Philanthropedia - Sierra Club nonprofit profile

Natural Resources Defense Council
Pew Center on Global Climate Change
World Resources Institute
Union of Concerned Scientists
Environmental Defense Fund
Sierra Club
Energy Action Coalition
Alliance for Climate Protection
League of Conservation Voters
ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA
World Wildlife Fund
National Wildlife Federation
Nature Conservancy
1Sky
Greenpeace

See all

Learn more about the Climate Change Top Performing Nonprofits:

Climate Change: Sierra Club

Mission: The Sierra Club's mission is to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; To practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; To educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.

BASIC INFORMATION	EXPERT ASSESSMENT	BENEFICIARY REVIEW

Basic Information
Social Cause: Climate Change
Issue Area: Climate Change

Year Founded: 1892
Problem

We are facing the consequences of relying on oil. Six of the last eight years were the hottest on record. Polar ice and glaciers are disappearing, sea levels are rising, coral reefs are suffering, plant and animal species are disappearing. And the wilderness areas and wildlife the Sierra Club has worked so effectively to protect for more than a century are being threatened and lost.
Solution

Working with some of the world's top climate scientists, engineers and energy experts, the Sierra Club developed a Climate Recovery Agenda --a set of initiatives to cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, create a clean energy economy, and protect our natural heritage, communities, and country from the consequences of global warming.
Impact

$40 million funding Helped grassroots activists achieve their fundraising goals.

Green Homes: The Sierra Club Foundation partnered with Homes for Our Troops, expanding the number of green homes for veterans and their families.
Financial Breakdown

Expenses Breakdown

Program Expenses : 26081905
Administrative Expenses: 1014675
Fundraising Expenses: 2771361
Charity Navigator Profile
Contact Information

Website: http://www.sierraclub.org
Email: information@sierraclub.org
Phone: 415-977-5500

The contents of this page are primarily from this nonprofit organization's website. The views expressed on this page are those of this organization and not necessarily those of Philanthopedia.

SummaryLearn more about these experts>>

Summary: Climate Change experts believe that Sierra Club is the most effective grassroots organization in this field. They have an amazing ability to mobilize huge numbers of citizens to push for change. Their greatest success was in using litigation to close down all coal-fired power plants. At the same time, some experts believe that Sierra Club should be more thoughtful about the research that goes into the work they do and be more pragmatic about the partnerships they form. Additionally, because they have a high level of activity at the local level, they should find ways coordinate their efforts to do the most good.

Strengths

Preeminent Grassroots Organizer

"Sierra Club has the most strategically organized grassroots operation in existence."
"It has the structure to marshal thousands of grassroots individuals with credibility in their communities."
"They have a great public reach."
"They do effective grassroots mobilization."
"They can mobilize significant numbers of people."
"They have an excellent track record of motivating its members to bring the issue to local city councils and legislatures."
"They are the strongest grassroots organization."
"Sierra Club works on the grassroots level, helping motivated people take action to reduce their emissions and to influence their communities to reduce emissions."
"By working with local volunteers to determine its positions, they do real grassroots action which can reflect some good thinking on what to do."
"They have a very effective reach and mobilization capacity."

Particular Successes

"Their litigation campaign against coal has been the single most effective climate strategy this decade."
"It has used litigation very effectively to stop coal-fired power plants."
"With collaboration and leadership on litigation they stopped coal plants."
"They have a fantastic record on preservation issues."

Other

"They do strong policy work and lobbying."
"I like Earthjustice and its litigation strategy."
"They have political clout."
"They are tough and creative."
"They have an international reach plus a strong education focus."
"They should be less brand conscious and more collegial."

Areas for Improvement

Build Expertise

"Sierra Club could use more depth in the policy analysis department."
"They should connect more mindfully with academics around the country."
"They should place more emphasis on crafting solutions."
"They should increase their issue expertise."

Be More Pragmatic

"They should not be wedded to partnerships that don't truly forward the climate agenda."
"They should be more pragmatic."
"It must take a more aggressive position regarding climate change legislation and specifically the Clean Air Act preemption."

Coordinate Efforts

"They should engage with the internet more to caucus chapters and link thinking to build a national movement that is in harmony."
"Because they are locally-managed, there seems to be less central oversight of endorsements and community-level positions than is desirable."
"They should increase their linkage to policy and form a better communication strategy."

Keep Working On…

"Sierra Club should further its lobbying focus."
"Sierra Club should broaden its political base."
"They should continue to collaborate with other groups."

The views expressed on this page are those of each individual expert and not necessarily those of Philanthopedia. Note that each quote represents the views of just one person and may not reflect the sentiments of the entire group. We do not disclose the names of the experts who gave each comment to protect their anonymity

Support a social cause, view Expert Mutual Fund

Climate Change Expert Mutual Fund

Education Expert Mutual Fund

Microfinance Expert Mutual Fund

Bay Area Climate Change Mutual Fund

Bay Area Homelessness Expert Mutual Fund