Motivated by the need for a means to rapidly assess the vulnerability of species to climate change, NatureServe developed a Climate Change Vulnerability Index. The Index uses a scoring system that integrates a species’ predicted exposure to climate change within an assessment area and three sets of factors associated with climate change sensitivity, each supported by published studies: 1) indirect exposure to climate change, 2) species specific factors (including dispersal ability, temperature and precipitation sensitivity, physical habitat specificity, interspecific interactions, and genetic factors), and 3) documented response to climate change. Assessing species with this Index facilitates grouping taxa by their relative risk to climate change, and by sensitivity factors, which we expect will help users to identify adaptation options that could benefit multiple species. Our primary goal for the Index is to provide valuable input for key planning documents, such as revisions of state wildlife action plans, such that climate change impacts can be addressed and integrated with other stressors. Further, we hope that this tool will help land managers develop and prioritize strategies for climate change adaptation that lead to actions that increase the resilience of species to climate change. This document explains the Index, how to use it, and how to interpret the results.