The NRDC Action Fund’s mission is to build political support for advancing the goals of the Natural Resources Defense Council: averting dangerous climate change, supporting healthy people and thriving communities, and conserving and protecting nature and wildlife. We support candidates who stand up for these goals, and we mobilize the American public to lobby lawmakers and hold them accountable for their votes, both in office and at the ballot box.
Nrdc Action Fund Inc uses political giving to advance the goals of the Natural Resources Defense Council, backing candidates and allied organizations that support averting dangerous climate change, protecting people and communities, and conserving nature and wildlife. The most visible part of that work in the recent grants is its support for environmental advocacy groups such as Nrdc Action Votes, which received $2,080,000 in 2024, and the League of Conservation Voters, which received $1,017,500 in 2024 after a $1,000,000 grant in 2023. Those awards sit alongside direct support for the Natural Resources Defense Council itself, including $204,998 in 2023 and $140,431 in 2024. The foundation’s grantees also include state and national advocacy organizations, ballot- and election-related entities, and coalitions working on clean energy, climate, public health, and conservation. Its profile is defined less by one narrow program than by a coordinated set of grants that combine electoral support with public lobbying and accountability work. The result is a funder centered on environmental policy influence through advocacy organizations rather than program grants to individuals or operating support for unrelated fields.
Climate and clean-energy advocacy are central in the recent grants. The foundation gave $50,000 in 2024 to Conservatives for a Clean Energy Future in Lansing, Michigan, and $70,000 in 2024 to Multiplier in San Francisco, California, both tied to environmental advocacy. State-based climate and conservation groups also appear often: Colorado People's Alliance in Denver received $25,000 in 2023, and Colorado Sierra Club in Denver received $25,000 in 2023. Public-health and clean-air work shows up through $40,000 in 2024 to Clean Air California in San Rafael, California. The portfolio also includes civic and coalition partners such as The Partnership Project Inc in Washington, DC, which received $45,000 in 2024, indicating a funding approach that supports advocacy infrastructure as well as issue-specific groups.
Typical grants cluster around a median of $25,000, with the 25th percentile at $10,000 and the 75th percentile at $50,000. The recent list also shows several much larger awards, including seven-figure support for a small number of recipients. Grants recur across years for some organizations: Nrdc Action Votes and the League of Conservation Voters both appear in 2023 and 2024, as does the Natural Resources Defense Council. Nrdc Action Fund Inc is a regular funder, not a DAF and does not make PRIs. The pattern points to repeat advocacy support rather than one-off program grants, with annual giving concentrated in environmental policy and electoral work.
$5.9M
$17M
$18.3M
$16M
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$50K
About 20% of grants go to recipients in CO.
MANISH BAPNA
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Grants are national in scope and all recent recipients are in the United States. Colorado is the top state by grant count, with multiple recipients in Denver, including Colorado People's Alliance, Colorado Sierra Club, and Bicycle Colorado. Washington, DC is another major center, with grants to League of Conservation Voters, Givegreen United Action, The Partnership Project Inc, and State Democracy Action Fund. New York recipients include Nrdc Action Votes, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Sustainable Markets Foundation, and Frack Action Fund. Other active locations include Philadelphia, Raleigh, and Los Angeles.
Its recent grants go to environmental advocacy and coalition organizations such as Nrdc Action Votes, the League of Conservation Voters, The Partnership Project Inc, and state-based groups working on climate, clean air, conservation, and electoral advocacy.
The typical grant size is $25,000 at the median, with the 25th percentile at $10,000 and the 75th percentile at $50,000. Recent grants also include larger awards above $1 million.
Yes. The Natural Resources Defense Council, Nrdc Action Votes, and the League of Conservation Voters each appear in more than one grant year in the recent data, showing repeat support rather than only one-time awards.
Colorado is the top state by grant count. Recent recipients there include Colorado People's Alliance, Colorado Sierra Club, and Bicycle Colorado, all in Denver.
Climate change, clean air and water, public health, conservation, political advocacy, and electoral support all appear in the grant list, alongside related environmental policy and grassroots organizing work.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRDC ACTION VOTES | NEW YORK, NY | $2,080,000 | 2024 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,017,500 | 2024 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| GIVEGREEN UNITED ACTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2024 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL | NEW YORK, NY | $140,431 | 2024 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| MULTIPLIER | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $70,000 | 2024 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| CONSERVATIVES FOR A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE | LANSING, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| THE PARTNERSHIP PROJECT INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $45,000 | 2024 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| CLEAN AIR CALIFORNIA | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $40,000 | 2024 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| STATE DEMOCRACY ACTION FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2024 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| SUSTAINABLE MARKETS FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| PA ALLIANCE ACTION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2024 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| FRACK ACTION FUND | HIGHLAND, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| BICYCLE COLORADO | DENVER, CO | $23,000 | 2024 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| FARM SCHOOL NYC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| SHAPIRO-DAVIS INAUGURATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2024 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| DIVISION OF HOMELAND MINISTRIES OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH INC | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $10,000 | 2024 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| JB INAUGURATION COMMITTEE 2023 | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK NORTH AMERICA | BERKELEY, CA | $7,500 | 2024 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| AMERICA VOTES | WASHINGTON, DC | $7,425 | 2024 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000,000 | 2023 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL | NEW YORK, NY | $204,998 | 2023 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| BLUEGREEN ALLIANCE INC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $75,000 | 2023 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| PA ALLIANCE ACTION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $50,000 | 2023 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| NRDC ACTION VOTES | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| OPPORTUNITY CITY PAC | COLUMBUS, OH | $50,000 | 2023 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| CENTER FOR CIVIC ACTION | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $50,000 | 2023 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| ENVIRONMENT AMERICA | RALEIGH, NC | $35,000 | 2023 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| NATIONAL RELIGIOUS PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ENVIRONMENT | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $30,000 | 2023 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| COLORADO SIERRA CLUB | DENVER, CO | $25,000 | 2023 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS | OAKLAND, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| COLORADO PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE | DENVER, CO | $25,000 | 2023 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| NMVC ACTION FUND | RIO RANCHO, NM | $25,000 | 2023 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| NC FUTURES ACTION FUND | RALEIGH, NC | $25,000 | 2023 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| FARM SCHOOL NYC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| BLUE PLANET FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $10,000 | 2023 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN ASSISTANCE NETWORK INC | MILPITAS, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL | SPRINGFIELD, IL | $10,000 | 2023 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| VEGGIELUTION | SAN JOSE, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| KEEP DENVER STRONG | DENVER, CO | $10,000 | 2023 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
| AMERICA VOTES | WASHINGTON, DC | $6,650 | 2023 | ENVIRON. ADVOCACY |
NRDC ACTION VOTES
$2,080,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS
$1,017,500ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
GIVEGREEN UNITED ACTION
$500,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL
$140,431ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
MULTIPLIER
$70,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
CONSERVATIVES FOR A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE
$50,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
THE PARTNERSHIP PROJECT INC
$45,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
CLEAN AIR CALIFORNIA
$40,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
STATE DEMOCRACY ACTION FUND
$25,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
SUSTAINABLE MARKETS FOUNDATION
$25,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
$25,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
PA ALLIANCE ACTION
$25,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
FRACK ACTION FUND
$25,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
BICYCLE COLORADO
$23,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
FARM SCHOOL NYC
$10,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
SHAPIRO-DAVIS INAUGURATION
$10,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
DIVISION OF HOMELAND MINISTRIES OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH INC
$10,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
JB INAUGURATION COMMITTEE 2023
$10,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK NORTH AMERICA
$7,500ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
AMERICA VOTES
$7,425ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS INC
$1,000,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL
$204,998ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
BLUEGREEN ALLIANCE INC
$75,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
PA ALLIANCE ACTION
$50,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
NRDC ACTION VOTES
$50,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
OPPORTUNITY CITY PAC
$50,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
CENTER FOR CIVIC ACTION
$50,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
ENVIRONMENT AMERICA
$35,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
NATIONAL RELIGIOUS PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
$30,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
COLORADO SIERRA CLUB
$25,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS
$25,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
COLORADO PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE
$25,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
NMVC ACTION FUND
$25,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
NC FUTURES ACTION FUND
$25,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
FARM SCHOOL NYC
$10,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
BLUE PLANET FOUNDATION
$10,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN ASSISTANCE NETWORK INC
$10,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL
$10,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
VEGGIELUTION
$10,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
KEEP DENVER STRONG
$10,000ENVIRON. ADVOCACY
AMERICA VOTES
$6,650ENVIRON. ADVOCACY