CLIMATE SCIENCE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND

EIN: 471941171 501(c)(3) Science & Technology

NEW YORK, NY

Total Revenue
$465,503
Total Expenses
$414,719
Total Assets
$1,297,929
Net Assets
$1,270,722
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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
2014
Legal Domicile
DE
Principal Officer
LAUREN KURTZ
Phone
6468010853
Tax Period
2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31

CLIMATE SCIENCE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND, founded in 2014, is a small nonprofit in the Science & Technology sector that reported $466K in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue decreased 11% compared to the prior year. Expenses of $415K left a modest 11% surplus.

Mission

THE CLIMATE SCIENCE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND (CSLDF) PROTECTS THE SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVOR BY PUTTING OUR LEGAL EXPERTISE TO WORK FOR SCIENTISTS WHO ARE THREATENED OR SILENCED FOR DOING THEIR JOBS. OUR EFFORTS AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES PRESERVE AND EXPAND SCIENTISTS' RIGHTS AND STRENGTHEN LEGAL PROTECTIONS TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $251,979 Revenue: $0

THE CLIMATE SCIENCE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND WORKS TO EDUCATE THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING LEGAL ISSUES SURROUNDING THEIR WORK, AS WELL AS EDUCATE THE...

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THE CLIMATE SCIENCE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND WORKS TO EDUCATE THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING LEGAL ISSUES SURROUNDING THEIR WORK, AS WELL AS EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON LEGAL ISSUES FACING SCIENTISTS. THE CLIMATE SCIENCE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND ALSO SERVES AS A CLEARINGHOUSE FOR INFORMATION RELATED TO LEGAL ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST SCIENTISTS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE LAWYERS REPRESENTING SCIENTISTS WITH INFORMATION ABOUT PAST CASES AND STRATEGIES. THE CLIMATE SCIENCE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND TAKES AN ACTIVE INTEREST IN LITIGATION INVOLVING SCIENTISTS, INCLUDING HELPING RAISE FUNDS FOR SCIENTISTS' DEFENSE, SERVING AS A RESOURCE IN FINDING PRO BONO REPRESENTATION, FILING COURT PAPERS URGING THE PROTECTION OF SCIENCE AND SCIENTISTS, AND PROVIDING SUPPORT DURING DIFFICULT LITIGATION OR THREATENED LITIGATION.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

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Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $462,821
Program Service Revenue $0
Investment Income $2,334
Other Revenue $348
TOTAL REVENUE $465,503

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0
Salaries & Benefits $208,810
Fundraising Expenses $78,719
Program Expenses $251,979
Other Expenses $205,909
TOTAL EXPENSES $414,719

Year-over-Year Comparison

2024 2023 Change
Revenue $465,503 $525,799 -0.1%
Expenses $414,719 $367,011 +0.1%
Net Income $50,784 $158,788 -0.7%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Liquidity & Cash Position

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Governance

Voting Members
12
Independent Members
12
Employees
N/A
Volunteers
20

Governance Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

Operated a School
Operated a Hospital
Provided First Class Travel
Reported Conflict of Interest
Reported Asset Diversion
Excess Benefit Transaction
Made Political Expenditures
Engaged in Lobbying
Operated Donor Advised Fund
Maintained Art Collections
Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers
5
$103,400
Total Directors
12
$0
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
0
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
JOSHUA WOLFE CHAIR OF THE BOARD 5.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
SCOTT MANDIA SECRETARY 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
CHARLES ZELLER DIRECTOR 2.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
ANDREW FREY VICE-CHAIR OF THE BOARD 2.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
NAOMI ORESKES DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JEFFREY MASTERS TREASURER 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MICHAEL OPPENHEIMER DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MICHAEL GERRARD DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KATRINA KUH DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
CYMIE PAYNE DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ARADHNA TRIPATI DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
PETER FONTAINE DIRECTOR (FROM DEC 2024) 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
LAUREN KURTZ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00
Officer
$103,333 $67 $103,400
Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Net Income
2024 $465,503 $414,719 $1,297,929 $50,784
2023 $525,799 $367,011 $1,243,468 $158,788
2022 $518,631 $366,711 $1,087,317 $151,920
2021 $570,528 $372,207 $962,460 $198,321
2020 $368,767 $444,712 $759,396 $-75,945
2019 $503,886 $498,225 $805,332 $5,661
2018 $738,814 $512,194 $790,648 $226,620
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