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TIN:
SCHEDULE O
(Form 990 or 990-EZ)
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
(Form 990 or 990-EZ)
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Supplemental Information to Form 990 or 990-EZ
Complete to provide information for responses to specific questions on
Form 990 or 990-EZ or to provide any additional information.
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Information about Schedule O (Form 990 or 990-EZ) and its instructions is atwww.irs.gov/form990.
OMB No. 1545-0047
2015
Open to Public
Inspection
Inspection
Name of the organization
SIERRA CLUB
Employer identification number
94-1153307
94-1153307
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 1 | THE SIERRA CLUB IS THE OLDEST AND LARGEST GRASSROOTS ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION ON THE PLANET. ITS MISSION REMAINS 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. BUT TODAY'S SIERRA CLUB IS NOT YOUR PARENTS' SIERRA CLUB. FACED WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH IMPERATIVE OF OUR TIME-TO END OUR ADDICTION TO DIRTY FOSSIL FUELS AND POWER AMERICA WITH CLEAN ENERGY-THE CLUB IS THE GRASSROOTS ARMY OF A NEW ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT. WE ARE LEADING EFFORTS TO BUILD A DOMESTIC AND GLOBAL MOVEMENT WITH THE SCOPE AND POWER TO CONFRONT THE CARBON INDUSTRY HEAD-ON. WHEN CHINA AND THE U.S. SIGN AN HISTORIC CLIMATE ACCORD, WHEN THE POPE CALLS ON ALL OF US TO PROTECT THE EARTH, WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA REJECTS THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE BECAUSE IT IS NOT IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST, AND WHEN THE ARCTIC OIL DRILLING IS A THING OF THE PAST-THIS IS WHEN WE REALIZE THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT IS WORKING. IN 2016, OUR IMPERATIVE IS TO BUILD ON THESE SUCCESSES AND MAKE THE SURE THE MOVEMENT IS WORKING FOR EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY THOSE COMMUNITIES MOST AFFECTED BY ENERGY TRANSITION AND CLIMATE CHANGE. THIS MEANS, FOR EXAMPLE, MAKING OBAMA'S CLEAN POWER PLAN TRULY THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE-WORKING WITH PARTNERS IN LABOR, PUBLIC HEALTH, SOCIAL AND RACIAL JUSTICE, INTERNATIONAL, AND YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS AND MAKING SURE WE ALL HAVE THE FUNDING AND TOOLS WE NEED TO TAKE A PROPER SEAT AT THE TABLE. THE SIERRA CLUB IS A LEADER IN THESE COALITIONS AND IS ABLE TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE TO MAKE THE MOVEMENT EFFECTIVE. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A, PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: | THE SIERRA CLUB MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON MANY OF OUR FRONTLINE ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGNS, WORKING WITH A DIVERSE RANGE OF ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES MOST EFFECTED BY INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION AND THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS: NEW METHANE RULE ANNOUNCED THIS YEAR, THE EPA ANNOUNCED FIRST-EVER LIMITS ON INDUSTRIAL METHANE POLLUTION FROM THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY. THESE RULES WILL REQUIRE THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY TO BEGIN CLEANING UP THEIR ACT BY CUTTING EMISSIONS OF METHANE POLLUTION, A POTENT GREENHOUSE GAS THAT TRAPS MORE THAN 80 TIMES AS MUCH HEAT AS CO2 OVER A 20 YEAR TIME PERIOD. THESE RULES ARE A CRITICAL FIRST STEP IN THE ADMINISTRATION'S PLAN TO REDUCE METHANE POLLUTION BY 40-45% BY 2025, A KEY PIECE OF THE PRESIDENT'S CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. IN ADDITION TO CUTTING CLIMATE-WARMING METHANE EMISSIONS, THESE STANDARDS WILL ALSO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH BY CURBING EMISSIONS OF SMOG-FORMING VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS AND CARCINOGENS LIKE BENZENE AND TOLUENE. AS PART OF OUR WORK TO HIGHLIGHT THE CLEAR NEED FOR THESE REGULATIONS, THE SIERRA CLUB PARTNERED WITH EARTHWORKS TO HOST A PRESS EVENT FEATURING LEADERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE DEALT WITH THE IMPACTS OF THIS INDUSTRY FIRST-HAND, WHO SPOKE TO THE URGENT NEED FOR EPA TO QUICKLY TAKE THE NEXT STEP, AND REGULATE POLLUTION FROM EXISTING SOURCES IN THIS SECTOR. FINAL CLEAN POWER PLAN ENACTED THE FINAL CLEAN POWER PLAN IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SINGLE ACTION ANY PRESIDENT HAS TAKEN TO DATE TO TACKLE CLIMATE DISRUPTION. IT ESTABLISHES THE FIRST-EVER SET OF NATIONAL CARBON LIMITS ON POWER PLANTS, OUR BIGGEST SOURCE OF THE POLLUTION THAT'S THROWING OUR CLIMATE INTO CHAOS. IT'S ALSO A GAME-CHANGER FOR CLEAN ENERGY BECAUSE IT CREATES BIG, IMPORTANT NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN EVERY STATE. SIERRA CLUB HAS DONE AN UNPRECEDENTED JOB TO SUPPORT A STRONG CPP BY WORKING TO RALLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CONCERNED CITIZENS DURING FOUR NATIONAL PUBLIC LISTENING SESSIONS IN JULY AND AUGUST, DELIVERING EIGHT MILLION COMMENTS TO THE EPA ALONGSIDE COALITION ALLIES, AND SUBMITTING EXTENSIVE LEGAL AND TECHNICAL COMMENTS TO STRENGTHEN THE CPP AND ENSURE THAT AMERICAN WORKERS AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ARE PRIORITIZED DURING THE TRANSITION TO A CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY. ONE OF THE BIGGEST VICTORIES FOR US, OUR PARTNERS, AND THOSE MOST AFFECTED BY POLLUTION IS AN UNPRECEDENTED FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND THE COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY THE TRANSITION AWAY FROM COAL. TO ENSURE THAT THESE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PRINCIPLES ARE ADEQUATELY REFLECTED IN THE ROLL OUT OF THE CLEAN POWER PLAN, WE WILL ACT AS A CONVENER OF STRONG STATE-BASED COALITIONS AND AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF WORKING CLASS, LOW-INCOME, AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN THE STATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN PROCESS. THIS IMPORTANT WORK WILL NOT ONLY ALLOW US TO BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH DIVERSE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT WILL ALSO ENSURE THAT THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED IN THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY WILL NOT BE LEFT BEHIND AS WE MOVE TO A CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY. MORE THAN 200 COAL PLANTS TO CLOSE ALLIANT ENERGY, A MAJOR IOWA UTILITY, HAS COMMITTED TO PHASE OUT COAL USE AT SIX OF ITS PLANTS IN THE STATE, MARKING THE 200TH COAL PLANT TO SHUT DOWN IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS MARKS A MILESTONE IN THE COUNTRY'S TRANSITION TO CLEAN ENERGY AND UNDERSCORES IOWA'S GROWTH AS A CLEAN ENERGY STATE. THE ANNOUNCED COAL PLANT RETIREMENTS ARE THE RESULT OF THE SIERRA CLUB'S BEYOND COAL CAMPAIGN ADVOCACY, WHICH HAS BEEN A DRIVING FORCE IN THE NATIONAL TRANSITION TO RENEWABLE SOURCES OF POWER. THE RETIREMENT OF 200 COAL PLANTS NATIONWIDE REPRESENTS THE PHASE OUT OF NEARLY 40 PERCENT OF THE 523 U.S. COAL PLANTS THAT WERE IN OPERATION JUST FIVE YEARS AGO. THE WORK OF SIERRA CLUB AND MORE THAN 100 ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS TO RETIRE THESE PLANTS AND REPLACE THEM WITH CLEAN ENERGY HAS ENABLED THE UNITED STATES TO LEAD THE INDUSTRIALIZED WORLD IN CUTTING GLOBAL WARMING POLLUTION, AND HAS PUT THE WHITE HOUSE ON FIRM FOOTING TO PUSH FOR A STRONG INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE ACCORD IN PARIS AT THE END OF THIS YEAR. BROWNS CANYON DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL MONUMENT BY PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION, BROWNS CANYON NATIONAL MONUMENT BECAME COLORADO'S EIGHTH SUCH SITE THANKS TO BARACK OBAMA IN FEBRUARY 2015. FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN LOOK FORWARD TO EXPLORING THIS STUPENDOUS AMERICAN WILDERNESS: LOOKING OUT OVER THE SANGRE DE CRISTO RANGE, A COLORFUL ARRAY OF MOUNTAIN OUTCROPPINGS, VISTAS, AND CLIFFS; A FORESTED ASPEN RIDGE TO THE EAST; A GARNET-RIDDLED RUBY MOUNTAIN TO THE NORTHWEST; A MINING GHOST TOWN OF TURRET, TURNED OFF-GRID MOUNTAIN SETTLEMENT, TO THE SOUTH; AND THE ARKANSAS RIVER CORRIDOR TO THE WEST. THE SIERRA CLUB AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS CELEBRATED THE VICTORY, A DECADE IN THE MAKING, BY RECOGNIZING INSTRUMENTAL LOCALS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES. THE BROWNS CANYON DESIGNATION CAME IN TANDEM WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER NEW MONUMENTS THIS YEAR, INCLUDING HONOULIULI AND PULLMAN HISTORIC DISTRICT, INCREASING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DESIGNATIONS TO 16 UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA'S LEADERSHIP. COMMENTS FROM HIS SPEECH DESIGNATING THESE MONUMENTS CLEARLY INDICATE HE NOW SEES MONUMENT DESIGNATIONS AS A CRITICAL ELEMENT TO ESTABLISHING A LASTING PRESIDENTIAL LEGACY OF "PRESERVING THE CULTURAL AND NATURAL HISTORY OF AMERICA." PRIOR TO THE BROWNS CANYON DESIGNATION, WE HELPED ORGANIZE A SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC HEARING HELD IN SALIDA, COLORADO, IN DECEMBER. MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE TURNED OUT, MANY OF WHOM WERE ORGANIZED AND TRANSPORTED BY OUR DENVER-BASED ORGANIZER. WE VASTLY OVERWHELMED THE OPPOSITION IN NUMBERS AND COVERAGE AND THE SIERRA CLUB PLAYED RADIO ADS ACROSS COLORADO WHILE ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS WERE IN THE STATE. CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL LOGGING THROUGHOUT 2015, SIERRA CLUB WORKED TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR STRONGER ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL TRADE LEGISLATION, ULTIMATELY LEADING TO A CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL LUMBER IMPORTS. OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, REPORTS BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY, 60 MINUTES AND OTHERS PROVIDED SOBERING ACCOUNTS OF HOW LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PURCHASED FLOORING THAT HAD BEEN ILLEGALLY HARVESTED IN THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST, HOME TO THE LAST WILD SIBERIAN TIGERS, THEN LAUNDERED THROUGH CHINA AND SHIPPED TO THE UNITED STATES. WE BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC, THE MEDIA, AND GOVERNMENT DECISION-MAKERS THROUGH TRADITIONAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA, TARGETED ADS, A SPEAKERS TOUR, PROMOTING VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, AND ONLINE ORGANIZING. PULLING IN MORE THAN 150,000 COMMENTS FROM SIERRA CLUB MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS ASKING THE ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE ACTION, OUR CAMPAIGN WAS ULTIMATELY SUCCESSFUL WHEN IT WAS REVEALED THAT LUMBER LIQUIDATORS WOULD PLEAD GUILTY TO SEVERAL CHARGES, PAY MILLIONS IN FINES, AND HAVE A STRICT COMPLIANCE PLAN TO ENSURE THEIR PRODUCTS ARE SOURCED LEGALLY AND SUSTAINABLY IN THE FUTURE. KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE REJECTED FOR GOOD PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S REJECTION OF THE KEYSTONE XL TAR SANDS PIPELINE MARKS ONE OF THE BIGGEST VICTORIES FOR THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT IN YEARS. COMING AFTER YEARS OF PROTESTS, MARCHES, CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE ACTIONS, AND NONSTOP POLITICAL PRESSURE FROM GRASSROOTS AND GRASSTOPS, THE DEFEAT OF THE PIPELINE IS A CLEAR WIN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. THE PRESIDENT'S DECISION REMOVES A POTENTIAL THREAT TO THE GREAT PLAINS' GROUNDWATER. IT STEMS THE SLUDGY TIDE OF CANADIAN TAR SANDS, AN ESPECIALLY DIRTY SOURCE OF CRUDE OIL THAT WOULD, IF FULLY EXTRACTED, ACCELERATE GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE. JUST AS IMPORTANT, THE PIPELINE'S DEFEAT REPRESENTS A MAJOR VICTORY FOR THE IDEAL OF CITIZEN ACTION. "PEOPLE POWER" IS AN OVERUSED AND ALMOST HACKNEYED PHRASE. BUT IN THIS CASE, NOTHING ELSE EXPLAINS HOW SUCH A POLITICAL VICTORY HAPPENED. JUST FOUR YEARS AGO, MANY WASHINGTON INSIDERS PRESUMED THAT KEYSTONE XL WAS A DONE DEAL. BUT NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES, RANCHERS IN THE GREAT PLAINS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IGNORED THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM AND DECIDED TO MAKE KEYSTONE XL A SYMBOL FOR THE CHOICES WE FACE IN THE ERA OF CLIMATE CHANGE: WILL WE CONTINUE WITH THE ANACHRONISTIC FOSSIL FUEL ECONOMY, OR MAKE A PIVOT TOWARD A SOCIETY POWERED BY CLEAN ENERGY? THE PRESIDENT'S DECISION PROVES THAT-EVEN IN A MONEY-SOAKED AND LOBBYIST-CHOCKED POLITICAL SYSTEM-ORDINARY CITIZENS CAN FRUSTRATE THE BEST-LAID PLANS OF THE POWERS-THAT-BE. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A | ELECTRIC VEHICLES JOINING THE MAINSTREAM THE SIERRA CLUB'S ELECTRIC VEHICLES (EV) INITIATIVE MADE PROGRESS ACCELERATING THE MARKET FOR PLUG-IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES, WHICH ARE MUCH CLEANER THAN CONVENTIONAL VEHICLES, EVEN FACTORING IN THE EMISSIONS FROM THE ELECTRICITY USED TO POWER THEM. WE HAVE EDUCATED THE PUBLIC THROUGH SUCH EVENTS AS THE FIFTH ANNUAL NATIONAL DRIVE ELECTRIC WEEK, ARGUABLY THE LARGEST MASS MOBILIZATION IN 2015 FOR CLEAN ENERGY SOLUTIONS: TOGETHER WITH ALLIED GROUPS, WE ORGANIZED 130,000 PEOPLE TO ATTEND EV PROMOTION EVENTS IN 186 CITIES WHERE MORE THAN 9,000 PEOPLE TOOK EV TEST RIDES, AND WE SECURED MORE THAN 230 MEDIA HITS. WE ALSO MOBILIZED PEOPLE TO SUPPORT EV PROGRAMS IN STATES SUCH AS MASSACHUSETTS AND CONNECTICUT WHERE FUNDING FOR EV CONSUMER REBATES WAS RENEWED, FLORIDA AND OREGON WHERE TRANSIT AGENCIES ANNOUNCED PLANS TO INVEST IN ZERO EMISSION BUSES, NEW YORK WHERE NEW YORK CITY MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCED A COMMITMENT TO 2,000 EV MUNICIPAL FLEET VEHICLES BY 2025, AND CALIFORNIA WHERE WE'RE NEGOTIATING A PLAN WITH UTILITIES AND REGULATORS TO INSTALL THOUSANDS OF EV CHARGING STATIONS AND IN LOS ANGELES LEADERS ANNOUNCED A NEW EV CAR-SHARING PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS. ADDITIONALLY, WE WERE THRILLED WHEN THE LEADERS OF NEW YORK MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, OREGON, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, CALIFORNIA, THE UNITED KINGDOM, NORWAY, THE NETHERLANDS, AND GERMANY ANNOUNCED AT THE PARIS CLIMATE NEGOTIATIONS A PLEDGE TO 100% ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES BY 2050. DIVESTMENT MOVEMENT REACHES ALL-TIME HIGH COMPANIES AND INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE GLOBE ARE JOINING THE DIVESTMENT MOVEMENT, TAKING THEIR MONEY OUT OF DIRTY FOSSIL FUEL INTERESTS BOTH BECAUSE IT IS NO LONGER MORALLY JUSTIFIABLE AND BECAUSE IT NO LONGER MAKES GOOD BUSINESS SENSE. THE SIERRA CLUB HAS BEEN AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF THIS MOVEMENT, WITH THE SIERRA STUDENT COALITION AND BEYOND COAL CAMPAIGN JOINING TOGETHER TO PUSH FOR DIVESTMENT AT MAJOR UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 300 CAMPUSES HAVE ALREADY JOINED THE MOVEMENT, WITH NOTABLE VICTORIES IN 2015 SPANNING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA TO SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY. NOTABLY, THE MOVEMENT HAS NOW GROWN BEYOND COLLEGE CAMPUSES TO INCLUDE CITIES, PRIVATE COMPANIES, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, AND MORE. THE SIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION WAS ALSO AN EARLY LEADER IN FOSSIL FUEL DIVESTMENT. AS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE DIVEST-INVEST PHILANTHROPY INITIATIVE, THE FOUNDATION HELPED GROW THIS MOVEMENT FROM ONLY 17 FOUNDATIONS WITH A LITTLE MORE THAN ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN TOTAL ASSETS TO 500 INSTITUTIONS REPRESENTING $3.4 TRILLION IN ASSETS, THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF COMMITMENT SEEN SO FAR. MOST RECENTLY, THE SIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION COMMITTED TO INVEST 20 PERCENT OF THEIR ENDOWMENT IN CLIMATE SOLUTIONS. ACTIVISTS SAY "SHELL NO" TO ARCTIC DRILLING IN A WIN FOR AMERICA'S ARCTIC AND OUR CLIMATE, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ANNOUNCED IN OCTOBER THAT IT WILL CANCEL THE TWO POTENTIAL ARCTIC OFFSHORE LEASE SALES SCHEDULED UNDER THE CURRENT FIVE-YEAR OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS LEASING PROGRAM FOR 2012-2017. THE DECISION FOLLOWS SHELL'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT IT WOULD ABANDON EXPLORATION IN THE CHUKCHI SEA, AND THAT THE COMPANY WILL CEASE FURTHER EXPLORATION ACTIVITY IN OFFSHORE ALASKA FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE BUREAU OF SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT (BSEE) DENIED SHELL AND STATOIL'S REQUESTS FOR ITS LEASES TO BE SUSPENDED. SIERRA CLUB AND OUR ALLIES JOINED TOGETHER TO MAKE THESE LEASES A MAJOR ISSUE ON THE NATIONAL STAGE. WE TURNED OUT ACTIVISTS TO CALL, EMAIL, AND TWEET AT THE ADMINISTRATION; TESTIFY AND RALLY AT LOCAL HEARINGS; AND MOST NOTABLY, PREVENT THE PASSAGE OF SHELL SHIPS IN PORTLAND AND SEATTLE HARBORS BY BLOCKING THE WAY IN THEIR KAYAKS. WITH PUBLIC OUTRAGE OVER THE DESTRUCTION OF THIS PRISTINE LAND AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH, WHAT SEEMED LIKE AN INEVITABLE VICTORY FOR BIG OIL MAY NOW BECOME A MAJOR WIN FOR OUR CLIMATE AND WILD SPACES. HISTORIC CLIMATE AGREEMENT REACHED IN PARIS IN DECEMBER, NEGOTIATORS AT THE PARIS CLIMATE CONFERENCE WRAPPED UP A LANDMARK GLOBAL AGREEMENT TO CURB CLIMATE DISRUPTION BY LIMITING TEMPERATURE RISE TO "WELL BELOW" 2 DEGREES CELSIUS (3.6 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT) ABOVE PRE-INDUSTRIAL LEVELS. NEARLY 200 COUNTRIES COMMITTED TO REDUCING MAN-MADE EMISSIONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE AND OTHER GREENHOUSE GASES AND HELPING DEVELOPING NATIONS ADAPT TO SEA-LEVEL RISE, CATASTROPHIC WEATHER EVENTS, AND OTHER IMPACTS OF GLOBAL WARMING. AS HIGH LEVEL MINISTERS TALKED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, THE SIERRA CLUB WAS DILIGENTLY WORKING TO INFLUENCE THE PROCESS IN WHATEVER WAY THAT WE COULD FROM SOCIAL MEDIA, TO PRESS CONFERENCES, TO DIRECT DISCUSSIONS WITH NEGOTIATING STAFF ABOUT THE AGREEMENT. WE EVEN PARTICIPATED IN A FEW ACTIONS WITHIN THE CONFERENCE SPACE TO LET NEGOTIATORS AND THE WORLD KNOW WHAT WE WANTED IN THE AGREEMENT. THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT IS A TURNING POINT FOR THE WORLD AND THE CLIMATE MOVEMENT. IT LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR CONTINUED GRASSROOTS ACTION THAT WILL MAKE THE 100 PERCENT CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY A REALITY. PARIS SETS A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR MORE CLIMATE PROGRESS, BUT ONLY CONTINUED GRASSROOTS ACTION WILL MAKE A CLEAN-ENERGY ECONOMY A REALITY. EXPENSES $ 49,038,740. INCLUDING GRANTS OF $ 897,610. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 6 | ANY PERSON INTERESTED IN ADVANCING THE PURPOSES OF THE SIERRA CLUB MAY BECOME A MEMBER. THERE SHALL BE SEVERAL CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP: REGULAR, LIKE, AND SUCH OTHER SPECIAL CLASSES AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAY ESTABLISH. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7A | ALL ACTIONS REQUIRING A VOTE OF THE MEMBERSHIP SHALL BE DECIDED BY WRITTEN BALLOTS PROVIDED FOR IN BYLAW 5, SECTION 2, AND BYLAW 11. A QUORUM FOR ANY BALLOT OR FOR ANY MEETING OF THE MEMBERS SHALL BE FIVE PERCENT (5%) OF THE MEMBERSHIP ON THE DATE OF RECORD SET BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW. EACH PERSON WHO IS A RENEWED MEMBER ON THE DATE OF RECORD SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE AND SHALL HAVE ONE VOTE ON ANY ISSUE PRESENTED TO THE MEMBERSHIP EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 5.7. VOTING BY PROXY SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED. ALL LIFE MEMBERS AND RENEWED REGULAR MEMBERS OF RECORD ON JANUARY 31 SHALL BE SENT BALLOTS FOR THE ANNUAL ELECTION OF DIRECTORS, AS PROVIDED IN THE BYLAWS. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7B | IN ACCORDANCE WITH CORPORATION LAW SECTION 5057, THE ONLY MEMBERSHIP RIGHTS OF MEMBERS OF THE CLUB ARE THE RIGHTS SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED BY THE ARTICLES, BYLAWS, AND THE CORPORATION LAW. ALL OTHER PRIVILEGES OR OPPORTUNITIES GRANTED TO MEMBERS OF THE CLUB UNDER ITS STANDING RULES, POLICIES, OR THE BYLAWS OR RULES OF CLUB SUB-ENTITIES ARE NOT RIGHTS OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE CLUB FOR PURPOSES OF CORPORATION LAW SECTION 5057. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11 | A DRAFT OF THE FORM 990 IS REVIEWED BY THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY. AFTER REVIEW, A COPY IS SENT FOR REVIEW TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE WHO HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO REVIEW THE 990 ON THEIR BEHALF PRIOR TO FILING. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C | BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OTHER SENIOR VOLUNTEERS MUST COMPLETE AND SIGN A WRITTEN DISCLOSURE FORM ANNUALLY. FOR EMPLOYEES (CURRENT AND FORMER) PLUS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DISCLOSING ANY POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST RELATED TO THEIR CLUB ACTIVITIES. THE POLICY IS INCLUDED IN THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK. IN-HOUSE LEGAL COUNSEL WILL INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OF VIOLATIONS. WHEN A POTENTIAL CONFLICT IS DISCLOSED BY AN EMPLOYEE, THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT MAKES A DETERMINATION REGARDING THE APPROPRIATE ACTION IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE CLUB'S POLICIES. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 | COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS, IF ANY, IS REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UTILIZING EXTERNAL DATA FROM LIKE ORGANIZATIONS, THE RATIONALE FOR WHICH IS DOCUMENTED. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION IS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AFTER AN EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE AND INTERVIEWS WITH APPROPRIATE PARTIES. COMPENSATION IS BASED ON EXTERNAL DATA FROM LIKE ORGANIZATIONS. A DOCUMENTED PERFORMANCE EVALUATION IS MAINTAINED. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SALARY IS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE REVIEWS THE SALARIES AND YEARLY INCREASES. IT ALSO ESTABLISHES BUDGETED INCREASE RATE FOR ALL MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL. THE COMMITTEE HAS COMPARATIVE SALARY DATA AVAILABLE FROM HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEWS ARE CONDUCTED AND DOCUMENTED. WITH RESPECT TO ALL OFFICERS AND KEY EMPLOYEES, THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT CONDUCTS A SALARY PRACTICES. THIS INCLUDES THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S SALARY. SALARIES FOR OFFICERS AND KEY EMPLOYEES OTHER THAN THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ARE DETERMINED ACCORDING TO THE CLUB'S ESTABLISHED PROCEDURE AND GUIDELINES FOR ANNUAL MERIT RAISES, AS ADMINISTERED BY THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE EXECUTIVE TEAM, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES MUST APPROVE SPECIFIC RAISES. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 | THE ORGANIZATION'S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, BYLAWS, AND STANDING RULES (WHICH CONTAINS THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY) ARE AVAILABLE ON ITS PUBLIC WEBSITE WWW.SIERRACLUB.ORG. PORTIONS OF THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ALONG WITH A LINK TO THE FULL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE PUBLISHED IN SIERRA MAGAZINE (NOV.-DEC. ISSUE). |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 16B: | SIERRA CLUB DID NOT PARTICIPATE OR INVEST IN ANY NEW JOINT VENTURES OR SIMILAR ARRANGEMENTS WITH TAXABLE ENTITIES IN TAX YEAR 2015. SIERRA CLUB HAS A LONG-STANDING PROCEDURE THAT IT FOLLOWS WHEN REVIEWING POTENTIAL NEW INVESTMENT OR PARTICIPATION IN JOINT VENTURES AND SIMILAR ARRANGEMENTS WITH TAXABLE ENTITIES UNDER APPLICABLE FEDERAL TAX LAW, INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE IMPACT OF SUCH INVESTMENTS ON ITS TAX-EXEMPT STATUS. AS PART OF ANY SUCH PARTICIPATION, SIERRA CLUB SEEKS TO NEGOTIATE TERMS AND SAFEGUARDS TO ENSURE THAT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT STATUS IS PROTECTED. SIERRA CLUB'S PROCEDURE FOR SUCH ARRANGEMENTS INVOLVES SENIOR MANAGEMENT REVIEW AND NEGOTIATION OF ANY POSSIBLE TRANSACTION, INCLUDING IN-HOUSE LEGAL AND FINANCIAL REVIEW, AND REVIEW BY SIERRA CLUB'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AS NECESSARY. PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS ARE ALSO REVIEWED BY OUTSIDE LEGAL OR TAX ADVISORS AS APPROPRIATE OR NECESSARY TO SAFEGUARD SIERRA CLUB'S EXEMPT STATUS FOR THE VENTURE OR ARRANGEMENT. THIS PROCEDURE WAS FOLLOWED FOR SIERRA CLUB'S INVESTMENT AND PARTICIPATION IN SUCH ENTITIES DURING PRIOR TAX YEARS BUT THE PROCEDURE HAD NOT BEEN ADOPTED IN WRITING AS OF THE END OF TAX YEAR 2015. |
| FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 11G | FEES & CONCESSIONS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 12,566,801. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 77,841. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 539,330. TOTAL EXPENSES 13,183,972. CONSULTANTS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 2,121,402. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 13,140. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 91,044. TOTAL EXPENSES 2,225,586. STAFF TRAINING/SEARCH: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 495,816. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 3,072. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 21,279. TOTAL EXPENSES 520,167. |
| FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9: | PENSION RELATED CHARGES -2,689,000. SEGREGATED FUND ELIMINATIONS 183,360. |
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the Instructions for Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Cat. No. 51056K
Schedule O (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2015
Additional Data
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