Financial Disclosures | Citizens' Climate Education

Accountability

As a donor and/or volunteer, you are vital to our mission. We share information about our finances, so you can feel confident about your investment in our work. CCE’s commitment to transparency is reflected by its Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency (Candid is formally known as GuideStar), Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating, and the public accessibility of its form 990s (see below). CCE also received a 2023 Top-Rated Nonprofit Award from GreatNonprofits.

Official Charity Navigator badge, showing four blue boxes with white stars in them, signifying CCE's four star rating.

Funding

Citizens’ Climate Education (CCE) is primarily supported by individual donors and foundations, with the precise breakdown varying slightly year-to-year. In the last two years (from 2022-2023) the breakdown of income amounted to an average of 78% from individual donors, 20% from foundations, and 2% from conference revenue.

Major past and present foundation supporters include the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Rick Steves’ Europe, Energy Foundation, Craigslist Foundation, the David Rockefeller Fund, the Mertz Gilmore Foundation, and the Morton K. and Jane Blaustein Foundation.

It is our policy to decline all donations from fossil fuel companies.

Budget

CCE has a 2024 budget of $4,776,278. Primary expenses include volunteer training, education, and support; marketing materials and campaigns; and physical offices in San Diego, CA.

CCE strives to keep overhead costs low every year. In 2023, 78% of the total budget was spent on direct program costs, while 13% was spent on management, and 9% on fundraising.

Although CCE is legally permitted to engage in direct lobbying, all lobbying and related spending is handled by CCE’s 501(c)(4) sister organization Citizens’ Climate Lobby.