Top Environmental Organizations by Employees
Environmental education, energy conservation, or natural resource conservation programs employ the most people, often 100-4000 employees
The environmental organizations that employ the most people have between 143 and 4,091 employees, and tend to run environmental education, energy conservation, or natural resource conservation programs (among other types of environmental organizations). The more popular environmental organizations — Nature Conservancy, Greenpeace, Sierra Club, etc. — are present, but the realm of environmental nonprofits is much larger than just environmental advocacy. And geographically these top environmental organizations are distributed throughout the country, with states like Minnesota, Colorado, and Montana having a disproportionate presence.
Trends among the top environmental organizations
States with the most large environmental organizations
| State | Number of big environmental orgs | |
|---|---|---|
| California |
14
| |
| Virginia |
9
| |
| New York |
9
| |
| Massachusetts |
9
| |
| District of Columbia |
8
| |
| Minnesota |
5
| |
| Ohio |
4
| |
| North Carolina |
4
| |
| Colorado |
4
| |
| Pennsylvania |
3
| |
Type of environmental nonprofit most common among large environmental organizations
List of the top environmental organizations
- The Nature ConservancyEmployees4,459Revenue$1.1 billionEIN53-0242652LocationWebsiteYear founded1951
- Foundation for California Community CollegesEmployees4,479Revenue$157 millionEIN68-0412350LocationWebsiteYear founded1998
- Alliance for Sustainable EnergyEmployees3,457Revenue$786 millionEIN26-1939342LocationYear founded2008
- Wildlife Conservation SocietyEmployees2,895Revenue$345 millionEIN13-1740011LocationWebsiteYear founded1895
- Student Conservation AssociationEmployees2,239Revenue$47 millionEIN91-0880684LocationWebsiteYear founded1964
- Conservation LegacyEmployees2,150Revenue$36 millionEIN84-1450808LocationWebsiteYear founded1998
- American Conservation ExperienceEmployees1,624Revenue$31 millionEIN37-1473291LocationWebsiteYear founded2004
- Coastal Villages Region FundEmployees1,039Revenue$59 millionEIN92-0156736LocationWebsiteYear founded1992
- National Audubon SocietyEmployees1,082Revenue$156 millionEIN13-1624102LocationWebsiteYear founded1905
- National Outdoor Leadership SchoolEmployees986Revenue$44 millionEIN83-0204184LocationWebsiteYear founded1965
- Sierra ClubEmployees1,023Revenue$173 millionEIN94-1153307LocationWebsiteYear founded1892
- New York Public Interest Research Group FundEmployees269Revenue$5.2 millionEIN13-2876109LocationWebsiteYear founded1976
- Natural Resources Defense CouncilEmployees821Revenue$193 millionEIN13-2654926LocationWebsiteYear founded1970
- Massachusetts Audubon SocietyEmployees1,185Revenue$48 millionEIN04-2104702LocationWebsiteYear founded1896
- The Trustees of ReservationsEmployees1,055Revenue$50 millionEIN04-2105780LocationWebsiteYear founded1891
- Environmental Defense FundEmployees1,054Revenue$247 millionEIN11-6107128LocationWebsiteYear founded1967
- Appalachian Mountain ClubEmployees843Revenue$46 millionEIN04-6001677LocationWebsiteYear founded1876
- George Washington's Mount VernonEmployees715Revenue$66 millionEIN54-0564701LocationWebsiteYear founded1853
- WurstfestEmployees704Revenue$4.7 millionEIN74-1590351LocationWebsiteYear founded1964
- Ducks Unlimited - National HeadquartersEmployees772Revenue$302 millionEIN13-5643799LocationWebsiteYear founded1937
- World Wildlife FundEmployees798Revenue$372 millionEIN52-1693387LocationWebsiteYear founded1961
- World Resources InstituteEmployees793Revenue$357 millionEIN52-1257057LocationWebsiteYear founded1982
- Great Basin InstituteEmployees784Revenue$44 millionEIN88-0431016LocationWebsiteYear founded1999
- Golden Gate National Parks ConservancyEmployees359Revenue$52 millionEIN94-2781708LocationWebsiteYear founded1981
- GreenpeaceEmployees191Revenue$40 millionEIN52-1541501LocationWebsiteYear founded1987
- National Arbor FoundationEmployees657Revenue$99 millionEIN23-7169265LocationWebsiteYear founded1971
- National Geographic SocietyEmployees671Revenue$231 millionEIN53-0193519LocationWebsiteYear founded1888
- Pheasants Forever IncorporatedEmployees573Revenue$89 millionEIN41-1429149LocationWebsiteYear founded1982
- Conservation InternationalEmployees490Revenue$235 millionEIN52-1497470LocationWebsiteYear founded1987
- National Wildlife FederationEmployees468Revenue$117 millionEIN53-0204616LocationWebsiteYear founded1939
- Rocky Mountain Youth CorpsEmployees566Revenue$8.5 millionEIN84-1483022LocationWebsiteYear founded1999
- The Trust for Public LandEmployees411Revenue$297 millionEIN23-7222333LocationWebsiteYear founded1972
- GrowNYCEmployees348Revenue$30 millionEIN13-2765465LocationWebsiteYear founded1970
- Lake JunaluskaEmployees306Revenue$16 millionEIN56-0547461LocationWebsiteYear founded1938
- Montana Conservation CorpsEmployees544Revenue$12 millionEIN81-0467431LocationWebsiteYear founded1990
- SemcacEmployees323Revenue$20 millionEIN41-0907135LocationWebsiteYear founded1966
- CallevaEmployees55Revenue$7.5 millionEIN52-2082054LocationWebsiteYear founded1993
- National Wild Turkey FederationEmployees194Revenue$54 millionEIN57-0564993LocationWebsiteYear founded1973
- Trout UnlimitedEmployees411Revenue$62 millionEIN38-1612715LocationWebsiteYear founded1959
- Grid Alternatives Affiliates and SubsidiariesEmployees346Revenue$40 millionEIN81-4042787LocationWebsiteYear founded2013
- Chesapeake Bay FoundationEmployees278Revenue$32 millionEIN52-6065757LocationWebsiteYear founded1966
- NatureBridgeEmployees203Revenue$15 millionEIN94-2145930LocationWebsiteYear founded1971
- Vermont Energy Investment CorporationEmployees381Revenue$108 millionEIN03-0304418LocationWebsiteYear founded1986
- KupuEmployees470Revenue$11 millionEIN51-0652665LocationWebsiteYear founded2007
- Long Island Citizens Campaign for the EnvironmentEmployees15Revenue$897,427EIN11-2717326LocationWebsiteYear founded1985
- NH LakesEmployees276Revenue$1.4 millionEIN22-2668396LocationWebsiteYear founded1992
- Social and Environmental EntrepreneursEmployees767Revenue$87 millionEIN95-4116679LocationWebsiteYear founded1994
- Nature's ClassroomEmployees80Revenue$3.2 millionEIN04-2621656LocationWebsiteYear founded1977
- Georgia System Operations CorporationEmployees307Revenue$92 millionEIN58-2231207LocationWebsiteYear founded1997
- Rocky Mountain InstituteEmployees628Revenue$139 millionEIN74-2244146LocationWebsiteYear founded1982
- Voyageur Outward Bound SchoolEmployees143Revenue$7.3 millionEIN41-0877459LocationWebsiteYear founded1963
- Tree TrustEmployees371Revenue$7.7 millionEIN41-1291626LocationWebsiteYear founded1976
- Chewonki FoundationEmployees270Revenue$10 millionEIN01-0269460LocationWebsiteYear founded1917
- Earth Island InstituteEmployees203Revenue$34 millionEIN94-2889684LocationWebsiteYear founded1982
- Teton Science SchoolsEmployees241Revenue$16 millionEIN83-0219163LocationWebsiteYear founded1974
- IslandWoodEmployees182Revenue$9.5 millionEIN31-1654076LocationWebsiteYear founded1999
- Trailblazer CampsEmployees426Revenue$4.2 millionEIN13-1771421LocationWebsiteYear founded1887
- Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife FoundationEmployees539Revenue$25 millionEIN82-2342237LocationWebsiteYear founded2017
- Center for Sustainable EnergyEmployees322Revenue$274 millionEIN33-0936366LocationWebsiteYear founded2000
- The WildsEmployees301Revenue$10 millionEIN31-1113570LocationWebsiteYear founded1984
- National Ability CenterEmployees182Revenue$14 millionEIN94-3025807LocationWebsiteYear founded1986
- Western Pennsylvania ConservancyEmployees277Revenue$34 millionEIN25-1053485LocationWebsiteYear founded1932
- Junta De Accion Puertorriquena Inc Puerto Rican Action BoardEmployees156Revenue$11 millionEIN22-1944440LocationWebsiteYear founded1971
- The Conservation FundEmployees244Revenue$327 millionEIN52-1388917LocationWebsiteYear founded1985
- Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of ArtEmployees170Revenue$17 millionNTEEEIN51-6020908LocationWebsiteYear founded1967
- Southern Environmental Law CenterEmployees253Revenue$62 millionEIN52-1436778LocationWebsiteYear founded1985
- Southern California Mountains FoundationEmployees197Revenue$8.9 millionEIN33-0556414LocationWebsiteYear founded1992
- Alliance for A Green Revolution in AfricaEmployees196Revenue$80 millionEIN98-0513530LocationKenyaWebsiteYear founded2006
- Friends of the High LineEmployees217Revenue$20 millionEIN31-1734086LocationWebsiteYear founded2000
- North Carolina Outward Bound SchoolEmployees180Revenue$5.8 millionEIN56-0857708LocationWebsiteYear founded1966
- Stark County Community Action AgencyEmployees182Revenue$15 millionEIN34-1320658LocationWebsiteYear founded1980
- National Parks Conservation AssociationEmployees220Revenue$35 millionEIN53-0225165LocationWebsiteYear founded1919
- Friends of the Forest PreservesEmployees191Revenue$4.0 millionEIN36-4519273LocationWebsiteYear founded1998
- Slipstream GroupEmployees182Revenue$38 millionEIN39-1356152LocationWebsiteYear founded1980
- Energy FederationEmployees189Revenue$14 millionEIN04-2790398LocationWebsiteYear founded1982
- New Haven Ecology ProjectEmployees241Revenue$7.2 millionEIN22-3171185LocationWebsiteYear founded1991
- OceanaEmployees150Revenue$46 millionEIN51-0401308LocationWebsiteYear founded2001
- Conservation Corps of Long BeachEmployees225Revenue$13 millionEIN33-0293393LocationWebsiteYear founded1987
- Strategic Energy InnovationsEmployees220Revenue$8.6 millionEIN68-0404081LocationWebsiteYear founded1997
- Hale EducationEmployees321Revenue$8.9 millionEIN04-2111550LocationWebsiteYear founded1930
- International Fund for Animal WelfareEmployees180Revenue$35 millionEIN31-1594197LocationWebsiteYear founded1998
- Joy Outdoor Education Center FoundationEmployees131Revenue$3.3 millionEIN31-0672822LocationWebsiteYear founded1937
- Center for Energy and EnvironmentEmployees218Revenue$17 millionEIN41-1647799LocationWebsiteYear founded1989
- CeresEmployees274Revenue$43 millionEIN22-3053747LocationWebsiteYear founded1990
- Wilderness SocietyEmployees210Revenue$39 millionEIN53-0167933LocationWebsiteYear founded1937
- Dollar Energy FundEmployees161Revenue$20 millionEIN25-1442933LocationWebsiteYear founded1983
- Find OutdoorsEmployees163Revenue$5.3 millionEIN56-1302500LocationWebsiteYear founded1972
- Defenders of WildlifeEmployees216Revenue$35 millionEIN53-0183181LocationWebsiteYear founded1947
- Community Action Partnership of Strafford CountyEmployees184Revenue$21 millionEIN02-0268636LocationWebsiteYear founded1965
- Ecology Action of Santa CruzEmployees130Revenue$11 millionEIN94-2584236LocationWebsiteYear founded1979
- Chattahoochee Nature CenterEmployees158Revenue$4.6 millionEIN58-1275604LocationWebsiteYear founded1976
- Cornerstone Community Action AgencyEmployees207Revenue$11 millionEIN75-1230663LocationWebsiteYear founded1965
- Thompson Island Outward Bound Education CenterEmployees171Revenue$8.5 millionEIN04-3027900LocationWebsiteYear founded1988
- Eagle's Nest FoundationEmployees155Revenue$3.3 millionEIN56-6009912LocationWebsiteYear founded1948
- Elevate EnergyEmployees259Revenue$50 millionEIN36-4443093LocationWebsiteYear founded2001
- Grid AlternativesEmployees227Revenue$23 millionEIN26-0043353LocationWebsiteYear founded2002
- Miami Valley Community Action PartnershipEmployees144Revenue$24 millionEIN31-0709198LocationWebsiteYear founded1965
- Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife CommissionEmployees132Revenue$11 millionEIN39-1468447LocationWebsiteYear founded1983
- Pacific American FoundationEmployees227Revenue$2.7 millionEIN54-1696134LocationWebsiteYear founded1993
- Keep Indianapolis BeautifulEmployees103Revenue$10 millionEIN31-1005792LocationWebsiteYear founded1980
