As you all probably know, we need our government(s) to act and make drastic changes in order to head off global warming. But that kind of change won’t be easy. After all, according to data from OpenSecrets.org, the oil and gas, automotive, energy and airline industries spent $160MM lobbying in Washington in 2007 alone! Do you suppose any of those industries would be interested in firm restrictions on carbon emissions, a carbon tax, or alternative energies?
So we need to pool our resources, and I believe that joining an enviornmental group is an important step. But which one? Here are a few things I’ve found:
- Political clout: Obviously this is important. Clout can be measured in members or dollars spent, but there’s another key distinction which is important - what the group is permitted to do. Some non-profits, such as the National Resources Defense Counsel, are registered as 501(c)(3)’s which means that they cannot conduct political campaign activities to influence elections to public office. I believe that we really need to fund non-profits which ARE allowed to influence political campaigns. If so, then you’ll want to donate to 501(c)(4)’s or 527s, both of which are permitted to politic. Donations to either of these types are not tax deductable, but the influence is important. And that is why the aforementioned NDRC has a 501(c)(4) group called the NDRC Action Fund, and one reason why the Sierra Club, with its 56 or so lobbyists in DC, is a 501(c)(4) as well.
- Governance and Accountability: Obviously, you need to make sure that whoever you donate to is not going to squander that money, and that they’re going to use it for what they say they’ll use it for. The Better Business Bureau has (1) created a set of standards you should ensure your chosen charity meets and (2) evaluated a bunch of charities to see how they fare. This is a great resource. For instance, the NDRC uses 80% of its money for program expenses, while the Sierra Club uses only 65%. Oh, and the League of Conservation Voters wouldn’t say. (what’s up with that?)
Given these criteria, it certainly looks like we have some great options but, I’m strongly considering a donation to the NDRC Action Fund. What about you?
good post - i just digg’ed it.