Windward Fund
95% goes to programs $0 to raise $100 Strong reserves
Windward Fund is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington, District of Columbia, registered in 2015, with $308,245,754 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A+, and it directs about 95% of spending to programs.
1828 L St Nw Ste 400c, Washington, DC, 20036 EIN 47-3522162 Since 2015
Revenue (FY2024)
$308.2M
▲ 45.1% vs prior year
Environment median: $250K
Expenses (FY2024)
$251.3M
Net assets
$320.2M
Employees
181
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A+
A+Program efficiency40% of the rating95% to programs · $0 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For Windward Fund: 95% to programs · $0 to raise $100 earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating15 mo reserves · +18% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For Windward Fund: 15 mo reserves · +18% margin earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For Windward Fund: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Transparency10% of the rating5 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For Windward Fund: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Show this grade on your website
A live seal — it updates automatically when the grade changes and links donors to this verified profile.
Mission
Windward fund hosts initiatives that pursue bold solutions to environmental challenges.
What they do
Agriculture, food, and nutrition - windward's agriculture, food, and nutrition projects support community food production and strengthen regional food systems by increasing access to information, services and resources for food producers.
Public safety, disaster preparedness and relief - windward's public safety, disaster preparedness and relief programs focus on a range of issues including assisting public agencies on disaster response, improving risk mitigation measures, and developing advanced safety solutions.
Capacity building - windward's capacity building projects support the capacity development of grantees who work across environmental, climate, energy, and other charitable issues.
Contact & location
- Address
- 1828 L St Nw Ste 400c, Washington, DC, 20036
- City
- Washington
- State
- District of Columbia
- Category
- Environment
- Subcategory
- Natural Resources Conservation
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $1.3M (FY2015) to $308.2M (FY2024) across 10 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $112.6MNet assets $320.2M
Operating margin
18.5%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$432.7M
Total liabilities
$112.6M
Net assets
$320.2M
Salaries & benefits
$21.4M
8% of expenses
Board members
8
8 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $308,245,754▲45.1% | $251,319,552▲18.6% | $320,150,314▲21.9% | $432,729,235▲21.7% | 990 |
| 2023 | $212,371,954▲7.2% | $211,847,409▲4.3% | $262,587,804▼3.6% | $355,450,224▲5.4% | 990 |
| 2022 | $198,128,051▼27.8% | $203,032,217▲88.4% | $272,268,246▼6.9% | $337,278,177▲2.8% | 990 |
| 2021 | $274,341,513▲73.0% | $107,774,502▲53.4% | $292,395,844▲132% | $328,195,647▲141% | 990 |
| 2020 | $158,611,799▲257% | $70,257,223▲237% | $126,081,808▲212% | $136,151,371▲212% | 990 |
| 2019 | $44,404,708▲131% | $20,844,825▲53.5% | $40,449,379▲139% | $43,649,953▲134% | 990 |
| 2018 | $19,238,519▲52.0% | $13,579,180▲23.2% | $16,889,496▲50.4% | $18,675,227▲45.3% | 990 |
| 2017 | $12,656,323▼20.0% | $11,024,111▲47.9% | $11,230,157▲17.0% | $12,855,166▲7.6% | 990 |
| 2016 | $15,812,062▲1119% | $7,452,824▲12685% | $9,597,945▲675% | $11,943,689▲821% | 990 |
| 2015 | $1,297,000 | $58,293 | $1,238,707 | $1,297,000 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2024)
Highest-paid: Sarah Smith — $296,200 (0.12% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Smith | Project Program Director | 40 | $296,200 |
| James Walker | Project Chief Operating Officer | 40 | $280,165 |
| Sarah Lake | Project Chief Executive Officer | 40 | $258,938 |
| Erin Rogers | Project Co-director | 40 | $257,026 |
| Melanie Allen | Project Co-director | 40 | $253,826 |
| Lynn Mcnair | President | 40 | $240,597 |
| Bruce Boyd | Director | 1 | — |
| David Fukuzawa | Director | 1 | — |
| Harry Drucker | Secretary & Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Jasmine Hall Ratliff | Director | 1 | — |
| Kristen Grimm | Director | 1 | — |
| Lee Bodner | Board Chair | 1 | — |
| Pat Gonzales Rogers | Director | 1 | — |
| Rachel Leon | Director | 1 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2024)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Arabella Advisors LLC | Admin., Operations & Support Services | $7,666,363 |
| Purpose Venture Advisors LLC | Consulting Services | $1,835,000 |
| Mission Operations LLC | Project Management | $675,000 |
| Abernethy Schwartz Partners LLC | Consulting Services | $367,554 |
| Peter Curtice | Project Management | $312,400 |
Grants received · $245.6M total
174 grants to Windward Fund totaling $245.6M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund For Wealth Management Inc | Environment & animal protection | 2024 | $17,843,350 |
| Fiduciary Charitable Foundation | Donations | 2024 | $7,730,000 |
| Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham Environmental Trust | Grants to protect the environment | 2024 | $3,000,000 |
| Rf Catalytic Capital Inc | In support of capacity building | 2024 | $2,500,000 |
| Rf Catalytic Capital Inc | In support of capacity building | 2024 | $2,000,000 |
| Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Inc | General operating support and project support | 2024 | $1,910,000 |
| Climate Imperative Foundation | Environmental protection | 2024 | $1,435,000 |
| Silicon Valley Community Foundation | Environment | 2024 | $1,256,750 |
| United States Energy Foundation | To support education and outreach to build a clean energy future. to promote education and analysis on the benefits of clean transportation. | 2024 | $919,917 |
| Tides Foundation | Sustainable environment | 2024 | $765,000 |
| World Wildlife Fund Inc | Conservation | 2024 | $665,654 |
| Climateworks Foundation | To protect the climate, reduce pollution, and strengthen economies ($34,000); to support communities most affected by climate change ($225,000) | 2024 | $259,000 |
| North Fund | Technology and innovation | 2024 | $250,000 |
| Maine Community Foundation Inc | Natural resources conservation & protection | 2024 | $230,000 |
| Greater Houston Community Foundation | Environmental | 2024 | $200,000 |
Grants made · $137.7M in FY2024
458 grants totaling $137.7M in FY2024 — showing the 15 largest. All grants made by Windward Fund →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois | Environmental programs | $8,254,990 |
| Environmental Defense Fund Incorporated | Environmental programs | $7,765,690 |
| Carbon Mapper Inc | Environmental programs | $5,000,000 |
| Hourglass Climate Inc | Environmental programs | $3,948,938 |
| Institute For Governance and Sustainable Development Inc | Environmental programs | $3,438,500 |
| The Energy Foundation | Environmental programs | $3,423,333 |
| Cornell University | Environmental programs | $2,991,652 |
| Frontier Climate Management LLC | Environmental programs | $2,828,213 |
| Natural Resources Defense Council Inc | Environmental programs | $2,296,667 |
| World Resources Institute | Environmental programs | $2,296,667 |
| Mighty Earth Inc | Environmental programs | $2,232,657 |
| Rocky Mountain Institute | Environmental programs | $1,960,000 |
| Meridian Institute | Agriculture, food, nutrition | $1,400,000 |
| Rewiring America Inc | Environmental programs | $1,320,330 |
| Tides Foundation | Environmental programs | $1,270,000 |
Similar organizations in Environment
Environment
Sixteen Thirty Fund
Washington, DC
$282.2M
B+annual revenue
Environment
World Wildlife Fund Inc
Washington, DC
$366.7M
Aannual revenue
- Environment
Berger Action Fund Inc
Washington, DC
$206.5M
Aannual revenue
Environment
Urban Land Institute
Washington, DC
$93.1M
Aannual revenue
Environment
Paintcare Inc
Washington, DC
$84.7M
Aannual revenue
Environment
Climate Power
Washington, DC
$79.4M
Bannual revenue
Environment
League of Conservation Voters Education Fund
Washington, DC
$75.2M
Aannual revenue
Environment
American Rivers Inc
Washington, DC
$53.4M
Bannual revenue
Environment
National Parks Conservation Association
Washington, DC
$51.6M
Bannual revenue
Environment
U S Green Building Council Inc
Washington, DC
$50.3M
B+annual revenue
Compare Windward Fund
Frequently asked questions
- Is Windward Fund a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Windward Fund is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 47-3522162, based in Washington, District of Columbia. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Windward Fund's EIN?
- Windward Fund's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 47-3522162.
- How much revenue does Windward Fund report?
- Windward Fund reported $308,245,754 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Windward Fund's spending goes to programs?
- Windward Fund spends about 95% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Windward Fund have?
- CharityIndex grades Windward Fund A+, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Windward Fund's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Windward Fund's latest Form 990 is $296,200, paid to Sarah Smith (Project Program Director).
More nonprofits in Washington
Explore more
Data for Windward Fund (EIN 47-3522162) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.