The Top Environmental Groups You Should Know

Many people are wondering what they can do to have a positive impact on the environment. People are scared about the future of our public lands, climate change, survival of wildlife and so much more! The truth is…so are the nonprofits and environmental groups working in these areas, and they need YOUR HELP now more than ever.

In response, we wanted to share a list of some of our favorite environmental non-profits and organizations that are doing amazing work around our country and the globe. It’s humbling to see the sheer volume of groups working together for the greater good.

These environmental groups – both big and small, local and national – need YOUR support in protecting our natural resources and ensuring sustainability for our own and for future generations. If you’re looking to brush up on the important environmental issues or to make a difference by donating and/or volunteering your time, these environmental organizations are a great place to start. We invite you to share this list with fellow outdoor friends, and know that together we can drive positive change.

Also, in this list, we mostly focus on national groups, but there are smaller environmental non-profits all over the country that are tackling local issues that are equally important. We encourage you to do some research and find the organizations doing work in your community and see how you can support their efforts.

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Here are some of the top environmental groups in the U.S. that you should know about. We encourage you to get involved and support them if you can!

National Park Groups

National Park Foundation

As the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, the National Park Foundation raises funds to protect and enhance our National Parks for present and future generations. From preserving hiking trails, restoring land, highlighting women, and raising awareness around African American history in our National Parks, their work is essential in helping people across the country – and the globe – connect to nature in some of the most beautiful places in the U.S.

National Parks Conservation Association

Our National Parks recently celebrated 100 years as stewards in protecting our nation’s most cherished natural and cultural resources. The National Parks Conservation Association has been around since 1919 and is one of the lead environmental groups advocating for National Park funding, good public policy, and education regarding the benefits of our National Parks. This is more important now than ever as more people are heading outside and looking to explore the beauty of our National Parks.

National Park Service Programs

Looking to support one specific area or make a difference in your community? The National Park Service works in counties across the U.S. to help communities preserve history and create local recreational opportunities. Learn more about how NPS helps communities and how you can get involved here.

Land Preservation Groups

The Wilderness Society

Whether you live in a sprawling urban city or in the country, we know land is a hot commodity and preserving it for wildlife and outdoor enjoyment takes rallying funds and community voice. The Wilderness Society advocates for new monuments and wilderness designations. They fight back when there are bills introduced in Congress to sell off our public lands or dismantle the 1964 Wilderness Act. From the Arctic to the Colorado Plateau to the Southern Appalachians, their footprint of work is strong. 

Sierra Club

Many are familiar with the Sierra Club, a grassroots environmental organization working to defend everyone’s right to a healthy world. They encourage politicians to protect land, air, water, wildlife, and people, and to curb climate change. You can become a member, donate, sign petitions, volunteer, and explore volunteer-led tours and treks as well as local outings to help people get outside.

The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. Founded in 1951, it’s one of the largest, most effective, and wide-reaching environmental organizations out there. They currently do conservation work in 70+ countries to support the protection of wildlife and their habitat and have protected more than 125 million acres of land. They also offer opportunities with partner organizations to volunteer and provide digital resources to educators to bring into the classroom. 

The Conservation Fund

Another important and effective environmental group that focuses on protecting land in all 50 states is The Conservation Fund. It has protected over 8 million acres of land and water since 1985. In addition to conserving and protecting land across the U.S., The Conservation Fund awards grants to community organizations to strengthen local economies and has created thousands of jobs in underserved communities.

The Trust for Public Lands

the Trust for Public Lands works in a community-driven process that includes local farmers and ranchers to develop conservation plans resulting in new areas set aside for public enjoyment. They create parks and open spaces for communities to enjoy, something we need more of as more people are looking to get outside.

Outdoor Access, Recreation & Trail Groups

Student Conservation Association

The Student Conservation Association is working to empower our newest generation of leaders, rangers, and park stewards. 70% of their alumni are working in careers as adults to make the planet more sustainable. Over 160,000 youth have been educated and engaged in the movement to save our planet through the SCA.

American Hiking Society

Love hiking and being outdoors? Why not volunteer and see what it’s like to be on a trail crew. The American Hiking Society has a directory of volunteer trail crews so you can find one near you. If you are interested in long distance “thru-hiking” the Pacific Crest Trail or Appalachian Trail, get involved with their respective organizations and support the sustainability and longevity of the trails. 

The Access Fund

More into ropes and climbing? We’ve got a great non-profit for you! The Access Fund works to purchase private land for public rock climbing use, while educating and training climbers on minimizing their impact. One in five climbing areas in the US is currently threatened by an access issue. Help reduce the threat so more can get outside climbing.

Environmental Justice Organizations

Communities for a Better Environment

Communities for a Better Environment (CBE) is working for environmental justice in low-income communities and communities of color by preventing and reducing pollution and building green, healthy and sustainable communities and environments. They provide residents with organizing skills, resources, and training so they can successfully stand up for their well-being.

Center for Diversity and the Environment

The Center for Diversity and the Environment (CDE) is racially and ethnically diversifying the environmental movement by building bridges between communities of color and the environmental community as a whole. They are creating an equitable, inclusive, and diverse coalition of people working together to transform the U.S. environmental movement.

Got Green Seattle

Got Green Seattle is a grassroots organization doing important work fighting for environmental, racial, and economic justice in low-income communities. They help improve access to healthy food, come together to advocate for climate justice, and fight for a green economy.

>> For organizations working to expand outdoor access to people of color and low income youth, see this list of groups working to advance diversity outdoors.

Wildlife Conservation Organizations

World Wildlife Fund

The World Wildlife Fund is a leading wildlife conservation organization that works in nearly 100 countries. They work with local communities to conserve natural resources, shift to more sustainable practices, and protect and restore endangered species and their habitats.

Conservation International

Conservation International, as the name implies, is an international conservation organization that works to empower people to protect nature. They have projects in the Amazon, Indonesia, Africa, China, the Pacific Ocean, and more. Their main focus is on protecting nature to halt climate change as well as protecting our oceans, lands, and waters in order to ultimately protect humanity.

Defenders of Wildlife

Defenders of Wildlife are intimately involved in endangered species issues and writing legislation to protect wildlife. They also do public outreach and fight legal battles pertaining to critical wildlife habitat and dwindling populations.

The Audubon Society

Interested in the wildlife in your backyard? One of the best parts of the Audubon Society is that you can get involved in local chapters across the nation to make a difference in your hometown. Audubon focuses specifically on birds – and you can help by searching their database of native vegetation that support birds and planting those at your home. 

The National Wildlife Federation

The National Wildlife Federation is currently working to help wildlife in areas affected significantly by global warming, and they are also working to plant native trees and implement state wildlife action plans. Looking to get younger nature lovers involved in conservation? Check out their Ranger Rick award-winning nature magazine for kids!

Ocean Conservation Organizations

The 5 Gyres Institute

The 5 Gyres Institute’s slogan says it simply, “More Ocean, Less Plastic”. They work to empower action towards reducing and eliminating plastic pollution through science, art, education and adventure. You might be wondering what a “gyre” even is? It is simply an ocean current, but their name refers to the main subtropical gyres in the North and South Pacific, the North and South Atlantic, and the Indian Ocean – areas of the ocean where plastic trash accumulates. They also offer a great plastic-free shopping guide as well!

Surfrider Foundation

The Surfrider Foundation works in local communities to ensure we have clean water, healthy oceans, coastlines and accessible beaches for all. Don’t live near the coast? There are chapter sites in multiple inland cities like Chicago, Minneapolis, Charlotte, Atlanta, and so many other places! 

The Ocean Conservancy

Every September, The Ocean Conservancy organizes the annual International Coastal Cleanup, where people from all over the globe come together to pick up trash off our beaches and waterways. In 2019, over 20 million pounds were collected. And that’s just one way they’re fighting for trash free seas.

SeaLegacy

A newer organization founded by biologists and conservation photographers Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier, SeaLegacy is working to improve and protect the health and sustainability of our oceans. Their expeditions capture the beauty and reveal the threats facing our oceans and are used to spread the word through media campaigns that raise awareness and drive change. They also amplify important projects working to protect the oceans and marine life across the world.

Healthy Rivers & Water Supply Groups

Waterkeeper’s Alliance

The Waterkeeper Alliance is the largest and fastest growing environmental group that is solely focused on the fight for clean water—water that is swimmable, drinkable and fishable. They also work in areas affected by large scale farming and other industrial practices. They have over 300 chapters worldwide with many in the U.S., making it easy to get involved.

American Rivers

American Rivers works on wild-free running rivers, removing dams, and restoring damaged rivers. They also have taken a stake in the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock. They recently celebrated 25 years of national river clean-ups across the country that have removed more than 25 million pounds of litter and debris–sign up to host or volunteer at a local clean-up!

Save Our Wild Salmon

As a nationwide coalition of public and private organization, Save Our Wild Salmon is working to restore self-sustaining and harvestable populations. They are gaining momentum in removing four dams on the lower Snake River in order to restore the Pacific Northwest’s wild salmon, a vital economic engine for local communities.

Climate Change Organizations

Protect Our Winters

Ready to hit the ski slopes this winter? So are we! That’s why we love Protect Our Winters, which is working to mobilize the snowsports community against climate change. Take the pledge to join their POW Seven initiative which offers the seven most effective ways to make a difference towards climate change and sustainability for the future.

Union of Concerned Scientists

The Union of Concerned Scientists performs important research on climate change and breaks down those results so non-scientists can understand.  They also offer an awesome toolkit for those looking to get involved with advocacy work, from tips on writing and calling policymakers, getting media to cover events, and raising issues at public meetings – so your actions can have the biggest impact. 

350.org

350 org is a great way to connect with other advocates in your community in order to build a collective voice. Their focus is on standing up to the fossil fuel industry which includes protesting against new fossil fuel development and offshore drilling.

Citizens Climate Lobby

Citizens Climate Lobby is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy climate change organization focused on national policies to address climate change. They empower everyday people to work together on climate policy and build support in Congress for national bipartisan solutions to climate change.

Environmental Advocacy Groups

Environmental Defense Fund

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) began as a group of scientists and lawyers determined to fight for the environment back in the ’60s and is now a leading environmental advocacy organization. Guided by science, EDF is committed to solving some of our biggest global challenges in ways that benefit both people and the planet.

Natural Resources Defense Council

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) stands up for the environment much like EDF. They work to defend our right to clean air, clean water, healthy communities, and wild places. Their website is full of easy ways to take action including signing petitions along with resources to help you learn about important issues.

Earth Justice

Earth Justice is a professional group of lawyers that takes on important environmental cases free of charge. They represented the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in their fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline, stopped a coal mine in an indigenous community in Alaska, and are fighting for clean air and water and to stop the use of toxic pesticides.

Local Environmental Groups

Looking to specifically support your local environmental group? Some of our favorites out West are:

Sierra Nevada Alliance

The Sierra Nevada Alliance brings together 85 conservation-focused member groups to protect and restore natural resources while promoting sustainable communities. Volunteer and intern programs (in Truckee, CA) are also available to support them!

Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance

As Utah’s only full-time, environmental non-profit organization, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, fights detrimental initiatives to sell away Utah’s public lands that are being considered in Congress. They are also fighting to protect the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante areas and working to pass the Red Rock Wilderness Act.

Rocky Mountain Field Institute

Rocky Mountain Field Institute gets volunteers out on the ground for trail restoration in Southern Colorado. They also offer single-day and multi-day experiential education programs for youth and fund research on restoration and erosion control.

California Wilderness Coalition

The California Wilderness Coalition is currently working on a variety of campaigns to designate and expand conservation and protected lands. Their goal is to protect existing and create new wilderness areas and wild and scenic rivers. Visit their “Action Center” to join the fight by signing petitions and emailing national leaders.

Not out West? Or looking for an environmental group more specific to your zip code or something you are more passionate about?

Patagonia Action Works has an awesome environmental grant program and has a map with all of their grantees on their website. If you are looking for a local environmental group near your home to donate to or volunteer with, this directory will give you a lot of pre-vetted options. Just enter your zip code and narrow your search results to “Environmental Grantees.”

You can do the same with Jack Johnson’s Ohana Foundation, which also supports local environmental initiatives and organizations. On their directory you can search for organizations that are working towards “Environmental Education”, “Oceans and Watersheds”, “Renewable Energy” and more!

What’s your favorite way to support the environment and conservation? What awesome environmental groups are we missing that are doing important work?