRIORITIES: $40,000 · EducationFARM TRAINING COLLECTIVE NYC INC: $30,000 · EducationBICYCLE COLORADO: $23,000 · EducationRETHINK ENERGY NJ A NEW JERSEY NONPROFIT CORPORATION: $65,000 · Human ServicesCOLORADO PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE: $25,000 · Human ServicesHarambee House Inc: $15,000 · Human ServicesAlianza Leadership Institute: $10,000 · Human ServicesTHE NATIONAL RELIGIOUS PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ENVIRONMENT INC: $75,000 · Religion
Other$11,615,903Civil Rights$4,930,324Environment$2,332,940Community Improvement$313,300Education$213,000Human Services$115,000Religion$75,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetLEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS INC: $4,708,324 over 7y, 1.5% of budgetNATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INC: $935,761 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetMULTIPLIER: $260,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetBlueGreen Alliance Foundation: $185,000 over 2y, 1.6% of budgetNatural Resources Council of Maine Inc: $137,000 over 2y, 3.3% of budgetNORTH CAROLINA BLACK ALLIANCE INC: $120,000 over 1y, 2.3% of budgetPA ALLIANCE ACTION: $115,000 over 4y, 0.7% of budgetGEORGIA LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS: $100,000 over 2y, 5.0% of budgetThe Partnership Project Action Fund: $100,000 over 2y, 1.0% of budgetBlueGreen Alliance Inc: $100,000 over 1y, 4.5% of budgetENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE ACTION FUND: $97,954 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetConservation Voters of Pennsylvania: $96,500 over 3y, 3.0% of budgetSIERRA CLUB: $87,961 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE NATIONAL RELIGIOUS PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ENVIRONMENT INC: $75,000 over 3y, 8.3% of budgetRETHINK ENERGY NJ A NEW JERSEY NONPROFIT CORPORATION: $65,000 over 1y, 10% of budgetENVIRONMENT AMERICA INC: $65,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetCONSERVATION COLORADO: $55,000 over 1y, 3.5% of budgetAmerica Votes: $53,300 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetOpportunity City Political Action Committee: $50,000 over 1y, 4.6% of budgetNueva Esperanza Inc: $50,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetUNIDOSUS ACTION FUND INC: $50,000 over 1y, 6.4% of budgetConservatives for a Clean Energy Future: $50,000 over 1y, 2.4% of budgetCENTER FOR ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT: $50,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetThe Partnership Project Inc: $45,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetNEW JERSEY PRIORITIES: $40,000 over 1y, 36% of budgetSTATE DEMOCRACY ACTION FUND: $40,000 over 2y, 2.0% of budgetCalifornia Coastkeeper dba California Coastkeeper Alliance: $40,000 over 1y, 3.9% of budgetSOUTHWEST ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECT: $37,500 over 1y, 1.7% of budgetWomens March Inc: $35,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetFRESH ENERGY: $30,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetGHISALLO CYCLING INITIATIVE: $30,000 over 1y, 3.5% of budgetFARM TRAINING COLLECTIVE NYC INC: $30,000 over 3y, 1.5% of budgetCOMMUNITY ALLIANCE WITH FAMILY FARMERS: $27,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetFRACK ACTION FUND INC: $25,000 over 1y, 6.0% of budgetNC Futures Action Fund: $25,000 over 1y, 10% of budgetCOMMUNITY PARTNERS: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHIP HOP CAUCUS EDUCATION FUND: $25,000 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetSUSTAINABLE MARKETS FOUNDATION: $25,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetNMVC Action Fund: $25,000 over 1y, 12% of budgetCALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS: $25,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetCOLORADO PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE: $25,000 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetBICYCLE COLORADO: $23,000 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL GENERAL FUND: $20,000 over 2y, 2.5% of budgetTRI-STATE TRANSPORTATION CAMPAIGN INC: $17,725 over 1y, 2.2% of budgetNevada Conservation League Ed Fund: $16,000 over 1y, 2.8% of budgetOHIO CITIZEN ACTION: $15,000 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetTHE OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL: $15,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetCLIMATE POWER: $15,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Natural Resources Def…Energy Action FundSixteen Thirty FundUnited States Energy …League of Conservatio…Environmental Defense…Green Advocacy ProjectThe Energy FoundationResources Legacy FundSierra ClubNew Venture FundWestern Conservation …
Natural Resources Defense Council IncNY57.7× affinity27 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Natural Resources Defense Council Inc · Energy Action Fund · Sixteen Thirty Fund · United States Energy Foundation · League of Conservation Voters Inc · Environmental Defense Fund Incorporated · Green Advocacy Project · The Energy Foundation · Resources Legacy Fund · Sierra Club · New Venture Fund · Western Conservation Action

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Nrdc Action Fund Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Nrdc Action Fund Inc. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 50%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    5get no government money at all
    6report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 94 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Nrdc Action’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home