2013-05-10T13:42:00-05:00 2012-06-30 GRANT THORNTON LLP 666 THIRD AVENUE NEW YORK NY 100174057 990 2011-07-01 133976062 NRDC Action Fund Inc % SARAH A GILLMAN CFO NRDC 2127272700 40 WEST 20TH STREET NEW YORK NY 10011 Sarah A Gillman 2013-05-10 2125990100 2011 2016-02-24 21:20:13Z PETER LEHNER EXEC DIRECTOR 40 WEST 20TH STREET NEW YORK NY 10011 2623363 false X www.nrdcactionfund.org X 1996 NY to promote educational and legislative activities that protect the environment, to engage in targeted media campaigns and other outreach that promote nrdc action fund's objectives on environmental issues. 27 24 0 0 0 0 2302865 2623363 0 0 0 0 0 0 2302865 2623363 745000 0 0 0 552507 590891 0 0 26989 2057569 749151 3355076 1340042 -1052211 1283321 1694463 2955590 300940 278746 1393523 2676844 X NRDC ACTION FUND, ("ACTION FUND"), WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROMOTE EDUCATIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES THAT PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT. NRDC ACTION FUND'S MISSION IS TO ACHIEVE THE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION THAT JUMP STARTS THE CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY, REDUCES POLLUTION, AND SUSTAINS VIBRANT COMMUNITIES FOR ALL AMERICANS. NOW IS THE TIME FOR LEADERSHIP AND ACTION FROM OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS; OUR CURRENT GOAL IS A CLEAN ENERGY POLICY THAT WILL REPOWER OUR ECONOMY AND FUEL OUR FUTURE. false false 1021512 1.Public Education & Accountability One of the Action Fund's top priorities is to tell the American public how their elected officials vote on environmental issues. Too often, politicians profess concern for people's health and communities and then vote with polluters. Through hard-hitting, data-driven messaging and communications strategies, we make the connection between bad votes and dirty money. And when politicians do take a courageous stand against big polluters, we tell the public, too. Reckless: The Political Assault on the American Environment: To address this gap in knowledge, the NRDC Action Fund published our first book in April called "Reckless: The Political Assault on the American Environment." The book, written by the NRDC Action Fund Senior Advisor Bob Deans, starts to build the record of Republican Party assaults on environmental protections in Congress. We held a launch party at the National Press Club in Washington, DC and hosted several book parties in early June across the country. These book parties were opportunities for us to inform the public about what is going on in Congress via attending press. Accountability: The environmental community weathered the multiple attacks on clean air launched in the US House and Senate during the spring. As fall approached, it became clear-particularly as House Whip Eric Cantor wrote a memo- that the House would tee up a new series of votes to rollback EPA's clean air safeguards. Our strategy was to use the House votes as opportunities to remind the Senate and the White House that the public supports stronger clean air rules. We launched a series of accountability ads focused on House members who consistently vote against clean air in key states where senators are considered swing votes on clean air. Fred Upton Campaign: The Action Fund continued an accountability campaign to show that Rep. Fred Upton, the chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, was out of touch with his constituents on clean energy and public health. The coalition ran billboards, sent direct mail, organized activities at his town halls, and launched regional media development activities in the district. Polling showed that we increased support for EPA efforts and increased public pressure on Rep. Upton around his relationships with polluting industries. We developed strong relationships with local reporters who were looking for quality content, ensuring that Michigan papers regularly printed our stories. Winning the Wins: The Action Fund participated in a community-wide effort called "Winning the Wins" to defend the administration's Clean Cars standards, enact new limits on power plant pollution, and reject the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. Together we demonstrated outside-the-Beltway support for these policies. Targeted online advertising with a particular focus on women and youth, ran in swing states. The coalition created a video parody of the Romney dog's infamous car roof ride, "Vacation Dog," which generated national press coverage and hundreds of thousands of views. We also utilized social media outlets and a radio tour to echo the messaging. Representatives from the NRDC Action Fund and our partners joined the President when he signed rules on August 28, 2012 to raise the clean car standards to 54.5 MPG by 2025. 2.Supporting Clean Energy: Good Policy, Good Politics Elected officials and candidates need to hear from their constituents and voters that investing in clean energy and protecting the environment is good policy and good politics. State Ballot Initiatives: The NRDC Action Fund served on a national Renewable Energy Ballot exploratory committee. The committee decided to focus on passing a ballot initiative in Michigan. The "Michigan Energy, Michigan Jobs" coalition collected signatures in Michigan and qualified for the November 2012 ballot. Michigan's current Renewable Energy Standard (RES,) enacted in 2008, requires the state utilities to generate 10% of its energy from renewable sources by 2015. The proposal would have increased Michigan's renewable energy standard to 25 percent by 2025. We helped build the coalition for the ballot initiative to include outspoken supporters from Michigan's manufacturing, health and faith and labor communities. The Action Fund provided the NRDC California Advocacy team with technical and political advice on several of California's 11 statewide initiatives that were on the ballot in November 2012, including Prop 30, Prop 31, Prop 37 and Prop 39. Running Clean: The NRDC Action Fund conducted extensive polling in key states to demonstrate that the public supports clean energy incentives and public health protections. When candidates incorporate these issues into their platforms, they can energize voters. After 2010 federal election cycle, we released a "Running Clean" report to highlight the successes of some of the candidates who incorporated clean energy in their campaigns. The report provides case studies for candidates and political operatives on effectively using clean energy messages and themes. We launched a webpage, http://www.nrdcactionfund.org/runningclean, in conjunction with the report that features a series of video interviews with U.S. Senators about their experiences with clean energy messaging. We continually update the website with the latest polling on our priority issues. 3.Policy Advocacy The NRDC Action Fund supports the policy goals of Natural Resources Defense Council (with which it is affiliated) by activating our influential grasstops network, running advocacy campaigns, and supporting broader coalition efforts with other environmental partners. Fighting Anti-Environment Riders: In 2011, NRDC Action Fund staff joined the fight against nearly 40 environmental rollbacks that the U.S. House of Representatives tried to add as "riders" to the Interior/Environmental Appropriations bill. Thanks to the efforts of the Action Fund and others, almost none of these rollbacks made it into law, keeping protections for our air, water, food, and communities in place. Keystone XL Pipeline: The NRDC Action Fund supported NRDC's effort to stop the Keystone XL pipeline. In October, the NRDC Action Fund contributed to the group "Bold Nebraska" to support efforts by the Nebraskan Governor to stop the Keystone XL pipeline from being built over the Ogallala Aquifer, which supplies drinking water for nearly 2 million people and irrigation water to the nation's bread basket. The "Bold Nebraska" work succeeded in getting Republican Governor Dave Heineman to oppose the initial route during an emergency session of the state legislature. Clean Air Defense: The Action Fund was engaged in the successful coalition effort to reduce air pollution, the Clean Air Defense Campaign (CADC). With the support of environmental, health, business and other groups organized by the CADC, the EPA issued strong safeguards to reduce mercury, soot and smog-forming pollution from power plants. The CADC also held off Congressional efforts to strip the EPA of authority to set standards for carbon pollution and other greenhouse gases. 4.Building Power & Influence The Action Fund is building power in key states with influential grasstops advocates who champion our issues at home and in Washington, DC. Partnership for Power (now: Power Project): NRDC Action Fund and Environment America launched a five-year focused partnership to rebuild the environmental majority across the country. We began the Power Project by choosing five states (Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Maine, and New Mexico) for heavy investment in policy advocacy, polling and message development, public education, grassroots organizing and limited electoral work. The goal of the project is to build a political power structure that responds to the public's broad support for environmental and health protections. The Power Project is our venue for building on-the-ground relationships with influential actors, such as local and state politicians, business and media leaders, and new allied organizations, by working together on local efforts, sharing information, and helping develop new leaders on environmental matters. Through this work, we will create a model of success that we can replicate nationwide. Expanding Our Network of Influence: The Action Fund and Voices for Progress (VfP) received funding to grow our grasstops network in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco through the end of 2011, specifically in support of strong clean air regulations and against the Keystone XL pipeline. We are growing our network by personal engagement with people who are political donors or otherwise have influence with our decision-makers, educating them, alerting them to issues of concern, and helping them make their voices more effective. 1021512 false true true false false false false false false false false false false false true false true false false false false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false true false false false true 0 0 0 false false false false true true false X 27 24 false false false false true true true true true false false true true true true true true true true false AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT FL GA HI IL KS KY ME MD MA MN MS MO NH NJ NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC TN UT VA WA WV WI X X SARAH A GILLMAN CFO 2127274516 40 WEST 20TH STREET NEW YORK NY 10011 X Wendy Abrams 1.0 X 0 0 0 John H Adams 1.0 X 0 158500 62095 Christopher Arndt 1.0 X 0 0 0 Richard E Ayres 1.0 X 0 0 0 Anne Bartley 1.0 X 0 0 0 Patricia Bauman 1.0 X 0 0 0 Frances Beinecke 1.0 X X 0 376317 51371 Lucy Blake 1.0 X 0 0 0 Dayna Bochco 1.0 X 0 0 0 Sherwood Boehlert 1.0 X 0 0 0 Hamilton Candee 1.0 X 0 0 0 Ari Emanuel 1.0 X 0 0 0 Bob Epstein 1.0 X X 0 0 0 Michael Finnegan 1.0 X 0 0 0 William Haney 1.0 X 0 0 0 Barbarina Heyerdahl 1.0 X 0 0 0 Cindy Horn 1.0 X 0 0 0 Honorable Hamilton Kean 1.0 X 0 0 0 Bob Kerrey 1.0 X 0 0 0 Vernice Miller-Travis 1.0 X 0 0 0 Mary Moran 1.0 X 0 0 0 Jorge Mursuli 1.0 X 0 0 0 Edward James Olmos 1.0 X 0 0 0 John Podesta 1.0 X 0 0 0 Patricia Sullivan 1.0 X 0 102908 653 Daniel R Tishman 1.0 X 0 0 0 Douglas N Varley 1.0 X 0 0 0 Eric Wepsic 1.0 X 0 0 0 Sarah Cogan 1.0 X 0 0 0 Sarah A Gillman 1.0 X 0 47243 15471 Judith A Keefer 1.0 X 0 222013 48729 Peter Lehner 1.0 X 0 259300 39121 Jennifer Reynoso 1.0 X 0 0 0 0 1166281 217440 0 false true false Del Cielo Media 10755 scripps poway parkway SAN DIEGO CA 92131 Advertising & Design 153100 1 2623363 2623363 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2623363 0 0 0 0 43584 3477 40107 0 410749 297372 101904 11473 0 136558 90426 42684 3448 0 44520 44520 12939 12939 2120 2120 17476 17476 0 0 244017 236353 7664 157956 157342 614 33376 12389 14641 6346 65652 61264 4388 0 0 47188 9760 37428 0 7434 5265 2169 0 0 0 0 FILING FEES 10075 9705 370 CREDIT CARD COSTS 2535 2535 MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES 103863 61104 39572 3187 1340042 1021512 291541 26989 1687125 2955590 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7338 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1694463 2955590 300940 278746 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 300940 278746 X 0 0 1393523 2676844 0 0 1393523 2676844 1694463 2955590 1283321 X X false true true X false RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 108411 108411 108411 false Schedule C, Part I-A, Line 1 The Amount reported on schedule C, part I-A, line 2 reflects staff time, as well as consulting and other discretionary expenses, the NRDC Action Fund spent on work related to limited political activities on environmental issues. As 2011 was not an election cycle, these political expenditures were directed mainly toward preparation for the 2012 elections. Specifically, the Action Fund developed strategies for the OH-16 race and the New Mexico Senate race. In addition, the Action Fund produced blogs and promoted the Running Clean report which encouraged candidates to run on clean energy and environmental issues. $48,188 of the total political expenditures was spent on staff salaries (including benefits and overhead), while the remaining $79,803 was spent on discretionary expenses, including consultants and other vendors, advertising and grants to other organizations. The total amount of political expenditures represents 9 percent of the organization's overall expenditures for the year. 0 0 2623363 1340042 1283321 1283321 2671439 48076 48076 2623363 2623363 1388118 48076 48076 1340042 1340042 income tax part X: other liabilities The FASB Accounting Codification ("ASC") established criterion that an individual tax position must meet for some or all of the benefits of that position to be recognized in an entity's financial statements. This standard requires that a tax position be recognized or derecognized based on a "more likely than not" threshold. 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 a tax position. The tax years ending 2009, 2010, and 2011 remain open to audit for both federal and state purposes. This standard has no impact on NRDC's 2012 and 2011 consolidated financial statements. NRDC does not believe its 2012 and 2011 consolidated financial statements include any uncertain tax positions. Form 990, Schedule D, Part XI, XII, & XIII NRDC Action Fund does not receive standalone financial statements; its operations are consolidated within the financial statements of its parent organization, Natural Resources Defense Council. The parts XI, XII and XIII reconciliation on Schedule D tie back to NRDC Action Fund's financial information in the audited financial statements (Footnote 14) and not to the consolidated numbers. X X X false false false false false false false false false John H Adams 0 158500 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 62095 0 220595 0 0 Frances Beinecke 0 376317 0 0 0 0 0 34300 0 17071 0 427688 0 0 Judith A Keefer 0 222013 0 0 0 0 0 31658 0 17071 0 270742 0 0 Peter Lehner 0 259300 0 0 0 0 0 22050 0 17071 0 298421 0 0 Compensation Information Schedule J Part II, 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 became a part-time consultant for NRDC and received $158,500 for these services in fiscal year 2012. Column D: Nontaxable Benefits: As part of his retirement agreement, NRDC provides John Adams with medical and dental benefits and a long term care plan. The values of these benefits are: Medical $ 19,110 LTC $ 42,984 Form 990, Part VII & Schedule J, Part I The individuals reported on NRDC Action Fund's Form 990, Frances Beinecke, Sarah Gillman, Judith Keefer and Peter Lehner 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 President Beinecke $ 2,441 $ 728 Chief financial officer Gillman $ 1,360 $ 409 Chief operating officer keefer $ 2,448 $ 708 Executive director Lehner $ 9,846 $ 2,873 Governing Body and Management FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A LINE 6 - NRDC Action Fund's sole corporate member is its parent organization, Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc ("NRDC"). Line 7a - The sole corporate 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 organizing documents. Line 7b - If the Board of Directors should have a vacancy during the year, the sole corporate member has the right to approve the Board's election of a replacement to fill that vacancy. 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, the Form 990 is distributed to senior management and THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS' EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE for review and approval. 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, trustee and employee is required to annually disclose any conflicts of interest that arise by virtue of 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 Form 990 is likewise published on the internet at 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 IV Line 5 - NRDC Action Fund is not subject to the Section 6033(e) notice and reporting requirements since it does not receive membership dues, assessments or similar amounts as defined in Rev. Proc. 98-19. Form 990, Part VII Hours Devoted to Related Organization John Adams, Frances Beinecke, Sarah Gillman, Judith Keefer, Peter Lehner, Philip Gutis and Wesley Warren perform most of their work responsiblities for a related party, the Natural Resources Defense Council. Average hours worked per week for the related party is approximately 40 for each officer. form 990, part XII, line 3a The NRDC Action Fund did not receive any federal funding; nevertheless, its activities are included in the audited financial statements of its parent organization, Natural Resources Defense Council, which did undergo an A-133 audit. 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 HK Environmental HK N/A N/A NA false false false false false false false false false false false false false true true true false false false NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INC M, N, 704851 COST