Change is Simple

Change is Simple (CiS) is a left-of-center education curriculum developer that presents climate-alarmist and environmentalist views to children through educational programs designed to supplement traditional grade school education.

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(3)
Issue Areas: Environmental Policy, Education Policy
Website: www.changeissimple.org
CEO:

Patrick Belmonte

Executive Director:

Lauren Belmonte

Location: Beverly, MA View on map
Tax ID: 45-1463482
Most Recent Filing: 2025
Budget (2025): Assets: $1,560,694 Revenue: $1,392,325 Expenses: $1,371,802

Contents

    Background

    Change is Simple was founded in 2011 with the stated mission of instilling a lifelong commitment to environmentalism through experiential learning. 1 In 2012, the program received the endorsement of then-Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick (D). 2 In 2013 CiS received a $100,000 contribution from the Cummings Foundation, which allowed the organization to begin hiring staff. 2 In 2018, with help from a $100,000 contribution received from the Woodard and Curran Foundation, CiS was able to build a mobile education center. 2

    Finances

    In 2019, Change is Simple received $327,952 in contributions, 3 $436,857 in total revenue, 4 made $525,383 in expenditures, 5 and possessed $451,839 in net assets. 6

    Impact

    In 2019 Change is Simple participated in a three-year study with Northeastern University to evaluate the impact of CiS’s programs. 7

    A 2020 interim report from the study, which evaluated pre-CiS and post-CiS “intervention,” found that student knowledge and passion for topics such as climate change and environmentalism increased after being exposed to the program. 7 The study found that while only a negligible number of students responded “correctly” to questions relating to climate change posed to them prior to the program, students responded “correctly” 85% of the time after the CiS education program. 7 The report also noted an “improved student motivation” to learn more about climate change and environmentalism in school after having participated in the CiS program. 7

    Leadership

    Lauren Belmonte is the executive director of Change is Simple. 8 Prior to joining CiS, Belmonte was an environmental compliance specialist for the Massachusetts State National Guard. 8 Belmonte received a bachelor of science in environmental science from Merrimack College. 8

    Patrick Belmonte is the CEO of CiS. 9 Prior to joining CiS, Belmonte worked in marketing for LEGO, Mullen Advertising, and Westport Communications. 9 Belmonte received a Bachelor of Arts in marketing from Western New England University and is a self-styled “sustainability expert.” 9

    Financial Statistics

    Total Assets

    Total Revenue

    Total Expenses

    YearTotal AssetsTotal RevenueTotal ExpensesFiling
    2025 $1,560,694 $1,392,325 $1,371,802 View
    2023 $1,497,332 $399,789 $432,789 View
    2022 $1,579,365 $639,131 $824,132 View
    2021 $1,533,429 $1,648,558 $590,107 View
    2020 $569,599 $443,372 $525,383 View

    Prior year filings: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014

    Revenue Detail

    Expenses Detail

    Employee Compensation

    • Number of Employees: 28

    Highest Earning Employees

    EmployeeTitleTotal Compensation
    Patrick BelmonteCEO$90,308
    Lauren BelmonteEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$83,405

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $1,935,465
    • Number of Grants: 123
    • Number of Funders: 40

    Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $75,3002022 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $70,0002024 The Robbins-De Beaumont Foundation C/o John K Graham ManagerGENERAL
    $68,6502023 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $60,2002021 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $59,5502020 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $55,0002020 Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust IncUNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT
    $55,0002020 The Devonshire FoundationCHANGE IS SIMPLE'S THREE-YEAR GRANT SUPPORTS THE CREATION OF A TEACHER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, ALLOWING TEACHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO IMPLEMENT ITS INNOVATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION.
    $52,0002023 Donor Advised Charitable Giving, Inc.ENVIRONMENTAL AND ANIMALS
    $50,0002021 The Comcast Nbc Universal Foundation2021 NBCU Project Innovation Grant
    $50,0002020 Tiaa Charitable IncAnnual Suuport
    $35,0002024 Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust IncUNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT
    $34,0002021 The Braitmayer FoundationEmpower teachers to integrate enviromental sustainability and climate science into their classrooms
    $33,3342022 Woodard & Curran FoundationCiS project: trailer to travel to schools and to educate children on environmental topics
    $30,3252024 Donor Advised Charitable Giving, Inc.ENVIRONMENTAL AND ANIMALS
    $30,0002023 Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust IncUNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT
    $29,7702025 Essex County Community FoundationOTHER
    $27,0002024 Van Otterloo Family FoundationCLIMATE EDUCATION
    $25,0002020 National Grid FoundationSCIENCE OF SUSTAINABLITY
    $25,0002024 National Grid FoundationSTEM – EQUITY EDUCATION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
    $25,0002023 National Grid FoundationSTEM – ENERGY EDUCATION
    $25,0002023 Van Otterloo Family FoundationCLIMATE EDUCATION
    $25,0002022 National Grid FoundationSTEM – ENERGY EDUCATION
    $25,0002021 The Devonshire FoundationCHANGE IS SIMPLE'S THREE-YEAR GRANT SUPPORTS THE CREATION OF A TEACHER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, ALLOWING TEACHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO IMPLEMENT ITS INNOVATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION.
    $25,0002021 The Clark R Smith Family Foundation C/o Hemenway & Barnes LLPGeneral & Unrestricted
    $25,0002021 National Grid FoundationSTEM – ENERGY EDUCATION

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    Contact Us

    Financials, employee compensation, and grant information provided by Candid.

    References

    1. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Alliance for Justice. Part I, line 8. 2019.
    2. “History” Change is Simple. https://www.changeissimple.org/history
    3. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Change is Simple. Part I, line 8. 2019.
    4. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Change is Simple. Part I, line 12. 2019.
    5. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Change is Simple. Part I, line 18. 2019.
    6. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Change is Simple. Part I, line 22. 2019.
    7. “Change is Simple Program Evaluation-2020” Change is Simple. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52cdeef1e4b0874a24181252/t/5f7f3f656def3f7fb4a97730/1602174827975/Change+is+Simple+Program+Evaluation+Report+9.29.20+.pdf
    8. “Lauren Belmonte – Staff Bios” Change is Simple. https://www.changeissimple.org/staff-bios
    9. “Patrick Belmonte – Staff Bios” Change is Simple. https://www.changeissimple.org/staff-bios