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Natural Resources Defense Council
| Natural Resources Defense Council | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | New York, New York |
| Type: | 501(c)(3) |
| Top official: | Rhea Suh, President |
| Founder(s): | James Gustave Speth, Richard Ayres, John H. Adams, John Bryson, Edward Strohbehn |
| Year founded: | 1970 |
| Website: | Official website |
| Promoted policies | |
| Environmental protection | |
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in New York, New York, that aims to advocate for policies that support and protect the environment. NRDC works to promote initiatives at the local, state, national and global levels. Supporters consider the group to be "the nation's most effective environmental action organization."[1]
Mission
The Natural Resources Defense Council website provides the following mission statement:
| “ | The Natural Resources Defense Council's purpose is to safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends.
We work to restore the integrity of the elements that sustain life -- air, land and water -- and to defend endangered natural places. We seek to establish sustainability and good stewardship of the Earth as central ethical imperatives of human society. NRDC affirms the integral place of human beings in the environment. We strive to protect nature in ways that advance the long-term welfare of present and future generations. We work to foster the fundamental right of all people to have a voice in decisions that affect their environment. We seek to break down the pattern of disproportionate environmental burdens borne by people of color and others who face social or economic inequities. Ultimately, NRDC strives to help create a new way of life for humankind, one that can be sustained indefinitely without fouling or depleting the resources that support all life on Earth.[2] |
” |
History
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) was founded in 1970 by lawyers James Gustave Speth, Richard Ayres, John H. Adams, John Bryson and Edward Strohbehn as a nonprofit environmental law firm aimed at protecting the environment from "the forces of pollution and corporate greed."[4] The group was founded with a focus on litigation, but has since expanded its wheelhouse to include research and public policy. In 1996, the NRDC established the NRDC Action Fund, an affiliated 501(c)(4), which enabled the group to increase its lobbying activities and influence legislation. The organization expanded its international outreach with the opening of its Beijing office in 2006. NRDC also works internationally by partnering with organizations in Canada, Latin America and India.[5]
Today, NRDC has a staff of roughly 500 professionals ranging from researchers and scientists to lawyers and policy experts.[4] In addition, NRDC has the support of two million members and online activists to help advance their policy priorities.[1][5] NRDC works to advocate for its policy goals from the local level to the global stage with offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Beijing.[4] Over the years, the organization has successfully advocated for a number of environmental policy victories and is recognized as "one of the nation's most powerful environmental groups."[4]
Work
Since its formation in 1970, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has achieved countless legal, legislative and policy victories. Some of NRDC's greatest accomplishments include:
| Key NRDC accomplishments[5][6][7] |
|---|
|
NRDC works in support of the EPA's Clean Power Plan and advocates in favor of the development of renewable energy technology. The organization also promotes several initiatives to preserve the oceans such as combatting overfishing, preventing commercial whaling, curbing plastic pollution and fighting rising marine carbon dioxide levels. In addition, NRDC works to improve the policies of the Wildlife Services' predator control program and advocates on behalf of species such as the gray wolf, bison and grizzly bears. In order to protect consumer health, the organization supports sustainable food innovations, safe water techniques and the removal of dangerous toxins from the home. NRDC also supports the development of sustainable communities to increase urban efficiency and improve quality of life.[8]
NRDC works with businesses and industries to adopt green innovations and decrease environmental impacts. Notably, NRDC has worked with sports leagues to introduce environmental practices into stadiums and arenas. The organization has also partnered with the entertainment industry to bring green innovations to awards shows, such as the Grammy Awards and the Academy Awards.[9]
2016 presidential endorsement
✓ The NRDC Action Fund, a political affiliate of the National Resources Defense Council, endorsed Hillary Clinton for the Democratic primary in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.[10]
- See also: Endorsements for Hillary Clinton
Policy scope
The Natural Resources Defense Council's primary policy goals include fighting climate change, promoting clean energy, restoring the oceans, protecting endangered species and our remaining wilderness, eliminating pollution, safeguarding our water supply and supporting the development of sustainable communities. In addition to these priorities, the organization is engaged in work concerning agriculture practices, environmental justice, nuclear energy, recycling, transportation and international environmental solutions.[4]
Leadership
The president of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is Rhea Suh. Prior to NRDC, Suh worked at the U.S. Department of the Interior, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.[11]
Board of trustees officers
- Daniel R. Tishman, Chair
- Frederick A.O. Schwarz, Jr., Chair emeritus
- Max Stone , Vice chair
- Alan F. Horn, Vice chair
- Wendy K. Neu, Vice chair
- Mary Moran, Treasurer[12]
Finances
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) receives the bulk of its financial support from individual members, foundation grants and major donor contributions. In fiscal year 2014, the organization spent 83.6 percent of its revenue on program expenditures, 8.9 percent on fundraising support and 7.5 percent on operations.[13]
| Annual revenue and expenses for NRDC, 2010-2014[14][15] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tax Year | Total Revenue | Total Expenses |
| 2014 | $155,192,637 | $126,749,686 |
| 2013 | $121,617,764 | $115,764,382 |
| 2012 | $115,962,571 | $102,445,255 |
| 2011 | $98,701,707 | $104,264,845 |
| 2010 | $97,057,964 | $98,131,710 |
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Natural Resources Defense Council. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 NRDC.org, "About NRDC: who we are," accessed August 25, 2015
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ NRDC.org, "About NRDC: mission statement," accessed August 25, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 NRDC.org, "About NRDC: the NRDC story," accessed August 25, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Environment & Energy Publishing, "From legal mavericks to inside policy players," December 12, 2013
- ↑ The Huffington Post, "NRDC's greatest accomplishments over the years," November 11, 2011
- ↑ About NRDC: victories," accessed August 27, 2015
- ↑ NRDC.org, "Issues," accessed August 26, 2015
- ↑ NRDC.org, "Businesses," accessed August 26, 2015
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Major environmental group makes first ever endorsement of Hillary Clinton," May 31, 2016
- ↑ NRDC.org, "NRDC Leadership," accessed August 25, 2015
- ↑ NRDC.org, "About us: Board of trustees," accessed August 25, 2015
- ↑ NRDC.org, "Annual Report 2014," accessed August 27, 2015
- ↑ GuideStar, "NRDC Forms 990," accessed August 25, 2015
- ↑ NRDC.org, "Form 990 2014," accessed June 24, 2016
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