Working under one of the founders of NYPIRG, Donald Ross, I helped research environmental groups seeking funding from the Tortuga Foundation. I summarized the organizations and goals, and made recommendations for funding. Below is an example of one of hundreds of proposals.

League of Conservation Voters Education Fund

The League of Conservation Voters Education Fund (LCVEF) is dedicated to nonpartisan advocacy and education on environmental issues. For the last ten years, the Fund has primarily focused on climate change and clean energy issues. Along with its sister organization, the League of Conservation Voters, as well as affiliated environmental groups in individual states, LCVEF promotes increased civic engagement in environmental policy. This includes greater voting participation, particularly from traditionally underrepresented communities.

Background

LCVEF has mobilized action on several policy issues over the last thirty years, including clean air and water, public land use, toxic chemical controls, clean energy, climate threats, and voter participation. Key to its strategies have been partnerships with state and local groups to mobilize activists, volunteers, and voters. In 2015-16, an unprecedented number of public land holdings received protection as a result of President Barack Obama’s aggressive utilization of the Antiquities Act.

Opportunities

Rollbacks of carbon emission regulations and halting clean energy initiatives following the 2016 election has made defending, rather than expanding protections, a priority in 2017 and probably in the years ahead. In this new era, LCVEF’s focus will continue to protect regulations to reduce carbon emissions and continue the shift toward clean, low-cost, renewable energy sources. LCVEF will prioritize ten states where progress on environmental policies is possible in the 2017-18 cycle. LCVEF continues to support ad-hoc environmental and sportsmen’s groups to advocate for clean water policies. LCVEF’s also promotes environmental education and activism within Latino communities to increase participation from new voters and activists.

LCVEF’s partnership with the Everybody Votes Campaign will continue its five-year plan to increase voter registration in communities of color and to expand and educate the electorate.

Budget

The LCVEF’s annual budget for 2016 totals $20, 267,960. Funding comes from a broad segment of the public and many environmentally focused foundations.

Recommendation:

LCVEF has positioned itself to provide crucial education and environmental policy advances in states and cities. Progress on climate change has slowed due to the chaos of the new Administration. However, LCVEF continues to gain in state legislatures. Its efforts to enlarge and inform the electorate will help voters choose pro-environmental candidates.