Here is a list of individuals and organizations making a difference. I tried to categorize them; however, many of these cross over several categories. You can support these causes by following, subscribing, volunteering with, or donating to them. I continually update this list, so check back often!
Plastic
The Story of Stuff Project’s The Story of Plastic
Plastic Free July (efforts can be applied year-round!)
Algalita, founded by Captain Charles Moore
Conceptos Plásticos – “Bricks & Blocks, our construction system, literally transforms plastic that harms the environment (us included, of course) in[to] safe, comfortable houses, affordable school facilities, health centers, storage centers and other solutions. And, on the other hand, The Way, our empowerment program, transforms lives through a sustainable methodology that does not give the fish but teaches how to fish.” They are based in Columbia.
Pollution
Ocean Conservancy’s International Ocean Cleanup
Litterati: A Litter Free World. Read my full post on Litterati!
Moms Clean Air Force – “Our mission is to protect children from air pollution and climate change. We envision a safe, stable, and equitable future where all children breathe clean air.”
Ocean & Coastal Regions
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society – Founded by Captain Paul Watson, “Sea Shepherd’s sole mission is to protect and conserve the world’s oceans and marine wildlife.”
Mission Blue – “Inspires action to explore and protect the ocean. Led by legendary oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, Mission Blue is uniting a global coalition to inspire an upwelling of public awareness, access and support for a worldwide network of marine protected areas.”
AZUL – Azul was founded in 2011 to bring Latinxs perspectives and participation to ocean conservation, and are legally organized under Multiplier.
Urban Ocean Lab – “Think tank for the future of coastal cities.”
The Cousteau Society – “Saving and protecting marine life for present and future generations.”
Lewis Pugh – an endurance swimmer and maritime lawyer, he’s the UN Patron of the Oceans. His goal is for 30% of oceans to be marine protected by 2030. He also founded the Lewis Pugh Foundation, whose mission is “to ensure environmental justice for our oceans through the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).”
Nature Conservation
Sierra Club – begun by John Muir in 1892.
Nature Conservancy – their mission is “to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.”
Student Conservation Association – The Student Conservation Association is the largest provider of hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and young adults.
National Parks Foundation – “As the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, the National Park Foundation generates private support and builds strategic partnerships to protect and enhance America’s national parks for present and future generations.”
National Parks & Conservation Organization – “We’re protecting and enhancing America’s National Park System for present and future generations.”
Public Lands Alliance – “Public Lands Alliance protects America’s public lands by supporting and empowering the local, nonprofit partner organizations dedicated to their conservation.”
RARE – “Rare invests in people and nature to solve our greatest conservation and development challenges. We partner with local leaders, individuals, and their communities to help them co-manage, protect, and restore their natural resources against threats like climate change.”
The Wilderness Society – “Since 1935, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect nearly 112 million acres of wilderness in 44 states. We have been at the forefront of nearly every major public lands victory.”
Freetown the Tree Town – this Sierra Leone-based organization’s mission is to “Plant, grow and digitally track 5 million trees and restoring 5,000 hectares of land by 2030, which contribute to the goal of sequestering approximately 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide, while reducing environmental risks such as flooding, extreme heat and landslides.”
Björk – This musician is an environmental activist who integrates ecological themes directly into her music and art. She collaborates with activists, incljuding Greta Thunberg and Sir David Attenborough; fights against industrial fish farming; and promotes the protection of Iceland’s landscapes.
Water
Environmental Working Group’s Tap Water Database
National Association of Clean Water Agencies
Charity: Water – “Access to clean water and basic sanitation can save around 16,000 lives every week.”
HMY Yachts – A reader sent this to me; it features a very helpful list about our water footprints, “Tips for Water Conservation at Home.”
Jason Momoa – a UN Environment Programme Advocate for Life Below Water,1 he also started a company called Mananalu, which now has an exclusive partnership with Boomerang Water. “Together, we are working with hospitality partners in Hawai’i to replace single-use bottles with Mananalu, powered by Boomerang. This strategic alliance is a significant step towards eradicating harmful plastics from our environment.”
Climate Change & Environmental Issues
Cool Effect – reduce carbon emissions.
David Suzuki Foundation – a science-based organization working to protect nature and the environment.
Project Drawdown – “the world’s leading resource for climate solutions.”
Climate Action Network – “the world’s largest climate network made up of more than 1,900 civil society organizations in over 130 countries, together fighting the climate crisis.”
Yale Climate Connections – “a news service that aims to help you understand the reality of climate change and what you can do about it.”
Youth Climate Leaders – “offers solutions to help young people tackle two main challenges of this century: the climate crisis and structural unemployment. Although young people make up the majority of the global population, they continue to encounter barriers to job opportunities and economic security, while dealing with an uncertain future due to the climate crisis.”
CoolClimate Network at the University of California, Berkeley
Climate Central – “Researching and communicating climate change impacts and solutions.”
Science Moms – “We’re a group of nonpartisan climate scientists and mothers, working to give our children the planet they deserve.”
ecoAmerica – “ecoAmerica moves society toward climate solutions by engaging and supporting trusted national institutions to inspire and empower their millions of members in local communities across America to visibly act and advocate for ambitious, just, climate mitigation, resilience, and restoration.”
The Oxygen Project – Vision is “to catalyze a more conscious, regenerative, and climate-resilient world.”
Environmental Media Association – “a diverse subsection of entertainment industry influencers, entrepreneurs in business, and green icons dedicated to the mission of promoting environmental progress.”
Re:Wild – “Re:wild protects and restores the wild. We do this because the solutions to our most pressing challenges — climate change, biodiversity loss and threats to human health — lie in nature.”
Protect Our Winters – “turns outdoor passion into climate action. We unite millions of athletes, brands, and outdoor enthusiasts into the bipartisan voting bloc known as the Outdoor State™ to push for clean air, water, and a healthy planet.”
Climate Anxiety
Climate Mental Health Network – “The Climate Mental Health Network is a collective of dedicated community advocates focused on fostering mental well-being by reshaping our national dialogue—and actions—about the emotional impacts of climate change.”
The Eco-Anxiety in Africa Project – founded by Jennifer Uchendu, this organization “seeks to understand and validate the experiences of eco-anxiety and environmental-related emotions in Africans.”
Environmental Justice
Sunrise Movement – “Together, we will force the government to end the era of fossil fuel elites, invest in Black, brown and working class communities, and create millions of good union jobs. We’re on a mission to put everyday people back in charge and build a world that works for all of us, now and for generations to come.”
Green 2.0 – “We’re watchdogs for inequality in the environmental sector. People of color are the most impacted by environmental problems and the least represented in positions of power.”
WE ACT for Environmental Justice
Earth Guardians – “Earth Guardians is a revolutionary environmental nonprofit that provides youth with the resources and training needed to create anti-racist, anti-colonialist environmental and climate-oriented projects and campaigns that make a real difference locally, nationally, and internationally.”
Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice (CREEJ) – “Whether it is a small town or an unincorporated area, we must eliminate the health, economic and environmental disparities suffocating rural and marginalized communities. CREEJ is dedicated to reversing these disparities and seeing a world where everyone has access to clean water, air and sanitation.”
Green Latinos – “A national non-profit of Latino leaders confronting national and local environmental issues in the Latino community.”
NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program
National Black Environmental Justice Network – “Uplifting Black communities to address environmental justice disparities through communication, development, and engagement.”
Louisiana Bucket Brigade – “The Louisiana Bucket Brigade uses grassroots action to hold the petrochemical industry and government accountable for the true costs of pollution.”
Global Green – “We envision a planet where there is no conflict between our economic needs and sustainable systems of life.”
Deep South Center for Environmental Justice – “Dedicated to improving the lives of community members of all ages who are harmed by pollution and vulnerable to climate change, through research and policy studies, community and student engagement to impact policy change, and health and safety training for environmental careers.”
CERES – “We work with investors, companies, and policymakers to advance actions that reduce emissions and build a cleaner, more resilient economy – all in a way that advances justice and equity.”
Indigenous Climate Action – “an Indigenous-led organization guided by a diverse group of Indigenous knowledge keepers, water protectors and land defenders from communities and regions across the country. We believe that Indigenous Peoples’ rights and knowledge systems are critical to developing solutions to the climate crisis and achieving climate justice.”
National Black Farmers Association – “Non-profit organization representing African American farmers and their families in the United States.”
Planting Justice – “Our purpose is to empower people impacted by mass incarceration and social inequities with the skills and resources to cultivate food sovereignty, economic justice, and community healing.”
Children & Nature Network – Vision is “to increase equitable access to nature so that children–and the natural world–can thrive.”
Honor the Earth – “an Indigenous-led organization fighting to dismantle settler-colonialism, racial capitalism, white supremacy, and imperialism by helping our communities resist exploitation, withstand crises, and prepare future generations of leadership. We envision a future rooted in Indigenous sovereignty and lifeways, where all Peoples live in right relationship with Mother Earth and each other.”
Outdoor Afro – “celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. Our national not-for-profit organization reconnects Black people to our lands, water, and wildlife through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation.”
Latino Outdoors – Vision: “A world where all Latino communities enjoy nature as a safe, inclusive, and welcoming place – a world where the outdoors is a place to share and celebrate stories, knowledge, and culture, while growing leadership and an active community of Latino outdoor users, mentors, and stewards.
Pattie Gonia – “is a critically acclaimed drag queen, environmentalist and advocate for inclusivity and diversity in the outdoors…Cofounder of the Outdoorist Oath– a non-profit that gets BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and femmes into the outdoors through community and education…and Founder the Queer Outdoor and Environmental Job Board – a free tool queer individuals can use to get hired and therefore diversify the fields.
Don Cheadle – The actor is a goodwill ambassador for the UN Environment Programme and a member of the board of directors of the Solutions Project, which supports hundreds of community organizations fighting for climate justice in 45 states.2
Renewable Energy
350.org – “We campaign to keep fossil fuels in the ground and accelerate the renewable energy transition in an effort to tackle the climate crisis. We train and empower ordinary people to create local campaigns to ignite a renewable energy revolution.”
GRID Alternatives – “envisions a rapid, equitable transition to a world powered by renewable energy that benefits everyone. Our mission is to build community-powered solutions to advance economic and environmental justice through renewable energy.”
Rocky Mountain Institute – “We work with businesses, policymakers, and communities to scale renewable energy solutions, reduce energy waste, and boost access to affordable clean energy.”
Deforestation
Rainforest Alliance – “The Rainforest Alliance is an international non-profit organization working at the intersection of business, agriculture, and forests to make responsible business the new normal. We are building an alliance to protect forests, improve the livelihoods of farmers and forest communities, promote their human rights, and help them mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis.”
1t.org – an organization committed to planting 1 trillion trees to end deforestation.
Sustainable Harvest – “Working together to create a just and sustainable world through transformative farmer training that nourishes communities and the Earth.”
American Forests – forest conservation in the US and Canada.
Eden: People+Planet (formerly Eden Reforestation Projects) – “We facilitate large-scale holistic landscape restoration and community development initiatives in partnership with communities and stakeholders around the world.”
WeForest – “Restoring forests for People, Nature and Climate.”
Regenerative Agriculture
Kiss the Ground – “an audience-supported nonprofit promoting regeneration and healthy soil as a viable solution for our wellness, water, and climate crisis.”
Fibershed – “develops regional fiber systems that build ecosystem and community health. Our work expands opportunities to implement climate-benefitting agriculture, rebuild regional manufacturing, and connect end-users to the source of our fiber through education.”
Regeneration International – Their mission is “to promote, facilitate and accelerate the global transition to regenerative food, farming and land management for the purpose of restoring climate stability, ending world hunger and rebuilding deteriorated social, ecological and economic systems.”
Wildlife & Endangered Species
Jane Goodall Institute – “We are a global community conservation organization that advances the vision and work of Dr. Jane Goodall. By protecting chimpanzees and inspiring people to conserve the natural world we all share, we improve the lives of people, animals and the environment. Everything is connected—everyone can make a difference.”
National Audubon Society – “protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation.”
Jeff Corwin has many shows, books, and is featured in a lot of online content. Follow him on his facebook page to see his newest adventures and missions. I reviewed one of his books and you can read my review here.
National Geographic Photo Ark. Read my article about creator Joel Sartore.
The National Wildlife Federation
Wildlife Conservation Society – their goal “is to conserve the world’s largest wild places in 14 priority regions, habitat for around 50% of the world’s biodiversity and a wide range of charismatic megafauna.”
Edward Norton – the actor works with the Kenya-based Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, which “works to protect the legendary ecosystems and astounding biodiversity of East Africa through conservation that directly benefits local Maasai communities.”
The Whale Sanctuary Project is working to establish a model seaside sanctuary where captive cetaceans (whales and dolphins) can be rehabilitated and live in their natural habitat. Read my article about them too!
The Whaleman Foundation – “Conservation through Research, Education & Collaboration.”
Ocean Alliance – Marine mammal research and conservation.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) – “PETA opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview, and focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: in laboratories, in the food industry, in the clothing trade, and in the entertainment business.”
Nonhuman Rights Project – “We are the only civil rights organization in the United States dedicated solely to securing rights for nonhuman animals.”
Toxic Chemicals & Products
The Environmental Working Group
Environmental Working Group’s Healthy Living Home Guide
The Environmental Justice Health Alliance for Chemical Policy Reform – “a national network of grassroots Environmental and Economic Justice organizations and advocates in communities that are disproportionately impacted by toxic chemicals from legacy contamination, ongoing exposure to polluting facilities and health-harming chemicals in household products.”
Asbestos causes cancer and is in many of our homes and in the products we buy. Asbestos.com by The Mesothelioma Center is a for-profit site that provides many free articles and guides related to asbestos.
Breast Cancer Prevention Partners
Food & Gardening
Seafood Watch – Monteray Bay Aquarium’s “Seafood Watch program helps consumers and businesses make choices for a healthy ocean.”
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Center for Science in the Public Interest – “advocates for evidence-based and community-informed policies on nutrition, food safety and health; holds government agencies and corporations to account; and empowers consumers with independent, unbiased information to live healthier lives.”
Eat Real – “puts real food on the table at school, at home, and in local and national policy.”
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition – “advocates for federal policy reform for the sustainability of food systems, natural resources, and rural communities.”
Grow to Know – Founded by Tayshan Hayden-Smith following the devastating Grenfell Tower fire, this organization makes nature more accessible to everyone while educating a diverse, new generation of gardeners.3
The Edible Schoolyard Project – Founded by Alice Waters, this is “a nonprofit organization dedicated to the transformation of public education by using organic school gardens, kitchens, and cafeterias to teach both academic subjects and the values of nourishment, stewardship, and community.”
Sana Javeri Kadri’s Diaspora Co. offers dozens of spices sourced from India and Sri Lanka. The company directly deals with over 150 farms and pays farmers about four times higher wages. “We are here to put money, equity and power into the best regenerative spice farms across South Asia, and bring wildly delicious, hella potent flavors into your home cooking.”
Too Good to Go – cofounded by Lucie Basch, this is an app that “is a social impact company on a mission to inspire and empower everyone to fight food waste together. Our app is the world’s largest marketplace for surplus food. We help users rescue good food from going to waste, offering great value for money at local stores, cafes and restaurants.”
Alexis Nikole Nelson – widely known online as Black Forager, is a prominent outdoor educator, cook, and internet personality based in Columbus, Ohio. She has amassed millions of followers on social media by sharing high-energy, educational videos that blend plant identification, vegan recipes, and the historical context of foraging.
Education
kids.earth.org – “aims to educate and inform children of all ages about what is happening to the world they will inherit.”
Roots & Shoots – founded by Jane Goodall, “Our mission is to empower young people to affect positive change in their communities.”
GreenEcoWarriors.org: Their mission is “Creating a Culture of Sustainable thinkers” through education aligned with national standards. I learned about this organization from reading Pesky Plastic: An Environmental Story by the founder and CEO of GreenEcoWarriors.
The Union of Concerned Scientists
Sea Smart is an organization in Vancouver offering free and paid resources for children and educators.
Action for the Climate Emergency (formerly the Alliance for Climate Education)
National Environmental Education Foundation
Calculating Carbon Footprint
EPA Carbon Footprint Calculator
Conservation International carbon footprint calculator
Nature Conservancy carbon footprint calculator
Ecological Footprint Calculator
United Nations Calculate CO2 emissions
Fracking
Josh Fox, filmmaker, Gaslands
Environmental Advocacy & Law
Greenpeace – “Greenpeace is a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green, just, and joyful future.”
Fridays for Future – “a youth-led and -organised movement that began in August 2018, after 15-year-old Greta Thunberg and other young activists sat in front of the Swedish parliament every schoolday for three weeks, to protest against the lack of action on the climate crisis.”
Earth Justice – “Because the Earth Needs a Good Lawyer.”
Natural Resources Defense Council
Erin Brockovich’s website
Environmental Integrity Project
Earth Island Institute – “Building a Better World through Activist Projects, Legal Advocacy, Youth Leadership, and an Award-Winning Journal.”
Indigenous Environmental Network – “formed by grassroots Indigenous peoples under the leadership of youth, elders, women, and traditional spiritual societies to stand up for our inherent rights to practice our cultural and spiritual ways of life and to stop the destruction of our waters, lands, and territories.”
One Percent for the Planet – a certification begun by Patagonia’s Yvon Chouinard that requires members to commit 1% of their profits to environmental actions.
Elders Climate Action – “The mission of Elders Climate Action is to mobilize elders throughout the United States to address climate change while there is still time to protect the well-being of our grandchildren and future generations.”
Mothers Out Front – “Mothers Out Front is a network of mothers and other caregivers working to make climate justice a reality in our community. We organize to win campaigns, transform systems of harm and exploitation, and build just, resilient futures for our kids.”
Third Act – “At Third Act, we are a dedicated group of organizers, campaign strategists, and communications professionals working together to build a powerful elder-led movement for climate action and democracy protection.”
Elections & Voting
League of Conservation Voters – “builds political power for people and the planet. We influence policy, hold politicians accountable, and win elections in order to create safe and healthy communities protected by a just and equitable democracy.”
Humanitarian Efforts & Disaster Relief
CARE – “We end poverty by focusing on hunger, health, education, and equality, daily and in times of crisis.”
UNICEF – “UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child.”
Zero Waste
Bea Johnson @ Zero Waste Home
Kathryn @ Going Zero Waste
Catalog Choice (to stop junk mail)
Minimalism
The Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus
Becoming Minimalist, Joshua Becker
Be More With Less, Courtney Carver
Abundant Life With Less, Rachelle Crawford
Consumer Advocacy
US PIRG – “PIRG is an advocate for consumers, advancing solutions to problems that affect our health, our safety and well-being.”
Repair.org: Officially known as The Repair Association, this is a nonprofit organization advocating for the Right to Repair movement in the United States. Established in 2013 as the Digital Right to Repair Coalition, it was formed in response to increasing restrictions by manufacturers that limited consumers’ and independent repair shops’ ability to fix electronic devices. These restrictions included withholding parts, tools, and repair documentation, and implementing software locks that hindered repairs.
Labor Issues
Hamdi Ulukaya – the founder of Chobani yogurt, he also created the Tent Partnership for Refugees, an organization that works “with the world’s largest employers to connect refugees to jobs.” Chobani employs a workforce that spans more than 20 languages.
Additional Resources:
Website, Charity Navigator, evaluates nonprofits.
Website, Charity Intelligence Canada, evaluates nonprofits.
Footnotes:
- Press Release, “UNEP names Jason Momoa official Advocate for Life Below Water,” UN Environment Programme, June 27, 2022. ↩︎
- Article, “The National Geographic 33,” National Geographic, Vol. 247 No. 4, April 2025. ↩︎
- Article, “The National Geographic 33,” National Geographic, Vol. 247 No. 4, April 2025. ↩︎