Earth Island Institute does not meet the following 2 Standards for Charity Accountability:
Standard 14 (Budget)
Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.
EII does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided 2022 budget information, it indicated that the budget:
- Included total projected program service expenses, however, did not break these expenses down by major program category (e.g. environmental education, ocean and water, wildlife protection, etc.).
Standard 16 (Annual Report)
Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fund raising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.
EII does not meet this Standard because the organization's 2021 annual report did not include:
- Program expenses broken down by major program category (e.g. environmental education, ocean and water, wildlife protection, etc.).
The BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information from the organization and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard(s) for Charity Accountability:
13
Earth Island Institute meets the remaining 17 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Earth Island Institute (EII) reports that it is a fiscal sponsor to more than seventy-five projects working in the areas of agriculture, conservation, energy and climate, women's environmental leadership, international and Indigenous communities, sustainability and community resilience, and more. The organization includes a project support program, which provides services and assistance for its projects; a legal division, Earth Island Advocates; a youth leadership program, New Leaders Initiative; and a magazine, Earth Island Journal.
For the year ended June 30, 2021, Earth Island Institute's program expenses were:
Agriculture and food systems |
$2,518,499 |
Conservation, preservation and restoration |
$2,402,178 |
Wildlife protection |
$1,717,046 |
Pollution and toxics |
$1,493,143 |
Environmental education |
$1,275,567 |
Women's environmental leadership |
$1,193,315 |
International and indigenous communities |
$865,673 |
Sustainability and community resilience |
$720,275 |
Earth Island Journal |
$361,916 |
Environmental justice |
$341,310 |
Clean energy and climate change |
$339,697 |
New leaders Initiative |
$213,056 |
Ocean and water |
$105,620 |
Earth Island Advocates |
$103,989 |
Youth empowerment |
$69,181 |
Total Program Expenses: |
$13,720,465 |
*2019 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Note: The highest compensated employee in 2019 was Julie Cohen, Project Director, Plastics Pollution Coalition, who received $150,266.
Method(s) Used:
Grant proposals, Internet, Invitations to fund raising events, Membership appeals, Planned giving arrangements
Fundraising costs were 4% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $20,475,169, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
The following information is based on Earth Island Institute's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2021.
Source of Funds |
Contributions and membership |
$10,521,348 |
Grants |
$8,351,284 |
Investment return, net |
$2,838,619 |
Earned revenue |
$1,512,431 |
Events, net |
$90,106 |
Other revenue |
$66,849 |
In-kind |
$57,384 |
Merchandise sales, net |
$10,982 |
Total Income |
$23,449,003 |
- Programs: 88%
- Administrative: 7%
- Fundraising: 5%
Total Income |
$23,449,003 |
Program expenses |
$13,720,465 |
Fundraising expenses |
$792,788 |
Administrative expenses |
$1,213,102 |
Other expenses |
$0 |
Total expenses: |
$15,726,355 |
Income in Excess of Expenses |
$7,722,648 |
Beginning Net Assets |
$20,030,015 |
Other Changes In Net Assets |
$0 |
Ending Net Assets |
$27,752,663 |
Total Liabilities |
$1,005,359 |
Total Assets |
$28,758,022 |
Note: According to EII's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2021, the organization received in-kind contributions totaling $57,384 in the form of legal and contractors ($54,000) and rent ($3,384).