Students for Carbon Dividends (S4CD) is a nominally right-leaning group formed in 2018 to advocate for center-left policies, most prominently a carbon tax. The group is particularly focused on persuading young conservatives and Republicans to support its global warming agenda.

S4CD’s board of directors includes Ted Halstead, a liberal political activist and prominent carbon tax supporter whose think tank, the Climate Leadership Council (CLC), also supports a carbon tax and dividend policy. ¹ According to its 2018 IRS Form 990 filing, S4CD lobbied for “bipartisan climate action” in support of the so-called Baker-Shultz Carbon Dividends Plan created by CLC. ²

Leadership

In 2018, S4CD’s board of directors consisted of president Alexander Posner, an undergraduate student; board member Ted Halstead, president of the liberal Climate Leadership Council; and board member and vice president Kiera O’Brien, an undergraduate student. ³

Funding

In 2018, S4CD reported total revenues of $150,100, all of which originated in grants from other, unnamed organizations. The group reported total expenditures of $42,252, all of which was paid as fees to independent contractors, and net assets of $107,848. ⁴

Financial Documents

S4CD’s 2018 IRS Form 990 filing is available here.

1. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-EZ). Students for Carbon Dividends Inc. Part IV (List of Officers, Directors, etc.).
2. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-EZ). Students for Carbon Dividends Inc. Schedule O: Part III.

   From the Form 990: “Primary exempt purpse cont. — specifically the Baker-Shultz Carbon Dividends Plan — into the national spotlight and open the door to bipartisan climate action.”

3. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-EZ). Students for Carbon Dividends Inc. Part IV (List of Officers, Directors, etc.).
4. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-EZ). Students for Carbon Dividends Inc. Part I. Lines 1, 9, 13, 17, 21.