Every April, environmental activists around the world honor our planet through April 22^nd Earth Day celebrations and environmental action. Now in its 51^st year, Earth Day also inspires environmental supporters to reflect on pressing environmental concerns of our time – including climate change, clean air and water, and environmental justice – among others. In fact, according to Giving USA, giving to environmental and animal organizations is more popular than ever, with six consecutive years of growth in giving to the subsector. Giving to environment and animal organizations is estimated to have increased 11.3% between 2018 and 2019, to a total of $14.16 billion. If you are looking to support environmental causes this month, BBB’s Give.org urges you to give thoughtfully by taking time to learn more about charities before donating. Below is a list of environmental charities that have already been vetted by Give.org and have been found to meet high standards of charity accountability. Whether you want to help protect our oceans, forests, wildlife, or future generations, these are charities you can trust.

In recognition of the diversity of programs among environmental charities, BBB’s Give.org has produced a more detailed Environmental Cause page that provides a description of major categories of environmental activities along with links to recent articles about some of the BBB Accredited charities listed below

Nationally-soliciting BBB Accredited Environmental Charities (i.e., meet all 20 BBB Charity Standards for Charity Accountability):

1% for the Planet
Alaska Wilderness League
American Rivers
American Bird Conservancy
Animal Legal Defense Fund
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Big Life Foundation USA
Center for Watershed Protection
Ceres
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Conservation Fund
Defenders of Wildlife
Ducks Unlimited
Earth Island Institute
Earthjustice
Earthworks
Food and Water Watch
Friends of the Earth
Galapagos Conservancy
International Rivers
Land Trust Alliance
National Arbor Day Foundation
National Audubon Society
National Environmental Education and Training Foundation
National Park Trust
National Parks Conservation Association
National Wildlife Federation
Nature Conservancy
NumbersUSA Education and Research Foundation
Ocean Conservancy
Pandas international
Planet Aid
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Rainforest Action Network
Sierra Club Foundation
Student Conservation Association
Union of Concerned Scientists  
Waterkeeper Alliance
The Wilderness Society
Wildlands Conservancy
World Resources Institute
World Wildlife Fund
Yosemite Conservancy

Video of the Week

On a separate note, as part of our Building Trust Video Series we are pleased to provide a video that features Jim Stofan, Senior Vice President, Operations, Defenders of Wildlife (a BBB Accredited Charity.) Defenders of Wildlife works to protect and restore imperiled species throughout North America by transforming policies and institutions and promoting solutions. Defenders promotes the conservation and restoration of North America’s vulnerable species through habitat preservation and restoration on public lands, secures greater wildlife conservation funding, and defends and strengthens wildlife and public land management laws and policies.

Finally, remember to let us know by going to give.org/charity-inquiry if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.

H. Art Taylor, President & CEO
BBB Wise Giving Alliance