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Non-profit

Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI)

Website:

www.resourcegovernance.org
Location:

New York, NY
Tax ID:

20-4451390
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $10,283,613
Expenses: $11,952,488
Assets: $11,873,299
Type:

Research and Consultant Group
Formation:

2006
President and CEO:

Suneeta Kaimal

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The Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) is a research and advocacy group that claims to work with “resource-rich countries” to develop proposals on meeting future demand for minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel. 1

NRGI receives funding from governments, organizations, and philanthropies. These include the Open Society Foundations, the Climate Emergency Collaboration Group, the ClimateWorks Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Gordon E. and Betty I. Moore Foundation, the Heising-Simons Foundation, the Sequoia Climate Foundation, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. 2 3

Background

The Natural Resource Governance Institute claims to work with “resource-rich countries” in order to develop proposals to meet the demand for transition minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel. The group claims such minerals are needed for “green technologies,” ending dependence on “conventional-fuel extraction,” and revenue management. 4 5

The NRGI has 80 team members based in 19 countries. 6 It works in Chile, Colombia, Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Mexico, Mongolia, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda. 7

Work Areas

The Natural Resource Governance Institute develops and uses resources such as websites, datasets, and tools to assist in its goals. These include the 2021 Resource Governance Index, which provides the status and assessment of resource governance in countries around the world; 8 the National Oil Company Database, and a corruption diagnostic tool in the extractions sector. 9

The NRGI performs research and produces reports, briefings, and blog posts on policy issues including energy transition, environmental and social impacts, anti-corruption and accountability, and taxation and revenue management. 10

The NRGI claims to governments and political parties to “strengthen law-making and oversight of extractive resources and revenues” through training, technical assistance, publications, and networking opportunities. 11

A May 2024 article in the Global Investigative Journalism Network listed resources and reports produced by NRGI including one titled “Covering Extractives” which claimed to discuss the exploration and extraction processes while including “12 red flags showing main corruption risks in the licensing process.” The article also cites the NRGI’s National Oil Company Database, Resource Projects, and Resource Contracts. 12

In September 2024, NRGI chief executive officer (CEO) Suneeta Kaimal participated in a United Nations Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals to develop principles for responsible and fair extraction of minerals needed for “green technologies.” At COP28, governments agreed to triple weather-dependent energy capacity by 2030, which the group claims results in the demand for energy transition minerals such as lithium and nickel to triple. The panel produced a report with guidelines for mining these alternative materials such as incorporating safeguards for nature and sharing the financial benefits with the local community. 13 Several “civil society” organizations issued a statement supporting the report, including the Climate Action Network International, the Natural Resource Governance Institute, the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, and Earthworks. 14

The NRGI co-hosted organized events at Climate Week NYC 2024, which began on September 22, 2024. Such topics discussed include methane emission transparency, the role of national oil companies in the transition away from fossil fuels, and governance for the energy and mining sectors. It is hosted by Climate Group in partnership with the United Nations General Assembly and sponsored by McKinsey, Meta, Google, Apple, the ClimateWorks Foundation, the National Audubon Society, and UNICEF. 15

Funding

The Natural Resource Governance Institute reported 2022 revenues of $10,283,613 and expenses of $11,952,488. 16 It received United States and foreign government grants totaling $4,182,416. 17 It awarded over $3.3 million in grants to foreign organizations, foreign governments, and foreign individuals. 18

The NRGI receives funding from governments, organizations, and philanthropies though it claims not to accept contributions from oil, gas, and mining companies nor their employees. Its list of funders as of September 2024 includes the Climate Emergency Collaboration Group, the ClimateWorks Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Gordon E. and Betty I. Moore Foundation, the Heising-Simons Foundation, Luminate, the Open Society Foundations and the related Open Society Policy Center, the Sequoia Climate Foundation, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. 19

The Open Society Foundations, founded by philanthropist George Soros, has donated several grants to the NRGI totaling $31,950,000 between2016 to 2023. 20 21

Leadership

Suneeta Kaimal has serves as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) since 2021. She earned a master’s of international affairs and human rights from Columbia University and worked for Human Rights Watch. She was a former chair and global council member of Publish What You Pay. She is an envoy for the Open Government Partnership and sits on the advisory council for the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law. Kaimal has been in several roles at the NRGI including chief operating officer and interim president and CEO. 22

Gilbert F. Houngbo is the board chair of the NRGI. A national of the West African country of Togo, Houngbo is the director-general of the International Labour Organization, a United Nations agency that works to set labor standards and policies, and is chair of United Nations Water. He began his career in audit and financial advisory services, moved into roles at the United Nations Development Programme, and served as the Prime Minister of Togo. 23 24 25

Audrey Gaughran is chair of the NRGI’s Advisory Council. She is the executive director of the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO). 26 27 Gaughran earned a master’s degree in human rights from the University of London. She has worked as a human rights and environmental advocate with Amnesty International and several smaller environmentalist organizations. 28 29

References

  1. “About Us.” Natural Resource Governance Institute. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://resourcegovernance.org/about-us
  2. “Awarded Grants – Natural Resource Governance Institute. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?filter_keyword=natural+resource+governance+institute&grant_id=OR2016-28195
  3. “Funders.” Natural Resource Governance Institute. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://resourcegovernance.org/funders
  4. “About Us.” Natural Resource Governance Institute. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://resourcegovernance.org/about-us
  5. 2023 Year in Review. Natural Resource Governance Institute. August 5, 2024. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://resourcegovernance.org/publications/2023-year-in-review
  6. “Working at NRGI.” Natural Resource Governance Institute. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://resourcegovernance.org/working-nrgi
  7. “Where We Work.” Natural Resource Governance Institute. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://development.resourcegovernance.org/where-we-work
  8. “2021 Resource Governance Index.” Natural Resource Governance Institute – Library. December 9, 2021. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://development.resourcegovernance.org/publications/2021-resource-governance-index-collection
  9. “Data and Tools.” Natural Resource Governance Institute. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://development.resourcegovernance.org/data-and-tools
  10. “Library.” Natural Resource Governance Institute. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://development.resourcegovernance.org/library
  11. Strengthening Parliamentary Law-making and Oversight of the Oil, Gas and Mining Sectors.” Natural Resource Governance Institute. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://development.resourcegovernance.org/sites/default/files/documents/strenghtening-law-making-brochre.pdf
  12. “Covering the Extractive Industries.” Global Investigative Journalism Network. May 13, 2024. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://gijn.org/resource/covering-the-extractive-industries/
  13.  Sebastian Rodriguez. “The UN Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals launches principles to guide responsible, fair extraction of minerals for green value chains.” Climate Home News. September 12, 2024. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://www.climatechangenews.com/2024/09/12/human-rights-must-be-at-the-core-of-mining-for-transition-minerals-un-panel-says/
  14. “Civil society statement on the publication of the UN Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals report.” Publish What You Pay. September 11, 2024. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://pwyp.org/cso-statement-unsg-panel-report/
  15. “Sponsors and Partners.” Climate Week NYC. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://www.climateweeknyc.org/sponsors-and-partners
  16. Natural Resource Governance Institute. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part I). 2022.
  17. Natural Resource Governance Institute. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part VIII). 2022.
  18. Natural Resource Governance Institute. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part IX). 2022.
  19. “Funders.” Natural Resource Governance Institute. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://resourcegovernance.org/funders
  20. Peter Kellner. “George Soros.” Britannica Money. Updated August 15, 2024. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/money/George-Soros
  21. “Awarded Grants – Natural Resource Governance Institute. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?filter_keyword=natural+resource+governance+institute&grant_id=OR2016-28195
  22. LinkedIn – Suneeta Kaimal. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeta-kaimal-a788741/
  23. “Oversight.” Natural Resource Governance Institute. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://development.resourcegovernance.org/oversight
  24. “Gilbert F. Houngbo.” Natural Resource Governance Institute. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://development.resourcegovernance.org/person/gilbert-f-houngbo
  25. LinkedIn – Gilbert F. Houngbo. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilbert-f-houngbo-39709028b/
  26. “Audrey Gaughran.” Natural Resource Governance Institute. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://development.resourcegovernance.org/person/audrey-gaughran
  27. Somo home page. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://www.somo.nl/
  28. “Audrey Gaughran.” SOMO – About Us – Team. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://www.somo.nl/person/audrey-gaughran/
  29. LinkedIn – Audrey Gaughran. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/audreygaughran/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: January 1, 2007

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2022 Dec Form 990 $10,283,613 $11,952,488 $11,873,299 $3,048,157 N $10,273,273 $0 $2,385 $683,814 PDF
    2021 Dec Form 990 $9,018,187 $11,294,453 $12,928,016 $2,349,926 N $9,015,002 $0 $3,185 $686,390
    2020 Dec Form 990 $16,040,831 $10,932,421 $14,008,744 $1,142,647 N $16,002,354 $3,038 $2,771 $762,111
    2019 Dec Form 990 $12,651,850 $13,214,015 $9,346,807 $1,619,824 N $12,559,829 $79,012 $1,573 $836,921 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $16,664,447 $16,219,003 $10,258,903 $1,755,771 Y $16,317,552 $340,337 $1,531 $686,766 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $17,171,811 $18,571,271 $10,246,262 $2,176,748 N $16,756,582 $404,553 $1,485 $946,526 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $15,028,331 $18,480,682 $11,564,927 $2,095,953 N $14,359,858 $667,238 $1,235 $919,524 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $22,437,979 $17,857,118 $14,445,718 $1,524,393 N $21,983,491 $451,688 $425 $888,479 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $14,419,625 $16,628,941 $10,275,300 $1,934,836 N $14,103,128 $196,543 $25 $605,291 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $21,572,461 $13,658,155 $12,599,446 $2,049,666 N $21,342,732 $224,729 $0 $0 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $10,582,393 $13,809,050 $6,570,936 $3,935,462 N $10,131,135 $450,545 $713 $0 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $12,989,976 $13,388,108 $7,945,928 $2,083,797 N $12,738,047 $224,303 $2,976 $0 PDF
    2010 Dec Form 990 $10,597,577 $10,719,142 $8,400,680 $2,140,417 N $10,495,803 $62,500 $5,804 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI)


    New York, NY