WRI AROUND THE WORLD

Greater Reach,
Deeper Engagement,
More Impact

Annual Report for 2014

Letter from the Chairman and President

In 2014, the hottest year on record, the challenges of a thirsty, fast-developing planet were more urgent than ever. From record-breaking drought in Sao Paulo to intense air pollution in India’s cities, problems at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity and human well-being were painfully evident. The need for what WRI offers—practical solutions based on rigorous research, policy analysis and data—has never been greater.

Fortunately, we are in the right places at the right time. WRI has expanded its global presence, with new offices in Brazil, Indonesia and Europe, and deepened engagement in China, India and Mexico. We have leveraged technology to create new digital tools and we have staff on the ground where their insights can be tailored to local conditions. Through these efforts, and by working with our partners and supporters in more than 50 countries, we are helping to increase opportunities and improve the quality of life.

2014 was the first year of our new four-year strategy. We are focusing on six global challenges that must be addressed this decade: food, forests, water, energy, cities and climate. We are doing fewer projects, but at greater scale, seeking tipping points and moving beyond them. We are moving resources to the front line, investing in open source data, top quality research, and decision-friendly visualization for today’s fast-paced world. Our tag line is “Count It, Change It, Scale it.” We judge our success not simply by the quality of our research – although this is an essential starting point – but by our impact in terms of changed policies and behavior.

The past year has affirmed our approach. Demand for our programs has grown, as has the generosity of our donors. Our budget rose from $48 million in FY13 to $65 million in FY14, and a projected $76 million in FY15. But much more important than size, the impact of our work, as evidenced by our Top Outcomes, appears to be stronger than ever.

Annual Report 2014 Introduction from World Resources Institute on Vimeo.


One example: WRI’s Global Forest Watch is revolutionizing how people see and manage forested land. Powered by Google and Esri computing and informed by data from dozens of satellites, this interactive online platform offers timely, precise information about forest landscapes worldwide, including near-real-time alerts on fires and other threats. It’s free and simple to use: with just a few clicks users can create a custom map of forests in their communities or the entire planet. They can also upload data and stories of their own, adding ground-truth details to the satellite picture.     

Another example: In 2014 the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate produced the New Climate Economy report, Better Growth, Better Climate. As the managing partner of the project, WRI helped set up the Commission, undertake the work, and communicate the crucial findings that strong climate action can enhance economic growth and prosperity. While there is a long way to go, we are seeing an important shift in the mindset of leaders of major corporations and governments that a low-carbon future is better for competitiveness, better for citizens and better for the future.

Recognizing the central importance of cities, in 2014 we launched WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities. This program includes the nearly 200 professionals in our EMBARQ transport network, and brings together expertise on energy, water, climate and urban planning to help cities in Brazil, China, India, Mexico and Turkey grow in a more sustainable, efficient manner.

Our impact is only possible thanks to the generosity of our donors and collaboration with our partners. For them, we are deeply grateful.

We invite you to learn more about WRI’s work in this report, to share your comments and suggestions, and to join our growing community of friends and supporters.

With best regards,

James A. Harmon, Chairman of the Board

Andrew Steer, President and CEO

PS: We have a printable PDF coming soon. To request that a color printed copy be mailed to you, please contact Rich Barnett. RBarnett@WRI.org

Where We Work and What We Do

World Resources Institute is a global research organization that spans more than 50 countries, with offices in Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico and the United States. Our more than 450 experts and staff work closely with leaders to turn big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity and human well-being. Here are the places where WRI’s people work and selected top Outcomes from 2014.

Scroll right or click the arrow at the upper right to see our 2014 achievements at a glance, and learn more about our mission and values.

Outcomes map

2014 At A Glance

WRI focuses on six urgent global challenges: climate, energy, food, forests, water and cities & transport. With our partners, we develop strong evidence, create innovative, practical solutions and engage with a wide range of communities, decision-makers and world leaders to achieve change at scale.

WRI focuses on six urgent challenges and four cross-cutting centers of excellence.

CLIMATE: WRI’s climate team works to drive down global greenhouse gas emissions and make communities more resilient to climate impacts while enhancing economic growth and opportunity.

In 2014, WRI and its partners in the ACT2015 project helped lay the groundwork for an ambitious new international climate agreement to be concluded in Paris at the end of 2015. Drawing on the New Climate Economy report of the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, WRI identified U.S. economic opportunities to move to a low-carbon future. WRI’s team also created new Greenhouse Gas Protocol tools to help countries, cities and companies monitor and cut emissions and expanded the CAIT 2.0 explorer, which offers user-friendly climate data. Learn more in Highlights.

ENERGY: Our energy team is boosting the use of clean energy by encouraging electricity markets to deliver 10 billion megawatt-hours of affordable, renewable energy and expand energy access to another 1 billion people by 2020.

In 2014, WRI’s renewable energy initiative, Charge, worked with partners in Africa, China, India and the United States to develop clean energy solutions that scale renewable energy use and ease access to it. We built coalitions of companies in the United States and India to spur demand for renewable energy and we are working with electricity planners, and utilities to expand supply of affordable renewable energy to achieve our goal.

FOOD: WRI’s food team investigates ways to feed the planet’s projected 9.6 billion people in 2050 in a manner that advances economic development while reducing environmental impact.

In 2014, the team released a series of installments of the World Resources Report, Creating a Sustainable Food Future, covering topics such as improved crop breeding, climate- and water-friendly rice production, and sustainable aquaculture. We began the multi-stakeholder process to develop the Food Loss & Waste Protocol, the first globally consistent method for measuring where and how much food is wasted between farm and fork.

FORESTS: The forests team works to reduce deforestation, restore degraded landscapes to productivity and support more responsible forest and agricultural commodities production.

In 2014, the team launched Global Forest Watch (GFW), a global partnership of over 60 organizations that uses advanced satellite, local and crowd-sourced data to make information about what is happening to forests more available around the globe; half a million people have already used it. Two more applications, GFW Fires and GFW Commodities, were added to help reduce forest fires and haze in Indonesia and enable companies to ensure deforestation-free commodity supply chains. To advance restoration of degraded landscapes, WRI launched Initiative 20x20 with governments and other partners across Latin America, aiming to have 20 million hectares (50 million acres) in the process of restoration by 2020. This contributes to the ambitious global Bonn Challenge target of having 150 million hectares (370 million acres) in the process of being restored by 2020. Learn more in Highlights.

WATER: WRI's water team provides research, data and cutting-edge tools to minimize growing water risks that affect 1 billion people around the world and could affect as many as 3.5 billion people by 2025.

In 2014, WRI’s Aqueduct, the world’s most comprehensive, high-resolution, publicly available water risk-assessment tool, shed light on where shale gas reserves collide with water stress. The water team arranged for Aqueduct data to be added to Bloomberg terminals, reaching more than 320,000 users. Hundreds of companies now use Aqueduct to include water risk in their planning and investment, including McDonalds, P&G, IKEA and GDF Suez.

CITIES & TRANSPORT: WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities was officially launched to help make sustainable urbanization a reality in 200 cities, with a focus on Brazil, China, India, Mexico and Turkey.

In 2014, WRI helped set up bus rapid transit systems in Rio, Belo Horizonte, and Brasilia, giving 1.5 million people access to high-quality transport. WRI led the development, with ICLEI and C40, of a new Greenhouse Gas Protocol, already used by more than 100 cities, to measure and reduce urban emissions. In India, WRI expanded car-free Raaghiri Days, showing the appeal of streets as public spaces. In Mexico, the team shaped a national plan to make sustainable concepts like transit-oriented development, mixed land use and walkable neighborhoods top priorities. In China, the team helped Chengdu establish a low-carbon development plan, recognized by the central government as a pilot for Chinese cities. Learn more in Highlights

Finding solutions to these six challenges requires cross-cutting expertise in business, economics, finance and governance — WRI’s centers of excellence.

BUSINESS: The Business Center offers practical guidance and expert insights to support corporate strategies that advance sustainability.

In 2014, our staff worked with businesses to support their sustainability goals, drawing on WRI tools such as the GHG Protocol, Global Forest Watch and Aqueduct. Our Corporate Consultative Group forged innovative partnerships with companies exchange ideas and share knowledge across sectors, industries and regions.

ECONOMICS: The newest center of excellence, WRI’s Economics Center applies cost-benefit analysis and other economic tools to identify the synergies between climate action and increased opportunity.

In 2014, we deepened our economics capacity, with work centered on identifying economic opportunities for low-carbon development in the United States and other countries, the links between how cities are physically structured and how economically competitive they are, and valuing the economic benefits of investing in natural ecosystems.  As managing partner of the groundbreaking New Climate Economy Report, our economics team led research that found climate action and economic growth can go hand in hand. Learn more in Highlights

FINANCE: WRI’s Finance Center focuses on securing the substantial investment required for a sustainable, climate-resilient future.

In 2014, the team conducted analysis and provided recommendations that underpinned the launch of the multi-billion-dollar Green Climate Fund, and it continues to support the fund in scaling up climate finances. In the Lima Climate Finance Series, the team brought together representatives from governments, financial institutions and civil society to build support for vulnerable countries in responding to a changing climate. Two new reports, Striking the Balance and Designed for the Future, offered recommendations to improve sustainability in World Bank investments that are now reflected in the Bank’s draft environmental and social framework for sustainable development.

GOVERNANCE: WRI’s Governance Center works to reduce environmental and social injustice by addressing problems such as inadequate access to information, weak property rights and the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable communities.

In 2014, The Access Initiative, a WRI-anchored network of civil society organizations, worked with WRI’s governance team to create a new Environmental Democracy Index. Due for public release in 2015, the index tracks countries’ performance in the public right to information, participation and justice in environmental decision-making.

Mission and Values

Our mission and values define WRI as an institution.

Our mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Our values are not rules, but shared ideals and understanding that bind us together. Along with our mission and our commitment to excellence in everything we do, they articulate who we are and what we believe, influence our goals, guide our actions and help us to explain our aspirations to others.

Urgency: We believe that change in human behavior is urgently needed to halt the accelerating rate of environmental deterioration.

Integrity: Honesty, candor and openness guide our work to ensure credibility and to build trust.

Innovation: To lead change for a sustainable world, we must be creative, forward-thinking, entrepreneurial and adaptive.

Independence: Our effectiveness depends on work that is uncompromised by partisan politics, institutional or personal allegiances or sources of financial support.

Respect: Our relationships are based on the belief that all people deserve respect.

2014 Highlights

The great challenges of the 21st century at the heart of our mission — climate, energy, food, forests, water and cities & transport — are closely linked. Actions in one area can have far-reaching impacts on outcomes in the others, for good or ill. WRI’s six main programs are organized around these crucial challenges. In seeking solutions, we use a multidisciplinary approach that draws upon the skills and knowledge of experts in four centers of excellence: business, economics, governance and finance.

Drawing on these assets, we leverage global expertise and deep local knowledge to offer tools that can help communities, companies and countries sustain their natural resources while fostering inclusive economic growth. In 2014, we broadened the scope of major initiatives, honed others, initiated still others, and reinforced WRI’s role as a source of practical and evidence-based analysis and data as a springboard to action.  

Scroll right or click the arrow at the upper right to see five highlights of WRI's work in 2014.

2014 Highlight

Expanding Our Global Reach

In 2014, WRI expanded its global presence, with new offices in Indonesia and Europe, and deepened engagement in China, India, Brazil and Mexico.

The WRI Indonesia office formally opened in Jakarta, with Nirarta Samadhi, former deputy minister of Indonesia’s Unit for Development Monitoring and Oversight, as the new country director. This office will expand WRI’s work in Indonesia’s forest, land use and governance sectors.

WRI’s new European office, headed by Kitty van der Heijden in The Hague, works to extend the Institute’s dialog with governments and the European Commission, businesses, international institutions, such as the OECD and IEA, and civil society actors.

In India, WRI improved public transportation in Bangalore and other cities in Karnataka, as well as in Ahmedabad, Bhopal and Surat, and held car-free events called Raahgiri Days in 11 cities across India, including Delhi and Navi Mumbai, demonstrating that city streets are for pedestrians and cyclists as well as cars.

Because India is home to more than one-seventh of the world’s population but only about one-fiftieth of its land mass, sustainability solutions are imperative. As WRI India Country Director Nitin Pandit says, “Anything we do in India to impact change has the potential to demonstrate scalable alternatives to the environmental and developmental challenges of the entire world.”

Led by Country Director Lailai Li, our work in China continues to grow. In 2014 China moved toward mandatory corporate reporting of greenhouse gas emissions, using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard created by WRI and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

Drawing on research in Quingdao and Chengdu, the Sustainable and Livable Cities Project offered perspectives on water, transport and energy, exploring the sustainable urbanization pathway in China. WRI China also initiated a pilot project in Zhejiang province to help cities measure carbon emissions using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol for Cities. And the team used the Aqueduct platform to improve understanding of water risk and measures to address it, particularly in the coal and energy sectors.

Cities, climate and landscape restoration will be the major areas of focus for our Brazil office, under the leadership of Country Director Rachel Biderman. Current water shortages in Sao Paulo are at the intersection of these themes. Our Brazilian team coordinated the development of the first guidance to help companies measure, manage and report greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture – particularly important in Brazil, where one-third of emissions come from this sector.

Photo: WRI China office

2014 Highlight

A New Era of Improved Forest Management and Land Restoration

With the click of a button, Global Forest Watch (GFW) ushered in a new era of transparency around forest management. Since its launch in February 2014, this dynamic online platform has attracted more than 1 million visitors and spurred governments, businesses and civil society organizations to take dramatic actions to end unsustainable and illegal forest practices worldwide. Satellite imagery and advanced computer algorithms allow GFW’s users to see when and where trees are disappearing anywhere in the world and crowdsourcing and mobile technology enable users to confirm this long-distance view on the ground.

By July, two new applications were available: GFW Commodities, which shows the impact of palm oil production and other commodity systems on forests, and GFW Fires, which offers real-time monitoring of forest fires across Southeast Asia.

“Global Forest Watch combines technology, science and open data to create radical transparency about forests everywhere,” says Crystal Davis, the project’s senior manager. “Armed with better information, governments, businesses and civil society are upping efforts to tackle deforestation worldwide.”

In Africa’s Congo Basin, WRI worked with the governments of Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to publish the region’s first detailed online maps of forest use. The maps showed land allocated for logging, oil palm, mining and more and were shared widely through Global Forest Watch.

In addition to curbing deforestation, WRI’s experts are promoting new opportunities to restore degraded landscapes. In 2014, WRI spurred a restoration movement by supporting two global initiatives, the New York Declaration on Forests and the Bonn Challenge, as well as Latin America’s Initiative 20x20.

Together, these efforts are improving forest and land management to deliver economic benefits, promote biodiversity and store carbon that otherwise would have exacerbated climate change.

Photo credit: Ralph Alswang

2014 Highlight

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities Makes Urban Areas More Livable

Established in 2014 with a $30.5 million gift from Stephen M. Ross, a WRI board member and chairman and founder of Related Companies, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities is responding to the challenge posed by a global urban population expected to grow by 2.5 billion in the next 35 years.

“There is huge global momentum to look at cities as a solution and not a problem,” says Aniruddha Dasgupta, the center’s first global director. While cities account for 70 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, they are also incubators for environmental solutions, including efficient water use, clean energy and climate resilience.

WRI’s expanded work on cities builds upon more than a decade of on-the-ground experience improving urban transport in the developing world through EMBARQ, our sustainable transportation initiative. In 2014, WRI advanced bus-rapid-transport systems in Brazil that slashed the daily commute times for 1.5 million people in three of the country’s largest and most traffic-congested cities.

In India, WRI helped to initiate transport reforms that included a modern bus route system in Bangalore and city buses in seven cities in Karnataka, with dramatic results:  fatal accidents dropped 50 percent around BRT corridors and particulate air pollution decreased by 20 percent.

Car-free events, called Raahgiri Days, are now taking place in 11 cities including Delhi and Navi Mumbai, and have helped change how Indian city dwellers think about urban areas.

Going forward, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities will investigate using some of the institute’s sophisticated tools, such as the Aqueduct platform, to deal with urban problems of sustainable land use and mobility.

Photo credit: Christian Haugen/Flickr

2014 Highlight

New Climate Economy Report Shifts the Global Debate in Favor of Action

The New Climate Economy Report, Better Growth, Better Climate, demonstrated in 2014 that economic growth and low-carbon development go hand-in-hand. Former President of Mexico Felipe Calderón and Lord Nicholas Stern guided the project, assembling a global commission of 24 former presidents and prime ministers, finance ministers, mayors, CEOs and economists. WRI served as managing partner for the report, which brought together top economists and other experts from eight research institutions around the world to reach its conclusions.

Released ahead of the UN Climate Summit in September, the report received extensive media coverage. Corporate and civil society leaders, heads of state and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon amplified the key ideas of the report in their summit speeches. Within days of its release, commissioners launched the report in Oslo, Addis Ababa, Beijing and Johannesburg, prompting thousands of additional media stories. Taken together, these activities helped to tip the global discourse on climate in favor of ambitious action.

The economic case for climate action is stronger today than ever before, according to Helen Mountford, WRI’s director of economics. Innovative technologies, new market models, increasing understanding of the health costs of pollution and the recent drop in the cost of renewable energy mean that low-carbon investments can truly compete with traditional energy supplies.

“Some of the things we used to think were too difficult are now possible,” Mountford says. “We’re in a different world.”

WRI is working across multiple platforms to help drive climate action, with special focus on achieving a strong, universal climate agreement in 2015. This includes analysis for an effective model of this agreement, looking at what countries can contribute to a climate solution and opportunities for raising ambition. In 2015, the New Climate Economy project will release new research highlighting economic opportunities for enhanced climate action through international and multi-stakeholder initiatives.

2014 Highlight

WRI Advances Understanding of Sustainable Development Goals

What will follow the Millennium Development Goals, an international agreement to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015? After these goals expire this year, the world is raising the bar with a new set of Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030 and protect the planet in the process. WRI has been actively engaged in the intergovernmental negotiations over what these new goals should include.

These global goals are critical, even though they are not legally binding, because they can help spur more ambitious action while providing benchmarks to measure progress and help hold leaders accountable. Since the soon-to-expire Millennium Development Goals were endorsed in 2001, extreme poverty and child mortality have declined, as access to primary education and clean drinking water has improved.  So what will be in the new set of goals?

“Eradicating extreme poverty will be at its heart, but it will also be about outlining a sustainable development trajectory,” says Manish Bapna, WRI’s executive vice president and managing director. “WRI is uniquely placed as an organization that works at the nexus of environment and economic opportunity. We have over 30 years of experience around this profoundly important question, which is not just about how to protect the environment, but also how to embed sustainability into economic development.”

WRI has played a central role in preparing analysis on some of the thorniest questions that negotiators are grappling with, and convening key actors – governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations — around these questions. Trust in WRI’s independence and deep knowledge about global development challenges of climate, energy, food, forests, water and cities, as well as finance, business and governance, helped forge consensus around the new goals.

The new set of Sustainable Development Goals and related targets and proposals for their implementation and monitoring are to be adopted at a UN Heads of State Summit in September 2015, setting the sustainable development agenda for the next generation.

Photo credit: CIFOR/Flickr

Acknowledging Our Donors

WRI closed out 2014 with its strongest revenue results ever: $85 million to support our work in 2014 and beyond. We value all our donors, and we are very proud to recognize the diverse group of supporters who share our commitment to a more sustainable and prosperous world for all people.

2014 also saw the largest one-time gift in WRI’s history, Stephen M. Ross’ transformative $30.5 million donation to establish WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities. This extraordinary gift will enable us to scale our efforts to address rapid urbanization, improving the quality of millions of people’s lives through more accessible, healthy, safe and environmentally friendly cities worldwide.

Several European government partners increased their support significantly in 2014, enabling us to deliver on our collective commitments towards a more sustainable future. Notable among these is the Norwegian government which provided generous support for WRI’s international work on forests and climate. WRI’s bilateral institutional supporters – including the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Danida), Irish Aid and the French Development Agency (AFD) – helped set a new record in core funding to WRI, which reached $8.6 million for 2014. We are thankful also to the Netherlands MFA for their in-kind gift in the form of two senior staff secondments. In addition, we are grateful to the governments of Sweden, Norway and the United Kingdom for their generous support of the New Climate Economy initiative.

We are delighted to receive vital support from many foundations, including: Bloomberg Philanthropies, Climateworks, the Tilia Fund and the Villum Foundation, and we are excited by our growing collaboration with the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF).

Our Donors and WRI’s Values

WRI’s work is made possible through the generosity of a growing number of partners and supporters that share the Institute’s goals and objectives, including private foundations, governments, international institutions, corporations, individuals and non-governmental organizations.

Our purpose in each of those relationships is to fulfill our mission, and we are guided in all of them by our institutional values. We neither seek nor accept financial support that would undermine those values.

WRI is mission-driven and independent. We enter into contractual relationships only if they are aligned with our mission and program objectives. To ensure the quality and independence of our research, our publications are subject to internal and external peer review. WRI prohibits staff from manipulating research or suppressing research results because they are inconsistent with a desired outcome.

Scroll right or click the arrow at the upper right to learn more about our donors.

Top $1 Million Funders

STEPHEN ROSS MAKES $30.5 MILLION GIFT TO ADVANCE SUSTAINABLE CITIES

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities was established by a generous donation from Stephen M. Ross, the founder and chairman of Related Companies and a WRI board member. The center combines experience and expertise in sustainable urban mobility, urban planning, building efficiency, energy, climate change, adaptation, water and governance to foster sustainable cities in developing countries including Brazil, China, India, Mexico and Turkey.

Ross and Related Companies have a remarkable reputation for leading visionary projects in urban development and community revitalization, and Ross has been a vocal proponent of strong green building codes. Over more than four decades, Related has shown a commitment to housing that offers communities on all economic levels the opportunity to live, work and thrive in cities. Related is known for transformative mixed-use projects that integrate green building innovation and dynamic open spaces, with New York’s 28-acre Hudson Yards serving as the latest example of this approach.

Stephen Ross
Related Companies Founder and Chairman Stephen M. Ross

I have long been passionate about city-building, and truly believe that well-designed cities can transform how people live by creating conditions where all people can thrive and innovation can take hold. -- Stephen Ross.

MICHAEL POLSKY ESTABLISHES CHAIR FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY

Michael Polsky
Invenergy Founder and CEO Michael Polsky

Photo credit: Invenergy LLC

Invenergy founder and CEO and WRI Director Michael Polsky has established WRI’s first chair, the Polsky Chair for Renewable Energy, which will lead and expand WRI’s work on renewable energy. An entrepreneur with 30 years’ experience in the energy field, Polsky is widely recognized as a leader in the independent power industry. He founded the leading clean energy company Invenergy, which focuses on the development, ownership, and operation of wind, solar, and thermal electricity power projects.

$1 MILLION+ DONORS

(Includes revenue received 10/1/13 – 1/15/15 and older grants still open as of 101/13)

  • Bloomberg Philanthropies
  • The Children's Investment Fund Foundation
  • ClimateWorks Foundation
  • DOEN Foundation
  • Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety of Germany
  • Johnson Controls, Inc.
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands
  • Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
  • Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment
  • Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD)
  • Oak Foundation
  • Michael Polsky Family
  • Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • The Stephen M. Ross Foundation
  • Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
  • The Tilia Fund
  • U.K. Department for International Development
  • U.S. Agency for International Development
  • United Nations Environment Programme
  • Villum Foundation

Courage to Lead Luncheon

WRI’s Courage to Lead event series honors leaders with an inspiring global vision who have changed institutions and industries to create a better world.  Our 2014 Courage to Lead luncheon honored WRI Chairman James A. Harmon and Citi Foundation President Pamela P. Flaherty, with keynote speaker the Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton and special guests Rockefeller Foundation President Judith Rodin, and former Bloomberg LP President and CEO Daniel L. Doctoroff.

  • Leadership

  • Citi and Citi Foundation

  • Tribute

  • Afsaneh M. Beschloss
  • Daniel L. Doctoroff
  • James A. Harmon
  • Left to right: WRI President and CEO Andrew Steer, Citi Foundation President Pamela P. Flaherty, The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton, WRI Chairman James A. Harmon at WRI’s Courage to Lead Luncheon, June 12, 2014, New York, NY.

    Photo credit: Hechler Photographers

  • Benefactor

  • Alcoa Foundation
  • Beth and David Blood
  • Caterpillar, Inc.
  • DuPont
  • Liesbet and Andrew Steer

  • Patron

  • Angeleno Group
  • Auerbach Grayson & Company
  • Bank of America
  • Caravel Management LLC
  • Dentons US LLP
  • Pam and Peter Flaherty
  • Mr. and Mrs. Doug Harmon & Mr. and Mrs. David Werner
  • Deborah L. Harmon, Douglas L. Harmon, Jennifer A. Harmon
  • JP Morgan Chase & Co.
  • Lawrence H. Linden
  • Preston R. Miller, Jr.
  • Rothstein Kass
  • Lee and Dorothy Thomas

  • Supporters

  • ADCO Group – Alvin Dworman, Chairman
  • Lisa and Joshua Bernstein
  • Colgate-Palmolive Company
  • Brian and Isobel Cox
  • iCore Networks
  • Mitsubishi UFJ Fund Services
  • Janet Mulligan/Tanton & Company, LLP
  • Northern Trust
  • PAUL HASTINGS LLP
  • William and Jill Ruckelshaus
  • UBS Financial Services
  • Paul Wachter, Christopher Fillo and Main Street Advisors, Inc.

  • Contributors

  • Sandra April
  • Hattie Babbitt
  • Rich Barnett
  • Frances Beinecke
  • Sir Winfried Bischoff and Lady Bischoff
  • Robin Chase
  • Betsy and Alan Cohn Foundation
  • Alex Daniels
  • Jess Dannhauser and Graham Windham
  • Donald L. Dell
  • Benjamin Oko and Helen Dimos
  • The Fascitelli Family Foundation
  • Russell Goldsmith
  • Lesley Goldwasser
  • Alfred W. Griffin III
  • Catherine Gropper
  • Benjamin Jacobson
  • Johnson Controls, Inc.
  • Benjamin V. Lambert
  • Hinda and Arthur Marcus
  • Leslie Myers
  • Nancy and Morris W. Offit
  • Michael Polsky
  • Gerald Rosenfeld
  • Left to right: Former WRI President Jonathan Lash, WRI Director Tiffany Clay, WRI Director Lee M. Thomas at WRI’s Courage to Lead Luncheon, June 12, 2014, New York, NY.

    Photo credit: Hechler Photographers

  • Samson Capital Advisors LLC
  • Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP
  • Nicholas A. Schufro
  • Stuart A. Shikiar
  • Bret Silver
  • Todd Snyder
  • Arnold and Linda Spellun
  • Siemens
  • TD Banmk
  • David Wassong
  • Whalesback Foundation

Governments and Multilateral Organizations

(Includes revenue received 10/1/13 – 1/15/15 and older grants still open as of 10/1/13)

  • Strategic Core Funding Partners

  • Agence Française de Développement (AFD)
  • Irish Aid
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands
  • Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
  • Left to right: Swedish Ambassador Björn Lyrvall, Peruvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Gonzalo Gutierrez Reinel, and Vice President Al Gore at WRI’s dinner honoring Al Gore hosted by the Swedish Embassy, October 8, 2014, Washington, DC.

    Photo credit: James R. Brantley Photography

  • Program/Project Partners

  • Anonymous (1)
  • African Development Bank Group
  • Asian Development Bank
  • China Beijing Environment Exchange
  • Climate and Development Knowledge Network
  • Current Future
  • Environment Canada
  • European Commission
  • Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany
  • Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety of Germany
  • German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ)
  • Global Environment Facility
  • Inter-American Development Bank
  • Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
  • KFW Bankengruppe
  • Latin America Regional Climate Initiative
  • Maryland Department of Agriculture
  • Ministere De L'Environnement, Conservation de la Nature
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France
  • Ministry of Strategy and Finance of Korea
  • National Environment Agency of Singapore
  • National Environment and Planning Agency of Jamaica
  • Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment
  • The Nordic Council of Ministers
  • Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD)
  • Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
  • Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
  • Swiss Federal Office for the Environment
  • U.K. Department for International Development
  • U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office
  • U.S. Agency for International Development
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • U.S. Department of Energy
  • U.S. Department of the Interior
  • U.S. Department of the Interior-Geological Survey
  • U.S. Department of State
  • United Nations
  • Norwegian Ambassador Kåre R. Aas at the launch of WRI’s Global Forest Watch, February 20, 2014, Washington, DC.

    Photo credit: Ralph Alswang

  • United Nations Development Programme
  • United Nations Environment Programme
  • United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
  • UNEP Risø Centre
  • United Nations Habitat
  • The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)
  • The World Bank

Foundations

(Includes revenue received 10/1/13 – 1/15/15 and older grants still open as of 10/1/13)

  • $1 Million+

  • Bloomberg Philanthropies
  • The Children's Investment Fund Foundation
  • ClimateWorks Foundation
  • DOEN Foundation
  • Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
  • Oak Foundation
  • The Stephen M. Ross Foundation
  • The Tilia Fund
  • Villum Foundation

  • $500,000 - $999,999

  • Anonymous (2)
  • European Climate Foundation
  • Open Society Foundations
  • Rockefeller Brothers Fund
  • Ruth McCormick Tankersley Charitable Trust

  • $100,000 - $499,999

  • Anonymous (1)
  • Acacia Conservation Fund
  • Climate and Land Use Alliance
  • Clinton Foundation
  • The Energy Foundation
  • Ford Foundation
  • Linden Trust for Conservation
  • The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
  • McKnight Foundation
  • Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
  • Katherine S. and Axel G. Rosin Fund of the Scherman Foundation
  • Skoll Global Threats Fund
  • Swedish Postcode Lottery
  • The Walton Family Foundation
  • William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
  • Zennstrom Philanthropies
  • Rockefeller Foundation President Dr. Judith Rodin at WRI’s Courage to Lead Luncheon, June 12, 2014, New York, NY.

    Photo credit: Hechler Photographers

  • $10,000 - $99,999

  • The Asia Foundation
  • Chino Cienega Foundation
  • Clearpath Foundation
  • Cox Family Fund
  • Danem Foundation
  • Roy & Patricia Disney Family Foundation of the California Community Foundation
  • The Louisa Duemling Charitable Lead Trust
  • Foundation for the Global Compact
  • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
  • Global Environment and Technology Foundation
  • The Harmon Foundation
  • The J & L Foundation
  • Linden Trust for Conservation
  • Leo Model Foundation
  • Preston R. and Carol Smith Miller Fund
  • The Prospect Hill Foundation
  • Red Crane Foundation
  • Clint and Sandi Vince Charitable Foundation

  • $1,000 - $9,999

  • Anonymous (3)
  • The Rona and Jeffrey Abramson Foundation
  • The Drake Bettner Foundation
  • Gina Bond Giving Fund
  • Bloomberg Philanthropies is a major supporter of WRI’s road safety work in cities. Left to right: EMBARQ Turkey Board Chair A. Canan Ediboğlu, EMBARQ Turkey Director Arzu Tekir, Michael R. Bloomberg, and Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas discuss efforts to improve road safety, sustainability, and quality of life, June 13, 2014, Istanbul, Turkey.

    Photo credit: EMBARQ Turkey

  • Judy Buechner Advised Fund
  • The Betsy and Alan Cohn Foundation Inc.
  • Colorado Conservation Exchange Fund
  • William C. Eacho Foundation
  • The Fascitelli Family Foundation
  • The Burdick Faulkner Charitable Fund
  • The Fuller Family Charitable Trust
  • Greenfield Family Foundation
  • Harbor Lights Foundation
  • William W. Hildreth Fund
  • Knobloch Family Foundation
  • Michael and Anne Krepick Charitable Gift Fund
  • The McCance Foundation Trust
  • The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
  • Polsky Foundation, Inc.
  • Joan & Robert Rechnitz Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Communal Fund
  • Bruce & Lori Laitman Rosenblum Family Fund
  • Schwab Charitable Fund
  • Serena Fund of Tides Foundation
  • Swanee Hunt Family Foundation
  • Whalesback Foundation
  • Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation - John Hirschi Donor Advised Fund

  • $100 - $999

  • Judith A. Aronstein Fund
  • Bjerre Family Trust
  • David A. Collins Fund
  • The Evo and Ora DeConcini and Thu Family Foundation
  • Finlay Family Charitable Fund
  • Judith Fulton and Mark Howard Account
  • Glauz Family Foundation
  • The Margaret M. Hixon Fund
  • The Katherine Lindsay Howell Fund
  • V.R. and Mani Inaganti Family Fund
  • McBurr Giving Account
  • Joyce S. Mills 1997 Family Trust
  • Norwottock Charitable Trust
  • Jeanne W. & James L. Nussmeier Charitable Fund
  • Sharkey Family Fund
  • Sam Shine Foundation
  • Skyemar Foundation
  • Lee and Byron Stookey Fund

Corporations

(Includes revenue received 10/1/13 – 1/15/15 and older grants still open as of 10/1/13)

  • Strategic Relationships

  • Alcoa Foundation
  • Caterpillar Foundation
  • FedEx
  • Johnson Controls, Inc.
  • Shell Foundation
  • UPS Foundation
  • WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities Global Director Aniruddha Dasgupta, WRI Managing Director Manish Bapna, WRI President Andrew Steer, WRI Building Efficiency Initiative Director Jennifer Layke, Johnson Controls Chief Diversity Officer Chuck Harvey, and Johnson Controls Vice President for Global Energy and Sustainability Clay Nesler at the launch of a new building efficiency partnership, October 2, 2014, Washington, DC.

    Photo credit: World Resources Institute

  • 2014-2015 Corporate Consultative Group Members

  • Abbott Laboratories
  • Alcoa
  • Best Buy
  • Bloomberg L.P.
  • Caesars Entertainment Corporation
  • Caterpillar
  • Citi
  • Coca-Cola
  • Colgate-Palmolive
  • The Walt Disney Company
  • The Dow Chemical Company
  • DuPont
  • Exelon Corporation
  • FedEx
  • General Motors Company
  • Goldman Sachs
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Johnson Controls, Inc.
  • JPMorgan Chase
  • Kimberly Clark
  • Mars, Incorporated
  • Morgan Stanley
  • Nestle
  • PepsiCo
  • Pfizer
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers
  • Related Companies
  • Samsung Institute of Safety and Environment
  • SC Johnson
  • Shell
  • Siemens
  • Staples
  • Statoil
  • Tetra Pak International
  • United Technologies Corporation
  • UPS
  • Walmart
  • Weyerhaeuser
  • Xylem Inc.

  • Program/Project Partners

  • ADM Capital Foundation
  • Bank of America Foundation
  • Bank of America Corporation
  • Bloomberg L.P.
  • Citi
  • Deutsche Bank
  • DuPont
  • Eco Consulting Group
  • Ecofys
  • ERDAS (Intergraph)
  • Esri
  • Facebook, Inc.
  • General Motors Company
  • General Motors Foundation
  • Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd
  • Goldman Sachs
  • HENNES & MAURITZ
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • JPMorgan Chase
  • Kimberly-Clark Foundation
  • McDonald's Corporation
  • Mitsubishi UFJ Fund Services
  • Procter & Gamble
  • Shell
  • Siemens
  • United Technologies Corporation
  • UPS Foundation
  • Urban Mass Transit Company Limited
  • Walmart
  • The Walmart Foundation
  • Wells Fargo Foundation

  • Supporters

  • Alnor Oil Company, Inc.
  • Antares Group Inc.
  • Angeleno Group, LLC
  • Blistex Inc.
  • Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
  • Dentons
  • Drive Current
  • Emission Information Inc.
  • Firsthand Capital Management
  • Green Strategies, Inc.
  • iCore Networks
  • Main Street Advisors, Inc.
  • Samson Capital Advisors LLC
  • Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP

  • Matching and Workplace Giving

  • American Express Charitable Gift Fund
  • Ameriprise Financial Matching Program
  • Apple, Inc.
  • AT&T Employee Giving Campaign
  • BD Group
  • Boston Consulting Group
  • Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
  • Cambia Employee Giving Campaign
  • Carolyn Foundation
  • EarthShare
  • Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
  • Freddie Mac
  • GE United Way Campaign
  • Genentech, Inc.
  • Google
  • The Hartford Fire Insurance Company
  • Home Depot
  • Huron Consulting Group
  • Intuit
  • Microsoft Matching Gifts Program
  • The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
  • Phillips-Van Heusen Foundation, Inc.
  • Salesforce
  • TPG Capital, L.P.
  • Tredegar Corporation
  • Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign
  • World Bank Community Connections Fund

Individuals

  • $25,000+

  • Anonymous (1)
  • Frances Beinecke
  • Elizabeth Belfer
  • Afsaneh Beschloss
  • David Blood
  • David Brewster
  • Brian B. Cox
  • Daniel Cruise
  • Roy Disney Family Foundation
  • Daniel L. Doctoroff
  • James A. Harmon
  • Lawrence and Dana Linden
  • Preston R. and Carol Smith Miller Fund
  • Jennifer Morgan
  • Carlos P. Rodriguez-Pastor
  • John and Virginia Sall
  • Liesbet and Andrew D. Steer
  • Joan E. and Lee B. Thomas, Jr.
  • Lee M. and Dorothy Thomas

  • $10,000 -$24,999

  • Lisa and Josh Bernstein
  • Auerbach Grayson & Company
  • Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Harmon
  • Thomas A. Nowak, M.D.
  • Michael Polsky Family
  • Mr. and Mrs. David Werner
  • Ann M. Williams

  • $1,000 - $9,999

  • Anonymous (6)
  • Tamsen Aichinger
  • Mark and Meg Alberts
  • Gennadiy Aleksandrov
  • Eleanor Anderson
  • Steven Averbuch
  • Jessica and Geoffrey Baldwin
  • Manish Bapna
  • Steven Barker
  • Allison Brody and Marsha Lewis
  • Caroline L. Brown
  • Alexa Bruce
  • The Buchanans
  • Nathaniel and Jessica Chamberlin
  • Robin Chase
  • Tiffany Chesnosky
  • Tiffany Clay
  • David Cushing
  • Dorothy Cutting
  • Alex Daniels
  • Donald L. Dell
  • Emily Dowden
  • Conor DuBois
  • Riley Duren
  • Alvin Dworman
  • Ms. Diane Early
  • Phillip Eck
  • Susan and Lowell Edmunds
  • Richard Epstein
  • Adam M. Fass
  • Wendy Fiering and Tim Kieschnick
  • Frank Firke
  • John Fisher
  • Agnieszka Flizik
  • E. Marianne Gabel
  • Jonathan Gainsley
  • Judy and David Gayer
  • John Niccolai and Maria Gea
  • Susan Gerngross
  • Russell Goldsmith
  • Lesley Goldwasser
  • Alfred W. Griffin III
  • Catherine Gropper
  • David P. Hackett
  • Craig Hanson
  • Mary M. Harris
  • Nicole Harris
  • Daniel Hildreth
  • Ethan Hoerneman
  • Margaret VB. Hughes
  • Abigail Ingersoll Gilbertson
  • Margaret Inokuma
  • Benjamin Jacobson
  • Rita-Maria L. Kafalas-May
  • Lamb Weston Meijer
  • Jane Klein
  • Peter Knight
  • Christopher K.
  • Steven Kramer
  • William A. Krug
  • Benjamin V. Lambert
  • Thomas E. Lovejoy III
  • Martin Lowenstein and Inbar Telem
  • Alice Mahood and Jesse Glick
  • Hinda and Arthur Marcus
  • Adrienne B. Mars
  • Jeanette McDonald
  • Katie McGinty and Karl Hausker
  • Wilhelm Merck and Nonie Brady
  • Ross and Ramsay Millie
  • B. Diane Mott
  • Janet Mulligan
  • Cassandra Murphy
  • Todd D. Nelson
  • John Niccolai
  • Mr. and Mrs. Morris W. Offit
  • Mr. and Mrs. James L. Patton, Jr.
  • Mr. and Mrs. Robert P. Perkaus, Jr.
  • Michelle Porter
  • Marjorie and Laurence Porter
  • Mr. and Mrs. John G. Rakocy
  • William K. Reilly
  • The Honorable Bill Richardson
  • Gwen Rino and Jess Beebe
  • Anna Lyons-Roost and Eric Roost
  • Gerald Rosenfeld
  • Ari Rosenfield
  • David Rosenstein
  • Pooja and Michael Rutberg
  • Alison Sander
  • Tedd Saunders
  • Stuart A. Shikiar
  • Russel Shon
  • Bret Silver
  • Stephen Simko
  • Nigel Sizer
  • Cynthia Slaughter
  • Darlene Slaughter
  • Edith and Bruce Smart
  • Robert and Heidi Smith
  • Todd Snyder
  • Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Spellun
  • Josh Sternoff
  • Emma Stewart
  • Timon P. Tesar
  • Sue and John Tierney
  • Dave Tilton
  • Victor Torgrimson
  • Jason Trachewsky
  • Lucy Berlin and Glenn Trewitt
  • Dr. Ramachandra Tummala
  • Laura Tyson
  • Venkat Varadachary
  • Emily V. Wade
  • Ben Wagner
  • David Wassong
  • Christine Winston
  • Robert B. Zoellick

  • Less than $1,000

  • Anonymous (9)
  • Jean Aldwell
  • Michael and Julie Alexander
  • Allan Alson and Sue Ann Glaser
  • James Anderson
  • Anton Andrews
  • Sandra April
  • Hattie Babbitt
  • Michelle Badash
  • Martha and Kurt Baden
  • Marta Bailey
  • Benjamin M. Baker
  • Doug Barker
  • Rich Barnett
  • Vivian Barron
  • Kynan and Barb Bazley
  • Wendy W. Benchley
  • Gail and Charles Bennett
  • Dr. Richard Bertken
  • Sir Winfried Bischoff and Lady Bischoff
  • Kerry and Joel Blum
  • Joseph Boardman
  • Patricia Boote
  • Norman Booth and Gail Zink
  • Samuel Botsford
  • Craig Bowman
  • Anita and Barney Brannen
  • Steven R. Brooks
  • Richard Bruce
  • Om Bravisshi Om Buddhu
  • Erik Bue and Erica Hovani-Bue
  • Mr. and Mrs. William A. Butler
  • Jennifer Butz
  • Charlotte Campbell
  • Laidler Campbell
  • Mr. & Mrs. Michael Cantacuzene
  • Mr. Edward Carson
  • Jennifer D. Carter
  • Luther and Marsha Carter
  • Charles Cerf and Cynthia Dunbar
  • Sharon Chadwick
  • Louis Chambers
  • Mr. and Mrs. Rowland K. Chase
  • Rex Claridge
  • Samuel C. Cohen
  • Elizabeth Cook
  • Jess Dannhauser and Graham Windham
  • Noriko Date
  • Kevin W. Davis
  • Josephine F. de Give
  • Kevin Dean
  • Francisco Delatorre
  • Gretchen and Peter Detre
  • John Diamond
  • Stephany Diana
  • Warner Dick
  • David and Jeannine Dickinson
  • Doug Dotson
  • Cathy Dinsmore
  • Andrew Dinwiddie
  • Michael and Jane Donnantuono
  • Brian A. Dunn
  • Nancy Edwards
  • Jodene Eikenberry
  • Mohamed and Patricia El-Ashry
  • Ian Ellenbecker
  • John LeMoyne Ellicott
  • Marjorie and Tony Elson
  • Andrew Escoll
  • William Farwell
  • Mary Fellows
  • Eva Fernandez
  • Harvey Fernbach, M.D. MPH
  • Adrienne Ferriss
  • Edward Field
  • Patrick Fortyr
  • Thomas and Elizabeth Fox
  • Ashley Frambach
  • Daniel Frankel
  • Richard Fromer
  • Dan I. Gabbay
  • Caroline Gaudet
  • Sheila Ginsberg
  • Amado Glick
  • K.M. Goertzel
  • Ms. Marian Goldeen
  • Elizabeth Golubitsky
  • Christine Goodfellow
  • Marc Goodheart
  • Jack and Robin Graham
  • Ty Griffith
  • Mark and Katie Gudiksen
  • Sonya H. Guidry
  • Carissa Hansen
  • Darcie Hansen
  • Gary Hansen
  • David C. Hardy
  • John J. Harris
  • Laurence Hausman
  • Troy and Jeannette Hayes
  • Steven and Elizabeth Hays-Lohrey
  • Mr. and Mrs. Perry M. Hedin
  • James Henderson
  • Sonia Hernandez
  • Zach Herridge
  • Barbara C. Hevener
  • Fran Hirschel
  • Winona Hocutt
  • Deborah Hollick
  • Mark D. Hollingsworth
  • Camilla Aucott Hoover
  • Jeanne Lawson Mills
  • Leo Horn-Phathanothai
  • Kyle Howells
  • Howard Hsu
  • Chunjiang Huang
  • Aimee and Thomas Huff
  • Maria Hui
  • Innes Family
  • Sarah F. Hunnewell
  • Nancy Ignatius
  • Joseph Jakuta
  • Garry Jewett
  • Justin Johnson
  • Katherine H. Jones
  • Dr. and Mrs. Charles R. Jorgensen
  • Richard Kacik
  • Heather Karlson and Bill Leeson
  • Patricia Kehoe
  • Gordon Kerper
  • Eliot Kersgaard
  • Joe Kirschling
  • Joe Kleinschmidt
  • David M. Kline
  • William J. Kramer
  • Angela Kuhne
  • Cheryl Kurata
  • Karen Kushner
  • Gloria H. LaMont
  • Roger W. Lamson, Jr.
  • Eileen Landay
  • Terilynn Langsev
  • Andrea LaRowe
  • Jonathan Lash
  • Andrew Lauterback
  • Mr. Kurt Lawson and Ms. Jill Feasley
  • Jennifer and Christian Layke
  • Eugene Lebwohl
  • Art Levin
  • Michael Lewine
  • B. A. Lindman
  • David Lindsay
  • Andres Lomeli
  • Jane Lubchenco
  • Sarah Lupberger
  • William and Jan Madill
  • Aaron and Lisa Mager
  • Javan Makhmali
  • Mr. Jan Manschot
  • Jonathan Marr and Rachel Sterne-Marr
  • Stephanie Martin
  • Debbie Seidell and Gregory Marton
  • Winter Mason
  • Jessica T. Mathews
  • Dave and Judy Mauriello
  • Elizabeth McAlister
  • The McCalls
  • Mark McCarty
  • Margaret McKee
  • Maureen K. McKeough
  • Peter T. Means
  • Neha Mehta
  • The Bosman/Meister Family
  • Gajus Miknaitis
  • Harold and Eileen Miller
  • Jeanne Lawson Mills
  • Milstein-Touesnard Family
  • Matthew Moder
  • Michele Molnar
  • Laure Moon
  • Aubert Mowry
  • Robin and Mary Claire Murphy
  • Leslie Myers
  • Susan Myers
  • Eugene Nam
  • Albert C. Nedelman
  • Patricia Newton
  • Matthew Nimetz
  • Kaori Nishikida
  • Nancy and Anthony Ody
  • George L. Ohrstrom II
  • Benjamin Oko and Helen Dimos
  • Kristen Olson
  • Ms. Colleen O'Neill
  • Christopher & Sara Oot
  • Dr. Lisa O'Sullivan
  • Raymond Page
  • Leslie Parrish
  • Thomas B. Patton
  • Jane and Matthew Paulson
  • Jonathan Pershing
  • Nancy Petrie
  • Dave and Ann Phillips
  • Joan Pincus
  • Jon Plax
  • Gerald A. Pollack
  • Alejandro Ponce Mercuri
  • Nancy Post
  • Nicholas Powers and Jessica Lin-Powers
  • Ted and Beth Powers-Johnson
  • Neil Prakash
  • Daniel Pritchett
  • Eric Radjef
  • Janet Ranganathan
  • Michele A. Rapp
  • Andrew Rembrandt
  • Jason Reneau and Family
  • Dr Albert J. Repicci
  • James and Susan Roberts
  • Sara Roderer
  • Linda Rosalina
  • Doug and Barbara Rothrock
  • Philip Rothrock
  • Mr. Daniel Rubins
  • Irene Saikevych
  • David Sandalow and Holly Hammonds
  • Sandra Sanders
  • Irene Saxman
  • Linda Scharlatt
  • Michael Schobel
  • John Schroeder
  • Pam Schulz and Clark Dikeman
  • Charles Thorne Sebens
  • Deborah Seligsohn
  • John Shaw
  • Susan Sherrod
  • Nicholas A. Shufro
  • Steve and Judy Sibelman
  • Mark Siemon
  • Mark and Donna Simon
  • Mark Singer
  • Rita Sinkovec
  • Brian Slocum
  • Mr. and Mrs. Carl Smith
  • Susan Smith
  • Jon and Cleo Sonneborn
  • Katherine Soo
  • Susanne Stahl
  • David and Gail Stauffer
  • M. V. Stockbridge
  • Chuck Story
  • Ernest C. Strauch, Jr
  • Alan J. Suares
  • Razvan Surdulescu
  • Robin Swain
  • Steven L. Swart
  • Jon Sweet
  • John Swenson
  • Angela Tamblin
  • Barret Williams and Nicholas Tuleu
  • Blase Theodore
  • Bradley M. Tirpak
  • Benjamin Tseng and Sophia Wang
  • Dan Tunstall
  • LT Sean Tuohy
  • Lyle Turner
  • Barbara Gazey Turner
  • Jane R. Marcus and Johnson M. Tyler
  • Jean van der Tak
  • David and Gillian Wachter/Baty
  • Diana H. Wall
  • Connor Wallden
  • Chris Wanha
  • Sharon and Doug Weirick
  • Karen Weiss
  • Frank and Lee Anne Wentz
  • Alexander Wikstrom
  • Ellen Williams
  • John Williamson
  • Stewart Wills
  • Kathrin Winkler
  • Amy Yates
  • Barry Yatt
  • Cindy Ybarra
  • Tom Sebo and Cheryl Young
  • Jean Yuan
  • John Zakrasek
  • Alisa Zomer

Other Support

  • Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative
  • American Endowment Foundation
  • American Farmland Trust
  • ARD, Inc.
  • Brookings Institution
  • Carbon Disclosure Project, North America
  • Center for Sustainable Transportation - Mexico
  • The Royal Institute of International Affairs/Chatham House
  • Circle of Support for the Sustainable Management of Forests
  • CLIMACT S.A.
  • Creative Cabinetry Inc
  • Development Alternatives, Inc.
  • DHI-Water and Environment
  • Envizi
  • EY Global Services Limited
  • Fundecooperación para el Desarrollo Sostenible
  • DFGE
  • International Aerospace Environmental Group Inc.
  • International Union for Conservation of Nature Headquarters (IUCN)
  • Iowa Soybean Association
  • JLA Public Involvement (via Betsy Steinhart)
  • KeyLogic Systems, Inc.
  • Lascaux Resource Capital
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • Network For Good
  • Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security
  • Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA)
  • Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
  • QVS Group BV/QVS Consulting/GreenIntelli
  • Resources for the Future
  • Ricardo-AEA Ltd
  • Rights and Resources Initiative
  • Stockholm Environment Institute
  • Topten International Services GmbH
  • TransitCenter, Inc.
  • U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities
  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • West Virginia University
  • Willamette Partnership
  • Winrock International Institute for Agriculture Development
  • World Business Council for Sustainable Development
  • World Wildlife Fund

Tribute Contributions

  • Stefan Arteaga in memory of Jorge O. Arteaga
  • Charlene Baer in honor of Elazbeth Baer/Eichner
  • Vivian Barbian in honor of 'Marcie Jango-Fett Hart
  • Virginia Benninghoff in honor of Christina and Tom Ensalada's wedding
  • Katie Bent in honor of Shannon O'Bent and Shannon O’Nell
  • The Buchanans in honor of Mike Dale's engagement
  • Maya Buchsbaum in honor of the wedding of Sharon Goldwater and Iaian Murray
  • Gerard Burke in honor of Phil Henderson
  • Andrew Burnham in memory of Mary Majerus
  • Tim and Joanna Clark in honor of Adli Waziri's wedding
  • Alan Cook in honor of Susan Johnson
  • Jesse Crosson in memory of Doreen Schein
  • Katie Currie in honor of Nicole Yates' wedding
  • Ann Delehanty in honor of Lorraiane Delehanty's birthday
  • The Deutsch Family in honor of Mel Pekarsky's birthday
  • Ned Dexter and Jeanne Galvin-Clarke in honor of Matthew Hancher's wedding
  • Dominic DiAngelis in honor of Dominic DiAngelis
  • David Elkins, M.D. in honor of Terence Elkins
  • Jennifer Eyerman in honor of Steffen Ballerstedt
  • Cristiana Fish in honor of Harold D. Fish
  • Cody Frank in memory of James L. Frank
  • The Gellers in honor of the holidays
  • Katherine and Bryan George in honor of the holidays
  • Zoubin Ghahramani in honor of the wedding of Sharon Goldwater and Iaian Murray
  • Linda G. Gochfeld in honor of the wedding of Sharon Goldwater and Iaian Murray
  • David Goldston in honor of David Waskow's birthday
  • Abhijeet Gole in memory of Prakash Gole
  • V. Gould in honor of Charles E. Strang
  • James Henderson in loving memory of Soheil Nasiri
  • Jonathan Knope in honor of David Knope
  • Norbert and Judith Lechner in honor of the wedding of Sharon Goldwater and Iaian Murray
  • Cameron Lindsey in honor of Jessica Kiser's wedding
  • Lawrence MacDonald in memory of his father, Lachlan MacDonald
  • Craig Massie in honor of Cindy Blegen
  • Marla McIntosh in honor of Nadia Naseem
  • Robin Meisner in honor of the wedding of Sharon Goldwater and Iaian Murray
  • B. Diane Mott in loving memory of Jean C. Mott
  • Catherine Murphy in honor of Ann Becherer
  • Kathryn Novak in honor of Colleen Novak
  • Rita and Robert Obeiter in honor of Michael S. Obeiter
  • Marion Pomeroy in memory of Donald L. Hibbard
  • Shane Runquist in honor of Eric and P.R. Runquist
  • Jillian Rupp in honor of Polly Kornie's birthday
  • Peter Schlossman in honor of Max Schlossman
  • Anne Short in honor of Grandpa Short
  • Brenda Smith in honor of Marta Michalska's wedding
  • Andy Stillpass in honor of Gavin Brown's 50th birthday
  • Beckye Taylor in honor of Trinity Graduating Class (Barret Williams and Nicholas Tuleu)
  • Susan Turnbaugh in honor of Justin Andrews
  • Beth Tyszka in honor of Ryan Artale
  • Mr. Eric Joseph Uhrhane in honor of the wedding of Sharon Goldwater and Iaian Murray
  • Adam VanDeLaarschot in honor of Jim VanDeLaarschot
  • Patrick Wegner in honor of Klaus Wegner
  • Rabi Whitaker in honor of David Weber
  • Roger & Sue Yackel in honor of Lynn Harrison and Malcolm Rooney
  • The Years Project in honor of Olivia Munn
  • Stevan Yee in honor of Anna Deller-Yee
  • Mark Zablotny in memory of Ed Moreland
  • Elizabeth Zander Thays in honor of Alex Carter

Board and Advisors

WRI’s international offices are led by diverse and distinguished boards of directors comprised of former heads of state, corporate and civil society executives, energy and private equity investors, scientists and current and former political leaders. Directors ensure WRI’s financial integrity and effective resource management, and provide oversight and guidance on WRI’s program strategy.

Scroll right or click the arrow at upper right to learn more about our leaders and advisors.

Board of Directors 2014 – 2015

James A. Harmon, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Chairman, Caravel Management LLC

Former President, Export-Import Bank

Harriet C. Babbitt, VICE CHAIR

Former U.S. Ambassador to the

Organization of American States

Susan Tierney, VICE CHAIR

Managing Principal

Analysis Group, Inc.

Frances Beinecke

Former President

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)

Afsaneh M. Beschloss

President and CEO

The Rock Creek Group

Felipe Calderón

Former President of Mexico

Robin Chase

Founder

Zipcar, Buzzcar, Veniam 'Works

Chen Jining

Stepped down in 2015 upon appointment to a senior role in China’s Environment Ministry

Tiffany Clay

Vice President

TPG Alternative and Renewable Technologies

Daniel Cruise

Corporate Vice President for Business

Development and Global Affairs, Alcoa Inc.

Dino Patti Djalal

Deputy Foreign Minister

Republic of Indonesia

Daniel L. Doctoroff

Former President and Chief Executive Officer

Bloomberg, L.P.

Alice F. Emerson

VICE CHAIR EMERITA

President Emerita

Wheaton College

Jamshyd N. Godrej

Chairman and Managing Director

Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co. Ltd.

Renée Jones-Bos

Secretary General in the Dutch Foreign Ministry, The Netherlands

Caio Koch-Weser

Vice Chairman

Deutsche Bank Group, Germany

Jonathan Lash

President, Hampshire College

Former President, World Resources Institute

Jaime Lerner

President

Instituto Jaime Lerner

Former Governor of Parana

Former Mayor of Curitiba, Brazil

Kathleen McGinty

Chief of Staff for Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf

Preston R. Miller, Jr.

Partner

The Tremont Group, LLC

Göran Persson

Chairman, Sveaskog

Former Prime Minister of Sweden

Bill Richardson

Former Governor of New Mexico

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United

Nations

Former U.S. Energy Secretary

Stephen M. Ross

Chairman and Founder,

Related Companies

William D. Ruckelshaus

CHAIRMAN EMERITUS

Strategic Director, Madrona Venture Group

Former Administrator

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Alison Sander

Director

Center for Sensing & Mining the Future

The Boston Consulting Group

James Gustave Speth

FOUNDER AND TRUSTEE EMERITUS

Professor of Law, Vermont Law School

Founder and Former President,

World Resources Institute

Andrew Steer

President and CEO

World Resources Institute

Lee M. Thomas

Former Chairman and CEO of Rayonier

Former Administrator

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

D. James Umpleby

Group President

Caterpillar Inc.

Clinton A. Vince

Chair

Global Energy Practice, Dentons

Diana H. Wall

Director, School of Global Environmental Sustainability

Professor of Biology and Senior Research Scientist

Natural Resource Ecology Lab

Colorado State University

Daniel Weiss

Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Angeleno Group

International Boards

WRI CHINA ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Qu Geping, CHAIR

Honorable Chairman, China Environment Protection Foundation; Former Chairman, Environmental and Resources Protection Committee, the National People’s Congress; Former Minister, Ministry of Environmental Protection

Qian Yi

Academician, Chinese Academy of Engineering; Prof. of Environment Science & Engineering Department, Tsinghua University

Zhou Dadi

Former General Director of Energy Research Institute, National Development and Reform Commission; Vice Chairman, National Energy Advisory Committee

Shi Dinghuan

Counselor of the State Council; Former Secretary-General of Ministry of Science and Technology

He Jiankun

Former Vice President, Tsinghua University; Deputy Director of National Climate Change Experts Committee

Wang Hao

Academician, Chinese Academy of Engineering; Honorable Director of Water Research Institute, Institute of Water Conservancy and Hydroelectric Power Research

Peng Suping

Academician, Chinese Academy of Engineering; Director of State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining and Technology

Lu Mai

Secretary General, China Development Research Foundation

Xu Dingming

Counsellor of The State Council, Former Director of National Energy Administration, National Development and Reform Commission

WRI INDIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Jamshyd Godrej, CHAIR

Chairman and Managing Director, Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co. Ltd

Ashok Khosla

Chairman, Development Alternatives Group

Sanjay Kirloskar 

Chairman and Managing Director, Kirloskar Brothers Ltd. 

WRI BRASIL BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Anamaria Schindler, CHAIR

Co-President Emeritus, Ashoka

Tasso Azevedo

Social Environmental Entrepreneur

Manish Bapna

Executive Vice President and Managing Director, World Resources Institute

Franklin Feder

Former Regional CEO, Latin America & Caribbean, Alcoa, Inc.

Carlos Nobre

Secretary for Science Policy and Planning, Ministry for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Government of Brazil

WRI INDONESIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Dino Patti Djalal, CHAIR

Deputy Foreign Minister, Republic of Indonesia

Kuntoro Mangkusubroto

Head of Presidential Delivery Unit, Republic of Indonesia

Andrew Steer

President and CEO, WRI

Global Advisory Council

WRI’s Global Advisory Council is a select group of business, philanthropic and civic leaders committed to helping the Institute achieve its mission of moving human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

By serving as ambassadors and advising the institute’s leadership, board of directors and international staff, council members enhance WRI’s profile, resources and effectiveness.

Please contact Rich Barnett at 202-729-7647 or rbarnett@wri.org for more information about the Global Advisory Council.

Elizabeth Belfer

Equity Analyst, Belfer Management, LLC

Doyle Beneby

President and CEO, CPS Energy

David Blood

Co-Founder and Senior Partner, Generation Investment Management

H.R.H. Prince Jaime de Bourbon Parme

Ambassador to the Holy See

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands

David Brewster

President, EnerNOC, Inc.

Tim Disney

Independent Filmmaker

Stephen Rumsey

Chairman, Permian Global Advisors LLP

New Innovators Council

The New Innovators Council is a group of distinguished leaders committed to working with World Resources Institute to spur breakthrough solutions on climate change, clean energy access, deforestation, water scarcity, food security and increasing urbanization. We know these challenges require cutting-edge approaches, so WRI has enlisted a group of committed individuals who possess the energy, ambition, and thoughtfulness to mobilize provocative ideas and help shape our strategies to tackle the most pressing threats facing the planet.

Global Management

As WRI grows in staff size, budget and geographical reach, we focus on delivering results in the face of mounting challenges to people and the planet. Our global management team consists of leading representatives from our programs and international offices, as well as our executive team. The team sets and implements institutional goals and strategy, shapes our program and country-level strategies, and helps us approach our work as “One WRI.” Our managers oversee staff development and enable us to attract and retain top-notch, dedicated experts. We are proud that WRI has been named one of the top workplaces in Washington, D.C.

Our core values—Integrity, Innovation, Independence, Respect and Urgency—underpin everything we do. These values inform our day-to-day decisions and guide us as we evolve, globalize and seize new opportunities that advance our programs and mission.

  • Executive Team

  • Andrew Steer, President and CEO
  • Manish Bapna, Executive Vice President and Managing Director
  • Steve Barker, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer
  • Elizabeth Cook, Vice President for Institutional Strategy and Development
  • Janet Ranganathan, Vice President for Science and Research
  • Lawrence MacDonald, Vice President for Communications
  • Neil Prakash, Director of Human Resources

  • International Offices

  • Rachel Biderman, Brazil
  • Lailai Li, China
  • Kitty Van der Heijden, Europe
  • Nitin Pandit, India
  • Nirarta Samadhi, Indonesia
  • Adriana Lobo, Mexico

  • Programs and Centers

  • Kevin Moss, Business
  • Aniruddha Dasgupta, Holger Dalkmann, Cities & Transport
  • Jennifer Morgan, Pankaj Bhatia, Climate
  • Alex Perera, Energy
  • Helen Mountford, Economics
  • Athena Ballesteros, Finance
  • Craig Hanson, Food, Forests & Water
  • Nigel Sizer, Forests
  • Mark Robinson, Governance
  • Betsy Otto, Water

  • Core Functions

  • Arthur Droe, Controller
  • Michael Oko, Communications

Accountability

WRI continues to meet the highest standards of accountability and use of donor funds, according to the Better Business Bureau, Charity Navigator and Guidestar.

WRI received a #1 ranking for financial transparency in a pioneering global rating led by the NGO Transparify. WRI was one of only two U.S. think tanks to receive a five-star rating. WRI also posts its donors and annual financial statements online for public viewing.

Financial Overview

WRI’s work is made possible through the generosity of a growing number of donors that support WRI's mission, including governments, foundations, international institutions, corporations, individuals and non-governmental organizations. We are fully transparent about our funding sources, annually releasing an independently audited financial statement. One hundred percent of our revenue directly supports our mission.

Statement of Consolidated Activities ($000s)

(At September 30, 2014, with comparative totals for 2013)

Operating Revenues Total 2014 Total 2013
Grants/Contributions $60,152 $42,142
Federal Grants 4,372 3,979
Support from Endowment Income/Others 1,356 1,918
Total Unrestricted Revenues and Other Support 65,880 48,038
Operating Expenses
Program Activities 58,698 41,281
General Administration 4,973 4,332
Development 2,328 2,262
Total Expenses 65,999 47,875
Change in Operating Net Asset (119) 163
Change in Designated Net Asset 147 159
Change in Temporarily Restricted Net Asset 19,266 5,073
Total Change in Net Asset 19,295 5,157
Ending Net Assets 89,309 70,014

Operating Funds

Use of Funds

Join Our Community

EXPLORE

Our free print and online resources provide objective, fact-based analysis of the latest environment and development data and information.  WRI’s blog is a great introduction to our work and covers all our topics.  Check them out on www.wri.org

CONNECT

Our social media sites let you join the conversation about important issues and share ideas and information with your network.

GET INVOLVED

We have several programs especially designed for corporate and individual donors.  

CORPORATE CONSULTATIVE GROUP is a global, cross-industry membership network of companies that engage with WRI experts, drive business value through WRI’s tools and research, and stay up-to-date on cutting-edge intelligence, trends and solutions.

Contact JP Leous: jp.leous@wri.org; 202-729-7874

GLOBAL ADVISORY COUNCIL is an invitation-only group of individuals committed to helping enhance WRI’s profile, resources and effectiveness. At the same time, members gain access to WRI insights, research and analysis.

Contact Rich Barnett: rich.barnett@wri.org; 202-729-7647

SUSTAINERS CIRCLE is a committed group of individuals whose support of $1,000+ helps WRI respond to emerging opportunities, seed new work and invest in innovation.  Members are invited to informative and exciting events and briefings, and receive weekly updates on WRI’s work.

Contact Rich Barnett: rich.barnett@wri.org; 202-729-7647

NEW INNOVATORS COUNCIL taps rising stars who are pioneering public and private sector business models essential to address WRI’s six global challenges. These entrepreneurs challenge our approaches and share provocative ideas to help advance our mission.

Contact Amy D’Avella: amy.davella@wri.org; 202-729-7867

DONATE

We work with governments, companies and civil society to find solutions to urgent environmental challenges, and we rely on the generosity of our donors to help us achieve our results.  To become a partner in our work, visit www.wri.org/donate and make a secure online donation.

STAY UP-TO-DATE

Our weekly WRI Digest email newsletter offers updates on the WRI community.  Sign up at https://www.wri.org/sign-wri-digest.

PS: We have a printable PDF coming soon. To request that a color printed copy be mailed to you, please contact Rich Barnett. RBarnett@WRI.org