Better Business Bureau

Charity Contact Information BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments Programs

Tax Status Governance Fund Raising Financial

Name:	Friends of the Earth
Address:	1717 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Suite #600
	Washington, DC 20036
Phone:	202-783-7400
Web Address:	www.foe.org

Friends of the Earth (FoE) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

FoE has three main program fields; the domestic program which seeks regulation of greenhouse gasses, the elimination of subsidies for environmentally destructive activities perceived to damage public health and natural resources at taxpayers expense, to inform consumers about chemical and biotechnological safety issues and advocates for effective regulation, promotes transportation reform and improved access to public transportation; the international program that works to ensure that environmental concerns are part of global systems of trade and uses tools like shareholder resolutions for more corporate accountability, coordinates with developing countries to help them adapt to the impacts of climate change; and the Bluewater program that leads efforts to reduce environmental harm from commercial shipping, cruise ships, ferries and harbor craft, promotes the use of new green technologies such as plug-in electric hybrid vehicles, and advocates for effective greenhouse gas regulations in the State of California. Some ($171,465 or 21%) of FFP's Outreach program is conducted in conjunction with fund raising appeals.

For the fiscal year ended July 30, 2008, FoE's program expenses were:

Domestic	986,713
International	880,609
Outreach	829,475
Bluewater network	582,495
Membership	83,367
Total Program Expenses:	$3,362,659

Chief Executive : Brent Blackwelder, President

Compensation*:

$138,599

Highest Paid Executive: Norman Dean,Executive Director
Compensation*: $145,121

Chair of the Board: Michael J. Herz , Ph.D.
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Retired

Board Size: 17

Paid Staff Size: 32

*August 1, 2007 - July 30, 2008 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, special events, print advertisements, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, cause-related marketing, and membership appeals.

Fund raising costs were 8% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $3,735,509, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

FoE incurred joint costs of $197,668 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs $171,465 was allocated to program expenses, $26,203 was allocated to fund raising expenses, and $ was allocated to administrative expenses.

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on FoE's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended July 30, 2008.

Source of Funds
Grants, bequests and member contributions	3,735,509
Administrative fees	130,168
Other	126,395
Rental income	55,209
Mailing list sales	12,244
Investment income	8,382
Total Income	$4,067,907

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 84%  Fund Raising: 7%  Administrative: 9%

Total income				$4,067,907
	Program expenses			$3,362,659
	Fund raising expenses			292,143
	Administrative expenses			350,806
Total expenses				$4,005,608
Income in Excess of Expenses				62,299
Beginning net assets				1,777,303
Ending net assets				1,839,602
Total liabilities				316,602
Total assets				$2,156,204