BBB Wise Giving Report for
Sierra Club

BBB Wise Giving Report issued June 2010
BBB Wise Giving Report expires June 2012


Not a charity
This non-profit organization does not fall within the scope of the Standards for Charity Accountability. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Sierra Club
Address: 85 Second Street, Second Floor
  San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: 415-977-5500
Web Address: www.sierraclub.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1892, California
Affiliates: Sierra Club Foundation, Sierra Club Political Committee, and Sierra Club of Canada.
Stated Purpose: "to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives."

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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comment

               

Since Sierra Club is not a charity, it does not fall within the scope of the Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

Sierra Club supports and funds 63 volunteer chapters and approximately 377 groups and the development broad-based volunteer membership.

For the year ended December 31, 2008, TSC's program expenses were:

  
Study and influencing public policy 46,583,000
Information and education 10,335,100
Outdoor activities 8,527,300
Chapter allocations 640,500
Total Program Expenses: $66,085,900
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Carl Pope, Chief Executive
Compensation*:
 $236,416

Chair of the Board: Allison Chin
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation:

Board Size: 15

Paid Staff Size:

*2008 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
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Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, telemarketing, special events, grant proposals, Internet appeals, and planned giving arrangements.
Fund raising costs were 34% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $78,870,400, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
Fund raising expenses of $8,950,700 and membership expenses of $17,818,000 have been combined within the financial section of this report under fund raising expenses.
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Tax Status

               

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501c4 of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions and membership dues are not deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
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Financial

               

The following information is based on TSC's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Source of Funds  
Contributions and grants 57,128,100
Membership dues 21,742,300
Outings and lodge reservation fees 7,751,600
Advertising, investment, and other income 4,243,000
Reimbursement: major gifts program 3,450,000
Royalties 2,322,800
Books and other retail sales 1,367,700
Realized and unrealized losses on investments (net) -10,587,300
Total Income $87,418,200


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 67%  Fund Raising: 27%  Administrative: 6% 

Total income   $87,418,200
  Program expenses $66,085,900
  Fund raising expenses 26,768,700
  Administrative expenses 5,719,200
 
Total expenses   $98,573,800
Expenses in Excess of Income   (11,155,600)
Beginning net assets   57,483,500
Ending net assets   43,113,100
Total liabilities   18,857,200
Total assets   $61,970,300

Note 1: Fund raising expenses of $8,950,700 and membership expenses of $17,818,000 have been combined within the financial section of this report under fund raising expenses.

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An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

This report is not to be used for fund raising or promotional purposes.

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