The Global Change Data Lab is an England-based nonprofit organization that was created in 2018 as the “base” for Our World in Data, a left-of-center program created by GCDL’s founder and executive director, Max Roser. ¹

Global Change Data Lab receives most of its revenue from private grantmaking foundations and individual donors including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Quadrature Climate Foundation, the World Health Organization, and the United Kingdom Government’s Department of Health and Social Care. ²

Background

The Global Change Data Lab (GCDL) is a nonprofit research organization based in Oxford, England. The organization focuses on publishing research and data on global living conditions and the environment. ³

GCDL was founded in 2018 as a “base” for Our World in Data, a left-of-center program created by GCDL’s founder and executive director, Max Roser. Our World in Data compiles and publishes left-of-center research and data on issues across the world including education, population, health issues, environmentalism, issues of war, and human rights. ⁴

The Global Change Data Lab created Our World in Data in collaboration with the Oxford Martin Programme on Global Development at the University of Oxford in England. ⁵

Financials

Global Change Data Lab receives revenue from government and intergovernmental agencies, private grantmaking foundations, and individual donors. According to the Charity Commission for England and Wales, GCDL had a total revenue of approximately $2.31 million in 2020, with nearly 100% of that being in the form of donations and contributions. The commission also notes that GCDL received around $342,580 from government grants. ⁶

GCDL had expenses that amounted to a total of approximately $550,150, nearly 100% of which was used for “charitable expenditures.” The organization also spent around $7,440 on “governance.” ⁷

GCDL notes on its website that it is supported by donations from “several thousand readers” of the Our World in Data publication. It also notes that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Quadrature Climate Foundation, World Health Organization, and the United Kingdom Government’s Department of Health and Social Care have all financially supported the Global Change Data Lab. ⁸

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Gates Foundation) is a left-of-center private grantmaking foundation that had a total asset value of nearly $48 billion (as of year-end 2018) making it the largest private philanthropic foundation in the world. ⁹

The Gates Foundation committed a $1 million grant to the Global Change Data Lab in September 2019, to provide “general operating support” in order to increase “content outputs related to global health and development.” The foundation also provided GCDL with just over $1.5 million in a single grant in November 2021, to “strengthen provision of capacity and tools for media organizations to be more effective in the implementation of data storytelling.” ^{10 11}

Our World in Data notes on its website that it has received funding from German billionaire Susanne Klatten, who is noted to have an estimated net worth of over $22 billion as of early August 2022; ¹² the Centre for Effective Altruism; and the Nuffield Foundation. It also lists various “sponsors” that have made contributions to Our World in Data. These “sponsors” include the Musk Foundation, the Pritzker Innovation Fund, and the Camp Foundation. Our World in Data’s website also notes that it has received donations from more than 4,000 people since 2019. ¹³

1. “About.” Our World in Data. Accessed July 11, 2022. https://ourworldindata.org/about.
2. “Home.” Global Change Data Lab. Accessed July 11, 2022. https://global-change-data-lab.org/.
3. Home.” Global Change Data Lab. Accessed July 11, 2022. https://global-change-data-lab.org/.
4. “About.” Our World in Data. Accessed July 11, 2022. https://ourworldindata.org/about.
5. “Home.” Global Change Data Lab. Accessed July 11, 2022. https://global-change-data-lab.org/.
6. “GLOBAL CHANGE DATA LAB – Charity 1186433.” The Charity Commission. Accessed July 11, 2022. register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5140507/financial-history.
7. “GLOBAL CHANGE DATA LAB – Charity 1186433.” The Charity Commission. Accessed July 11, 2022. register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5140507/financial-history.
8. “Home.” Global Change Data Lab. Accessed July 11, 2022. https://global-change-data-lab.org/.
9. Schwencke, Ken. “BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION – Form Form 990-PF for period ending Dec 2018 – ProPublica.” Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed July 11, 2022. projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/562618866/01_2020_prefixes_56-58/562618866_201812_990PF_2020012317060344.
10. Global Change Data Lab.” Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. September 12, 2019. Accessed July 11, 2022. www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2019/09/opp1216284.
11. “Global Change Data Lab.” Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. November 2, 2021. Accessed July 11, 2022. www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2021/11/inv025173.
12. “Susanne Klatten.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine. Accessed August 4, 2022. https://www.forbes.com/profile/susanne-klatten/?sh=3b8ad37436b4.
13. “Funding.” Our World In Data. Accessed July 11, 2022. https://ourworldindata.org/funding.