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Nonprofiteer
← WESTERN RESOURCE ADVOCATES

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by WESTERN RESOURCE ADVOCATES.

Totals

Total revenue
$18,491,649
Total expenses
$12,462,042
Contributions and grants received
$17,807,203
Grants paid
$377,800
Program service revenue
$136,758
Investment income
$329,710
Other revenue
$217,978
Total assets, end of year
$21,124,209
Total liabilities, end of year
$904,157
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$20,220,052
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$10,051,978
Management and general expenses
$618,587
Fundraising expenses
$1,791,477
Program service expenses (Part III)
$10,051,978

Program services were 80.7% 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.

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $2,880,000

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $14,927,203

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $1,573,420

  • 2a · Program service revenue: State contracts

    total $136,758 · related or exempt $136,758

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $332,758 · excluded $332,758

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $858,840

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

    securities $861,888

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities -$3,048

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total -$3,048 · excluded -$3,048

  • 11a · Other revenue: Professional fees

    total $212,290 · related or exempt $212,290

  • 11b · Other revenue: Miscellaneous income

    total $5,688 · related or exempt $5,688

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $217,978

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $377,800 · program services $377,800

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,038,037 · program services $591,449 · management and general $199,371 · fundraising $247,217

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $4,495,656 · program services $3,710,499 · management and general $72,997 · fundraising $712,160

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $282,292 · program services $219,457 · management and general $13,894 · fundraising $48,941

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $682,669 · program services $530,714 · management and general $33,601 · fundraising $118,354

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $577,272 · program services $448,777 · management and general $28,413 · fundraising $100,082

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $24,654 · program services $21,052 · management and general $3,602

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $35,425 · management and general $35,425

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $30,566 · management and general $30,566

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,115,124 · program services $1,043,692 · management and general $13,330 · fundraising $58,102

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $217,747 · program services $123,240 · management and general $32,729 · fundraising $61,778

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $273,806 · program services $187,471 · management and general $41,675 · fundraising $44,660

  • 17 · Travel

    total $158,479 · program services $128,512 · management and general $6,714 · fundraising $23,253

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $229,818 · program services $129,096 · management and general $55,474 · fundraising $45,248

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $56,237 · program services $42,088 · management and general $5,539 · fundraising $8,610

  • 24a · Other expenses: Marketing and Communica

    total $1,356,365 · program services $1,096,702 · management and general $0 · fundraising $259,663

  • 24b · Other expenses: Government affairs

    total $1,150,271 · program services $1,150,271 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

  • 24c · Other expenses: Equity and culture

    total $335,421 · program services $243,104 · management and general $35,117 · fundraising $57,200

  • 24d · Other expenses: Miscellaneous

    total $24,403 · program services $8,054 · management and general $10,140 · fundraising $6,209

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,001,442 · end of year $2,601,774

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $5,415,708 · end of year $7,853,313

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $3,949,961 · end of year $6,709,547

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $228,633 · end of year $56,606

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $116,520 · end of year $161,973

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

    $335,653

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

    $228,743

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $114,145 · end of year $106,910

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $2,049,748 · end of year $2,000,033

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $1,447,519 · end of year $1,360,884

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $260,396 · end of year $273,169

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $252,038 · end of year $628,790

  • 21 · Escrow or custodial account liability

    beginning of year $24,676 · end of year $23,554

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $239,067 · end of year $251,813

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $7,312,713 · end of year $8,342,245

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $6,755,578 · end of year $11,877,807

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

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, WRA's on-the-ground work advances clean energy, protects air, land, water, and wildlife. WRA develops, advocates for, and implements science-based policies informed by diverse communities and stakeholders to create a healthier and more equitable future for all Western communities. WRA creates transformational change by driving action at the state level to effectively address complex conservation problems in the West.

Activities or mission (Part I)

Fights climate change and its impacts to sustain the environment, economy, and people of the West.

  • Clean Energy - The vision of our clean energy work is that our homes, buildings and transportation systems will be powered by clean energy and the West is prospering in a zero-carbon economy. WRA uses public policy to align the financial interests of electricity producers and consumers with decarbonizing electricity production and electrifying other sectors of the economy in a way that advances equity. By working to retire coal, replace generation with clean energy and transportation, build clean energy markets, and modernize the grid, WRA is transforming the region.

    Expenses $5,946,541 · Grants $135,892

  • Healthy Rivers - The vision of our healthy rivers work is that Western rivers are thriving even in the face of climate change and these critical waterways are protected to support ecosystems, local communities, and world-class recreation. Water is conserved and key river reaches are revitalized and managed to support healthy river ecology, sustainable water use, and resilience to a changing climate. WRA develops, advocates for, and implements policies, programs and river management that saves water and protects rivers through improving stream flow, reducing water use, and improved water planning.

    Expenses $2,519,711 · Grants $159,950 · Revenue $136,758

  • Western Lands - The vision of our Western lands work is that at least half of the land in each major ecoregion, including wildlife migration corridors, are legally protected from development in order to conserve biodiversity in the face of rapid habitat loss and climate change. Protected lands support equitable, sustainable access to outdoor opportunities; vibrant communities with robust local outdoor economies; cultural resources, sacred sites, and living ties to the land; and intact natural ecological processes that sequester carbon and help meet climate goals, and capture runoff and help meet healthy river goals.

    Expenses $1,585,726 · Grants $81,958

  • Fiscal Sponsorship - Through most of 2023 Western Resource Advocates was the fiscal sponsor for the Signal Tech Coalition. Signal Tech Coalition is a nonprofit organization registered in the state of Colorado and is organized exclusively for environmental purposes, more specifically to educate Colorado's business leaders about climate change and help them advocate for environmental policies. The fiscal sponsorship ended in October 2023.

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Carla Donelson

    Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Moroni Benally

    Co-Vice Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kim Miller

    Co-Vice Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Matthew Hunt

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jamie Starr

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Michelle Campbell

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Carrie Doyle

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Eli Feldman

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 0.1 related

  • Carla Johnson

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Eric Laufer

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Reuben Munger

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Loreta Pineda

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Portia Prescott

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Martha Records

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Chris Robinson

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Chas Robles

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Yadira Sanchez

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Heather Tanana

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Felipe Vieyra

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jon Goldin-Dubois

    President

    Total calculated
    $280,099
    From this org
    $254,994
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $25,105
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $219,994
    Bonus
    $35,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $11,705
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,400
    Filer's total
    $280,099

  • Richard Trilsch

    VP of Finance and Admin

    Total calculated
    $195,010
    From this org
    $175,294
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,716
    Hours/week
    40 + 0.25 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $175,294
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $9,835
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,881
    Filer's total
    $195,010

  • Theresa Bushman

    VP of Development and Communications

    Total calculated
    $187,948
    From this org
    $168,161
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,787
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $168,161
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $9,906
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,881
    Filer's total
    $187,948

  • John Nielsen

    VP of Policy and Programs

    Total calculated
    $189,593
    From this org
    $171,368
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,225
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $171,368
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,747
    Nontaxable benefits
    $10,478
    Filer's total
    $189,593

  • Kathryne Grove

    VP of Equity and Culture

    Total calculated
    $185,385
    From this org
    $166,464
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,921
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $166,464
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,951
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,970
    Filer's total
    $185,385

  • Bart Miller

    Healthy Rivers Director

    Total calculated
    $134,855
    From this org
    $117,674
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,181
    Hours/week
    40

  • Jeremy Vesbach

    Western Lands Program Director

    Total calculated
    $138,599
    From this org
    $120,888
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,711
    Hours/week
    40

  • Gwen Farnsworth

    Clean Energy Deputy Director of State Advocacy

    Total calculated
    $127,738
    From this org
    $112,149
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,589
    Hours/week
    40

  • Nancy Kelly

    Senior Policy Advisor, Clean Energy

    Total calculated
    $137,695
    From this org
    $120,984
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,711
    Hours/week
    40

  • Jennifer Walker

    Senior Attorney, Western Lands

    Total calculated
    $139,777
    From this org
    $123,421
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,356
    Hours/week
    40

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

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 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 3
The executive committee (which serves as the compensation committee) establishes and maintains a competitive compensation program for the President of the organization, using comparable compensation data from other non-profit organizations to benchmark pay and other published survey data, when appropriate, from for-profit organizations for specific functional competencies such as law, finance, and human resources. Together with data from the comparable local and regional organizations, data from these market segments is used to form a "market composite" to assess the competitiveness of compensation. The Committee meets annually to review the compensation program and make recommendations for any changes to the board, as appropriate. The president is responsible for establishing and maintaining a competitive compensation program for all other key executives of the organization. Deliberations and conclusions of both the compensation committee and the Board of Directors are contemporaneously documented in the respective minutes.

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

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
23 October 2024
IRS schema version
2023v5.1
Source object
202442979349302014

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