2020-05-18T18:51:44-05:00 2019-06-30 GRANT THORNTON LLP 757 THIRD AVENUE 3RD FLOOR NEW YORK NY 100172013 990 2018-07-01 133976062 NRDC Action Fund Inc % VERONICA FOO CFO NRDC 2127272700 40 WEST 20TH STREET NEW YORK NY 10011 VERONICA FOO cfo 2127272700 2020-05-18 true Scott Thompsett P00741490 2125990100 69.117.173.172 26377520201395000000 2020-05-18 P 7D14034AF515942D2ABE7F7E27EA16D2649DB046 7D14034AF515942D2ABE7F7E27EA16D2649DB046 2018 2020-11-06 18:47:13Z gina mccarthy president ceo 40 WEST 20TH STREET NEW YORK NY 10011 15172296 false X www.nrdcactionfund.org X 1996 NY The NRDC action fund's mission is to build political support for advancing the goals of the Natural Resources Defense Council. 16 13 0 0 0 0 5056695 15102096 0 0 0 70200 0 0 5056695 15172296 876000 689000 0 0 1472684 1861620 0 0 2127086 3489647 5156902 5838331 7707522 -781636 7464774 2045441 9719489 734195 943469 1311246 8776020 X The NRDC Action Funds mission is to build political support for advancing the goals of the Natural Resources Defense Council: Averting dangerous climate change, supporting healthy people and thriving communities, and conserving and protecting nature and wildlife. We support candidates who stand up for these goals, and we mobilize the American public to lobby lawmakers and hold them accountable for their votes, both in office and at the ballot box. false false 5207656 689000 0 During the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2019, the NRDC Action Fund held elected officials accountable by educating constituents when their congressional representatives voted for or against environmental priorities and exposing those who sided with polluters rather than the public good. We worked to expand and mobilize our influential constituencies, experts, community leaders, and others to champion clean air and water, public health, biodiversity, and a stable climate. We advocated before decision makers on the federal and state level to protect and strengthen environmental policies. We supported political candidates who stand up for the environment and climate action. As an example of our federal advocacy, the NRDC Action Fund launched advocacy and media campaigns to support federal legislation that would commit the U.S. to transitioning to clean energy. We also advocated against the expansion of oil and gas drilling off America's coasts, and against efforts to weaken the Endangered Species Act. The NRDC Action Fund also engaged in advocacy and accountability on the state level. We have supported public engagement and advocacy efforts in support of clean energy and eliminating dirty energy in a number of states including Nevada, Colorado and Pennsylvania. The NRDC Action Fund endorsed more than 20 U.S. Senate candidates and conducted our largest-ever get-out-the-vote program during the closing days of the 2018 midterm elections. 5207656 false true true true false false false false false false false false false true true false true false false false false false false false false false true false true false false false false false false false false true false false false false true true false false true 43 0 true 0 false false false false true true false false false X 16 13 true false false false true true true true true false false true true true true true true false AL AK AR CA CO CT FL GA HI IL KS KY ME MD MA MN MS MO NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC TN UT VA WA WV WI X X VERONICA FOO CFO 2127272700 40 WEST 20TH STREET NEW YORK NY 10011 Wendy Abrams Director (thru 12/2018) 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 John H Adams Director 1.0 20.0 X 0 175000 24491 Christopher Arndt Director 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Richard E Ayres Director 1.0 1.0 X 0 0 0 Anne Bartley Director 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Patricia Bauman Chair/Director 1.0 1.0 X X 0 0 0 Hamilton Candee Director 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Bob Epstein Director (thru 07/2018) 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Michael Finnegan Director (thru 03/2019) 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Vernice Miller-Travis Director 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Edward James Olmos Director (thru 03/2019) 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Daniel R Tishman Director 1.0 1.0 X 0 0 0 Eric Wepsic Director 1.0 1.0 X 0 0 0 Ira Ziering Director 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 KATHLEEN WELCH Director 1.0 1.0 X 0 0 0 JOANN KAPLAN Director 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Sigmund Anderman Director 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 JILL SOFFER DIRECTOR 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 FRANCES BEINECKE director 1.0 3.0 X 0 33973 0 RHEA SUH PRESIDENT 1.0 40.0 X X 0 526053 40943 MARIPAT ALPUCHE SECRETARY 1.0 1.0 X 0 0 0 Jennifer Reynoso Asst. Secretary (thru 03/2019) 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Steven Baginski CFO/Treas(thru 03/19)/fin adv 1.0 40.0 X 0 253962 39931 KEVIN CURTIS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.0 0.0 X 0 222325 37750 ANDREW JACKSON CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER 1.0 40.0 X 0 285279 35934 Krista Mcmanus Asst. Secretary(as of 03/2019) 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 amanda Ng Asst. Secretary(as of 03/2019) 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Veronica Foo CFO/treasurer (as of 03/2019) 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 DENIS DISON COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR 40.0 0.0 X 0 118131 18059 Emily Gray Director of Dev. Action Fund 40.0 0.0 X 0 128866 13693 MITCHELL BERNARD former COO 1.0 40.0 X 0 307022 60193 0 2050611 270994 0 true true false Blueprint Interactive 1730 Rhode Island Ave NW Suite 10 WASHINGTON DC 20036 ADVERTISING 733399 M R Strategic Services Inc 1901 L Street NW Suite 800 WASHINGTON DC 20036 advertising 546534 princeton South - Digital dog 200 ludlow Dr bldg E EWING NJ 08638 mailing services 387571 facebook inc 15161 Collections Center Drive CHICAGO IL 60693 lobbying/consulting 380543 CIVIS ANALYTICS INC 200 WEST MONROE ST SUITE 2200 CHICAGO IL 60606 lobbying/consulting 195030 9 625950 2210000 12266146 28706 15102096 0 70200 70200 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15172296 70200 689000 689000 0 0 0 278484 243775 32662 2047 0 1201667 882530 124323 194814 0 381469 284375 39351 57743 0 0 18612 18612 0 1015873 831106 184767 0 0 1100943 723709 22388 354846 1877088 787172 3583 1086333 226989 40662 36229 150098 162593 158798 3795 0 375929 291320 36827 47782 108446 51158 19925 37363 0 28467 21148 175 7144 0 0 0 0 LIST EXCHANGE AND RENTAL 82140 81786 354 MEMBERSHIP FEES & DUES 75013 75013 TEMPORARY/CLERICAL 38360 36785 1575 CREDIT CARD FEES 23893 23893 22556 9319 13237 7707522 5207656 372780 2127086 1936700 785674 0 8379540 108741 554275 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2045441 9719489 626706 604491 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 107489 338978 734195 943469 X 0 0 1311246 8776020 0 0 1311246 8776020 2045441 9719489 7464774 X false true X true false RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 2183617 2183617 2183617 false true false false Schedule C, Part I-A, Line 1 The Action Funds political expenditures during this period focused on the 2018 federal elections and planning for the 2020 federal elections. They included communications efforts encouraging voting among constituencies concerned about climate change and the environment. The Action Fund produced blogs and social media content highlighting candidates who were running on pro-environment positions, as well as calling out those who held anti-environment positions. $389,624 of the total political expenditures was spent on staff salaries (including benefits and overhead), while the remaining $1,793,993 was spent on discretionary expenses, including consultants and other vendors, advertising and grants to other organizations. The total amount of political expenditures represents 28.33% percent of the organization's overall expenditures for the year. 0 DUE TO RELATED PARTIES 338978 338978 X Form 990, Schedule D, Part X, Line 2 NRDC Action Fund is included within the consolidated financial statements of its parent, the natural resources defense council, inc. The below Fin-48 footnote is reproduced from the consolidated financial STATEMENTS. NRDC follows guidance that clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return, including issues relating to financial statement recognition and measurement. This guidance provides that the tax effects from an uncertain tax position can only be recognized in the consolidated financial statements if the position is "more-likely-than-not" to be sustained if the position were to be challenged by a taxing authority. The assessment of the tax position is based solely on the technical merits of the position, without regard to the likelihood that the tax position may be challenged. NRDC has processes presently in place to ensure the maintenance of its tax-exempt status; to identify and report unrelated income; determine its filing and tax obligations in jurisdictions for which it has nexus; and to review other matters that may be considered uncertain tax positions. NRDC does not believe its 2019 and 2018 consolidated financial statements include any material uncertain tax positions. true ALASKA WILDERNESS ACTION 122 C ST NW 240 WASHINGTON DC 20001 300233489 501(C)(4) 70000 ENV. ADVOCACY CLEAN AIR CLEAN ENERGY WASHINGTON 603 STEWART ST 819 SEATTLE WA 98101 824455863 GOVERNMENT 40000 ENV. ADVOCACY CONSERVATION VOTERS OF PENNSYLVANIA PO BOX 2125 PHILADELPHIA PA 19103 270800179 501(C)(4) 26500 ENV. ADVOCACY EDF ACTION 257 PARK AVENUE SOUTH NEW YORK NY 10010 900080500 501(C)(4) 90000 ENV. ADVOCACY ENVIRONMENT AMERICA 218 D ST SE 2ND FL WASHINGTON DC 20003 205355252 501(c)(4) 30000 ENV. ADVOCACY iLLINOIS eNVIRONMENT coUNCIL 520 E CAPItoL AVE SPRINGFIELD IL 62701 370989990 501(C)(4) 10000 ENV. ADVOCACY LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS INC 740 15TH ST NW WASHINGTON DC 20005 521733698 501(c)(4) 212500 ENV. ADVOCACY LOGIC ACTION 652 SUNDANCE CIRCLE ERIE CO 80516 821937039 501(C)(4) 15000 ENV. ADVOCACY NATIONAL RELIGIOUS PARTNERSHIP 110 MARYLAND AVE NE WASHINGTON DC 20002 136996770 501(C)(3) 15000 ENV. ADVOCACY nATURAL rESOURCES dEFENSE cOUNCIL 40 WEST 20TH ST NEW YORK NY 10011 132654926 501(C)(3) 125000 ENV. ADVOCACY OHIO CITIZEN ACTION 614 W SUPERIOR AVE CLEVLAND OH 44113 341208942 501(C)(4) 15000 ENV. ADVOCACY PROGRESSNOW COLORADO EDUCATION 1714 HUMBOLDT STREET DENVER CO 80218 731674017 501(C)(3) 15000 ENV. ADVOCACY RENEW OREGON ACTION FUND PO BOX 5999 PORTLAND OR 97228 473840696 501(C)(4) 15000 ENV. ADVOCACY VET VOICE FOUNDATION INC 2201 WISCONSIN AVE NW WASHINGTON DC 20007 264627222 501(C)(3) 10000 ENV. ADVOCACY 5 9 Form 990, Schedule I, Line 2 In fiscal year 2019, the NRDC Action Fund Inc. provided grants to support environmental initiatives. NRDC Action Fund Inc. only provides funding to organizations that have an environmental mission that aligns with the organization's own mission. Grantees are expected to provide the organization with periodic status reports about their environmental projects. false false false false false false false false false John H Adams Director 0 175000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24491 0 199491 0 0 Steven Baginski CFO/Treas(thru 03/19)/fin adv 0 253962 0 0 0 0 0 18238 0 21693 0 293893 0 0 KEVIN CURTIS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 0 222325 0 0 0 0 0 16096 0 21654 0 260075 0 0 ANDREW JACKSON CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER 0 285279 0 0 0 0 0 14280 0 21654 0 321213 0 0 RHEA SUH PRESIDENT 0 526053 0 0 0 0 0 19250 0 21693 0 566996 0 0 MITCHELL BERNARD former COO 0 307022 0 0 0 0 0 38500 0 21693 0 367215 0 0 Compensation Information Part II, Compensation Reporting of director, Mr. John H Adams Column B(I): Base Compensation After thirty-five years of committed service as NRDC's Founder and President, John Adams retired on April 1, 2006. John is a part-time consultant for NRDC and received $175,000 for these services in calendar year 2018. Column D: Nontaxable Benefits: As part of his retirement agreement, NRDC provides John Adams with medical benefits valued at $24,491. Form 990, Part VII & Schedule J, Part I The FOLLOWING individuals reported on NRDC Action Fund's Form 990, Steven Baginski, Mitchell Bernard, Andrew Jackson, and Rhea Suh receive their compensation from the parent organization, Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. (NRDC). Accordingly, all compensation is being reported on NRDC Action Fund's Form 990 as related organization compensation. However, a portion of each officer's compensation is reimbursed by NRDC Action Fund to NRDC based on services rendered to NRDC Action Fund. In the interest of clarity, NRDC Action Fund is disclosing the following salary and benefits amounts as having been reimbursed by NRDC Action Fund to NRDC for these services: Salary Benefits Steven Baginski $929 $267 Mitchell Bernard $85 $23 Andrew Jackson $1,385 $395 Rhea Suh $11,468 $3,223 100% of the time of the following individuals (Officer Kevin Curtis and top 5 highly compensated employees, Dennis Dison and Emily Gray) is spent providing services to the NRDC Action FUND. Each of these individuals receives their W-2 from NRDC and their respective compensation (disclosed in Part VII of the form 990) is reported in Column E accordingly. NRDC Action Fund reimburses NRDC for the services of other NRDC employees. Those individuals do not meet the criteria of an officer, key employee or highly compensated employee of the Action Fund and accordingly are not disclosed in Part VII or Schedule J of the 990. X 4 28706 fmv false true true Sch M, Part I, Line 32A to the extent that the organization receives contributions of stock, the organization uses its investment broker to convert those stocks into cash. Form 990, Part VI - Governing Body And Management Form 990, Part VI, Line 2 Board of Directors Members, Bob Epstein and Patricia Bauman, have a business relationship. Board of Directors members Kathleen Welch and Dan Tishman have a business relationship. Form 990, Part VI, Line 6 NRDC Action Fund's sole institutional member is its parent organization, Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc ("NRDC"). Form 990, Part VI, Line 7a The sole institutional member, NRDC, has the sole authority to appoint NRDC Action Fund's Board of Directors on an annual basis. This power is reserved to NRDC in NRDC Action Fund's organizational documents. Policies, Part VI - Governance 990 review process form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11 NRDC Action Fund's Form 990 is prepared by a nationally recognized accounting firm in conjunction with the organization's senior management and financial team. Upon completion, NRDCs external accounting firm presents the Form 990 to the finance and Audit Committee of the Board of Directors to enable them to fulfill their due diligence and oversight responsibilities. A copy of the final Form 990 is shared with the full board of directors prior to its electronic filing with the Internal Revenue Service. Conflict of interest policy monitoring & Enforcement Form 990, part VI, Section B, LINE 12 Each officer, director, and key employee is required to annually disclose any conflicts of interest that arise by virtue of their relationship to the organization, board service, or position with either NRDC Action Fund or NRDC. NRDC Action Fund monitors compliance with its conflict of interest policy through an annual questionnaire/disclosure statement that is distributed to these individuals. Potential conflicts are investigated immediately. Process to determine compensation Form 990, Part VI, Section B, LINE 15 NRDC Action Fund does not directly compensate any officers, directors and/or employees. All compensation is paid by the parent organization, Natural Resources Defense Council, and is reimbursed by NRDC Action Fund to NRDC. The processes used for determining compensation as paid by the parent entity are described on that organization's Form 990. availability of documents FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 NRDC Action Fund makes its Form 990 available to the public by retaining a copy at its place of business. The Action Fund also makes the 990 available on the Action Fund website at www.nrdcactionfund.org (and on www.guidestar.org). The organization's financial statements, governing documents and conflict of interest policy are not ordinarily made available to the public, but, if requested, will be provided at management's discretion. form 990, part XII, line 2c THe NRDC Action Fund does not receive standalone financial statements; for audit purposes its operations are consolidated with an affiliated organization, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. FORM 990 PART IX LINE 11G DESCRIPTION:STRATEGIC PLANNING TOTAL FEES:550967 FORM 990 PART IX LINE 11G DESCRIPTION:POLITICAL OUTREACH TOTAL FEES:214508 FORM 990 PART IX LINE 11G DESCRIPTION:DIGITAL COMM. - WEB/SOCIAL MED TOTAL FEES:177822 FORM 990 PART IX LINE 11G DESCRIPTION:GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY TOTAL FEES:114770 FORM 990 PART IX LINE 11G DESCRIPTION:GRAPHIC DESIGNER & ART TOTAL FEES:21050 FORM 990 PART IX LINE 11G DESCRIPTION:MISCELLANEOUS CONSULTING TOTAL FEES:11706 FORM 990 PART IX LINE 11G DESCRIPTION:WRITING/EDITING TOTAL FEES:9820 FORM 990 PART IX LINE 11G DESCRIPTION:MANAGEMENT FEES TOTAL FEES:300 NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INC 40 WEST 20TH STREET NEW YORK NY 10011 132654926 ENVIRONMENTAL NY 501(c)(3) 7 NA false NRDC Limited 22/F Bank of China Tower HONG KONG HK Environmental HK N/A N/A NRDC false NRDC Action Fund PAC 40 west 20th street new york NY 10011 320413564 environmental NY 527 N/A NRDC true false true true false false false false false false false false false false true true true false false false natural resources defense council inc b 125000 cost natural resources defense council inc c 2210000 cost natural resources defense council inc n,o,p 2785491 cost