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Nonprofiteer
← ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP.

Totals

Total revenue
$21,753,184
Total expenses
$18,635,561
Contributions and grants received
$19,572,330
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$1,569,824
Investment income
$611,030
Other revenue
$0
Total assets, end of year
$27,146,131
Total liabilities, end of year
$9,848,138
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$17,297,993
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$14,390,072
Management and general expenses
$1,704,779
Fundraising expenses
$2,540,710
Program service expenses (Part III)
$14,390,072

Program services were 77.2% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $19,572,330

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $547,993

  • 2a · Program service revenue: VERIFIED BY EWG

    total $1,479,875 · related or exempt $1,479,875

  • 2b · Program service revenue: ADMIN. CONSULTING

    total $89,949 · related or exempt $89,949

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $611,030 · excluded $611,030

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $5,929,221

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $5,929,221

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $0

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $0

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,324,359 · program services $921,337 · management and general $326,283 · fundraising $76,739

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $8,254,981 · program services $6,965,102 · management and general $448,845 · fundraising $841,034

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $292,777 · program services $292,777

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $881,384 · program services $663,195 · management and general $83,471 · fundraising $134,718

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $701,453 · program services $576,948 · management and general $57,452 · fundraising $67,053

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $129,154 · program services $108,471 · management and general $20,683

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $69,514 · management and general $69,514

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $710,258 · program services $710,258

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $12,279 · program services $37 · management and general $12,222 · fundraising $20

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,256,351 · program services $1,091,871 · management and general $86,076 · fundraising $78,404

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $257,019 · program services $92,764 · management and general $115,155 · fundraising $49,100

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $67,196 · program services $24,521 · management and general $13,187 · fundraising $29,488

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $427,656 · program services $373,440 · management and general $25,812 · fundraising $28,404

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $861,983 · program services $711,386 · management and general $69,358 · fundraising $81,239

  • 17 · Travel

    total $473,731 · program services $378,610 · management and general $29,375 · fundraising $65,746

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $872,341 · program services $291,861 · management and general $56,914 · fundraising $523,566

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $242,821 · program services $89,187 · management and general $141,749 · fundraising $11,885

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $87,548 · program services $72,299 · management and general $6,892 · fundraising $8,357

  • 24a · Other expenses: IN-KIND GOODS

    total $547,993 · program services $366,424 · management and general $77,483 · fundraising $104,086

  • 24b · Other expenses: FULFILLMENT GOODS

    total $476,364 · program services $94,572 · fundraising $381,792

  • 24c · Other expenses: ONLINE ENGAGEMENT

    total $428,302 · program services $356,816 · management and general $32,248 · fundraising $39,238

  • 24d · Other expenses: LICENCES, FEE, SUBSCRIP

    total $217,398 · program services $166,191 · management and general $32,060 · fundraising $19,147

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $42,699 · program services $42,005 · fundraising $694

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $4,528,590 · end of year $1,351,259

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $6,212,903 · end of year $14,005,524

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $3,033,459 · end of year $1,930,462

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $120,119 · end of year $141,334

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $323,321 · end of year $518,943

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $1,539,608

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $1,029,779

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $556,071 · end of year $509,829

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $2,196,899 · end of year $1,874,380

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $7,573,293 · end of year $6,814,400

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $1,069,814 · end of year $1,272,997

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $9,340,487 · end of year $8,575,141

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $11,155,787 · end of year $14,758,416

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $2,978,567 · end of year $2,539,577

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP (EWG) IS COMMITTED TO EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES IN HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENTS. WE ARE A NONPROFIT RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION WITH A COMMUNITY MADE UP OF MILLIONS OF CONSUMERS WHO STAND-UP FOR HEALTHY FOOD, FARMS, WATER AND PEOPLE.

Activities or mission (Part I)

WITH BREAKTHROUGH RESEARCH AND EDUCATION, WE DRIVE CONSUMER CHOICE AND CIVIC ACTION.

  • TOXICS AND HUMAN HEALTH - EWG BELIEVES PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRUST THAT THE PRODUCTS THEY ARE BUYING ARE SAFE AND WON'T CAUSE HARM TO THEIR HEALTH OR THEIR FAMILIES. OUR SIMPLE THEORY IS UNFORTUNATELY NOT THE REALITY IN TODAY'S CHEMICAL SAFETY REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT. OUR SCIENCE PROGRAM HAS TWO PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: FIRST, TO INFLUENCE CONSUMER BEHAVIOR BY DIRECTLY INFORMING AND MOTIVATING A LARGE AUDIENCE TO ADOPT HABITS OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, USING ORIGINAL RESEARCH ABOUT CHEMICALS OF CONCERN FOUND IN EVERYDAY ENVIRONMENTS. SECOND, TO INFLUENCE MASS MARKET CHANGE BY DISRUPTING THE FOOD, HOUSEHOLD CLEANER, AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT MARKETS THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH ON TOXIC INGREDIENTS AND CONSUMER PRESSURE FOR SAFER ALTERNATIVES.OUR SCIENCE PROGRAM IS WORKING TO PRODUCE CUTTING-EDGE, NEWSWORTHY RESEARCH AND CONSUMER EDUCATION PROJECTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH TO EDUCATE CITIZEN ACTIVISTS, MOVE MARKETS AND GENERATE DEBATE ON CHEMICAL POLICY REFORM. EWG HAS A DEDICATED TEAM OF SCIENTISTS WITH EXPERTISE IN TOXICOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, PUBLIC HEALTH AND NUTRITION. OUR TEAM OF A DOZEN EXPERTS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST RECOGNIZED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD.FROM THE TOP RESEARCHERS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, TO AN AWARD WINNING GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS SHOP, TO COPYWRITERS TO HELP US TELL OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH STORIES TO A ROBUST ONLINE COMMUNITY OF MILLIONS OF CONSUMERS - EWG IS INSPIRING CHANGE, BOTH BIG AND SMALL. THROUGH OUR HABIT CHANGING GUIDANCE, TO OUR MARKET AND POLICY MOVING SCIENCE WE ARE TRANSFORMING THE PERCEPTION THAT HEALTH AND WELLNESS IS A LUXURY AND REDEFINING IT AS A NECESSITY.BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE A RIGHT TO LIVE IN AN "ENVIRONMENT" WE CAN TRUST.

    Expenses $11,465,832 · Revenue $70,899

  • LICENSING - "EWG VERIFIED" IS EWG'S VERIFICATION AND LICENSING PROGRAM THAT HELPS CONSUMERS IDENTIFY SAFER PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS WITHOUT HAVING TO DO RESEARCH. IT IS RAPIDLY PUSHING THE MARKET TOWARD THE STRICT INGREDIENT AND TRANSPARENCY CRITERIA DEFINED BY OUR TEAM OF RESEARCH SCIENTISTS. EWG ESTABLISHED STANDARDS IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND CREATED AN EWG VERIFIED SEAL THAT MEANS A PRODUCT IS FREE FROM DANGEROUS CHEMICALS WITH KNOWN NEGATIVE HEALTH IMPACTS, AND THAT PRODUCT HAS MET EWG'S STRICT, PROTECTIVE STANDARDS FOR THESE CHEMICALS.AN EWG MARK FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH AT POINT OF SALE INSPIRES CONSUMERS TO SHOP WITH OUR STANDARDS IN MIND, AND ULTIMATELY, SHAPING CONSUMER HABITS WILL DRIVE MARKET CHANGE. OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE MARQUEE BRANDS FORMULATE TOWARD OUR STANDARDS, MAKING IT THAT MUCH EASIER FOR CONSUMERS TO FIND BETTER ALTERNATIVES.

    Expenses $2,900,905 · Revenue $1,446,938

  • FOOD AND AGRICULTURE - OUR CONSERVATION PROGRAM WORKS TO PROTECT THE SOURCE OF OUR FOOD: OUR SOIL AND WATER. THIS INCLUDES ONGOING PROJECTS TO PROTECT DRINKING WATER FROM AGRICULTURAL POLLUTION, AND TO PROTECT SOIL FROM PESTICIDES, EROSION AND CONTAMINATION FROM THESE SAME INDUSTRIES. WE DO THIS WORK TO PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES BECAUSE THEY ARE VITAL AND IRREPLACEABLE, BUT ALSO BECAUSE POLLUTION IN OUR ENVIRONMENT INEVITABLY BECOMES POLLUTION IN OUR BODIES. OUR GOAL IS TO ILLUSTRATE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BROKEN U.S. AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM, FARM SUBSIDIES, THE DAMAGE BEING DONE TO OUR LAND AND HEALTH, AND THE INCREASING LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD AND FRESH PRODUCE FOR TODAY'S FAMILIES. OUR STRATEGY IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND PUSH U.S. AGRICULTURE IN A MORE SUSTAINABLE DIRECTION THAT STANDS UP FOR BOTH THE HEALTH OF OUR LAND AND OUR FOOD.

    Expenses $23,335 · Revenue $51,987

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • KEN COOK

    CHAIR & PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $369,215
    From this org
    $332,129
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $37,086
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $332,129
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $12,725
    Nontaxable benefits
    $24,361
    Filer's total
    $369,215

  • CHRISTINE GARDNER

    VICE-CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • DRUMMOND PIKE

    TREASURER & SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • DAVID BAKER

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • BRANDON BECK

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • NATASHA BECK

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • SUSAN BYMEL

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • ARIANNE CALLENDER

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • ROB FETHERSTONHAUGH

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • MEG HIRSHBERG

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • DR MARK HYMAN

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • DR BOJANA JANKOVIC WEATHERLY

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • DR HARVEY KARP

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • NINA MONTEE KARP

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • CJ KETTLER

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • KAREN MALKIN

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • ELISE MUSELES

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • DR BARBARA PALDUS

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • RANDY PAYNTER

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • MICHELLE PFEIFER

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • WILLIAM G ROSS JR

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • KIM ROZENFELD

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • LAURA TURNER SEYDEL

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • SHAZI VISRAM

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • SCOTT MALLAN

    CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $308,413
    From this org
    $274,006
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $34,407
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $266,506
    Bonus
    $7,500
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $13,836
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,571
    Filer's total
    $308,413

  • SCOTT FABER

    SENIOR VP GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

    Total calculated
    $363,878
    From this org
    $309,418
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $54,460
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $300,868
    Bonus
    $8,550
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $30,002
    Nontaxable benefits
    $24,458
    Filer's total
    $363,878

  • JOCELYN LYLE

    EXECUTIVE VP, MISSION & PARTNERSHIPS

    Total calculated
    $328,599
    From this org
    $269,873
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $58,726
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $261,773
    Bonus
    $8,100
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $32,934
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,792
    Filer's total
    $328,599

  • MAURA WALSH

    VP, MARKETING & COMMUNICATION

    Total calculated
    $276,639
    From this org
    $261,738
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,901
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $254,088
    Bonus
    $7,650
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $12,278
    Nontaxable benefits
    $2,623
    Filer's total
    $276,639

  • CHRIS CAMPBELL

    VP INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

    Total calculated
    $281,615
    From this org
    $227,252
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $54,363
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $220,352
    Bonus
    $6,900
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $30,002
    Nontaxable benefits
    $24,361
    Filer's total
    $281,615

  • CAROLINE LEARY

    COO & GENERAL COUNSEL

    Total calculated
    $245,519
    From this org
    $226,740
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,779
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $220,140
    Bonus
    $6,600
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,709
    Nontaxable benefits
    $10,070
    Filer's total
    $245,519

  • OLGA NAIDENKO

    VP SCIENCE INVESTIGATIONS

    Total calculated
    $233,918
    From this org
    $211,778
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,140
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $205,598
    Bonus
    $6,180
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $10,717
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,423
    Filer's total
    $233,918

  • JOHN REEDER

    VP, FEDERAL AFFAIRS

    Total calculated
    $213,431
    From this org
    $212,118
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $1,313
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $212,118
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,313
    Filer's total
    $213,431

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 1a · First-class or charter travel
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 1A
THE PRESIDENT IS PROVIDED WITH FIRST-CLASS TRAVEL FOR BUSINESS TRIPS THAT ARE LONGER THAN 2 HOURS.
PART II:
ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP (EWG) AND EWG ACTION FUND (ACTION FUND) HAVE ENTERED INTO A COST SHARING ARRANGEMENT UNDER WHICH THE ACTION FUND REIMBURSES EWG FOR ITS EMPLOYEES' TIME SPENT ON THE ACTION FUND WORK. EWG AND EWGAF ARE NOT "RELATED ORGANIZATIONS" AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE FORM 990, GLOSSARY.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
11 July 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202531979349300818

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