Ken Braun, Senior Investigative Researcher, Capital Research Center | Capital Research Center
Ken Braun, Senior Investigative Researcher, Capital Research Center | Capital Research Center
Greenpeace's "big funders" have the money to cover the $667 million in damages a judge ordered the organization to pay for its involvement in the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, which could prevent the organization from shutting down, according to an analysis by the Capital Research Center (CRC).
A North Dakota jury awarded the $667 million in damages to pipeline owners Energy Transfer in their lawsuit against Greenpeace entities.
In the ruling, Greenpeace was found liable for defamation, trespassing, and civil conspiracy connected with their role during the 2016–2017 protests of the Dakota Access Pipeline construction near Standing Rock Indian Reservation, where the organization was found to have disrupted pipeline construction through coordinating destructive and at times violent demonstrations.
In a piece titled "Bailing Out Greenpeace: Lefty Donors Who Could Pay Up for Dakota Access Damages," CRC Senior Investigative Researcher Ken Braun wrote that 16 known left-wing foundation contributors to the organization have combined assets of roughly $50 billion.
The court ordered that two U.S.-based Greenpeace affiliates are responsible for $535 million of the total judgment—an amount equivalent to a decade of their combined annual revenue, according to Braun.
While Greenpeace argues that the financial hit could force it to shut down, Braun contends that if the group’s wealthy donors genuinely stand behind its mission, they might consider stepping in to cover the amount owed to Energy Transfer.
Greenpeace has announced its intention to appeal the ruling, and has filed motions seeking reduction of damages on grounds they are excessive and exceed statutory caps. The organization contends that this lawsuit is a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) intended to deter activism.
According to CRC's analysis, 14 of the 16 tax-exempt foundations contributing to Greenpeace "continued to write checks to the Greenpeace Fund after 2018, well after the Dakota Access mischief and the filing of lawsuits over same was publicly known." The exceptions were Ford and MacArthur.
Ken Braun is CRC’s senior investigative researcher who authors profiles for InfluenceWatch.org and Capital Research magazine. He previously worked for multiple free market policy organizations and served as chief of staff in Michigan Legislature for six years. Braun also wrote political columns for MLive Media Group and is an alumnus of Michigan State University according to his bio at Capital Research Center.
The table below provides further details regarding financial aspects related specifically towards damage awards:
Greenpeace’s Financial Liability and Donor Overview in Dakota Access Pipeline Damages Case
| Category | Detail / Value |
| Total Damages Awarded to Energy Transfer | $667 million (April 2025) |
| Amount Owed by Greenpeace Fund | $131 million |
| Amount Owed by Greenpeace USA | $404 million |
| Combined Annual Revenue of Greenpeace Fund & USA (approx.) | ~$53.5 million (10 years revenue equals $535 million owed) |
| Greenpeace Fund Revenue Transfer to Greenpeace USA (2015-2023) | $66.6 million (20.3% of Greenpeace USA's total funding) |
| Number of Known Large Donor Foundations | 16 |
| Combined Net Assets of Donor Foundations | At least $50 billion |
| Top 4 Donor Foundations Net Assets (2023) | $43.4 billion (Hewlett, Packard, MacArthur, Ford) |
| Largest Known Donations (2015-2023) | |
| David and Lucile Packard Foundation | $10.7 million |
| Foundation for the Carolinas | $11 million |
| Cabin Road Foundation | $10 million |
| Schmidt Family Foundation | $4 million |
| William and Flora Hewlett Foundation | $5 million |
| Arcus Foundation | $4 million |
| The Goatie Foundation | $7 million |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors | $4 million |
| Grantham Foundation | $4 million |
| Reiman Foundation | $1 million |
| Sustainable Markets Foundation | 919000 |
| Wallace Global Fund | 835000 |
| MacArthur Foundation | 800000 |
| ClimateWorks Foundation | 600000 |
| Panaphil Foundation | 600000 |
| Ford Foundation | 400000 |
| Notable Donor Wealth Sources | Former CEOs (Eric Schmidt), heirs (Rockefeller, Stryker), business titans (Packard, Hewlett, MacArthur, Ford) |
| Donor Funding Continuity | All but Ford and MacArthur continued donations after 2018 |
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