Earthworks
Protecting communities and the environment
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
To minimize the worst impacts of climate change, we must cut carbon pollution in half by 2030. Phasing out fossil fuels will require an urgent transition to renewable energy. But without proactive steps, the pace and scale of this transition will cause significant harm to people and the environment from irresponsible mining for battery minerals like lithium, nickel, and copper. To achieve a truly clean and just energy transition, we must phase out fossil fuels, address legacy pollution from oil, gas, and mining, ensure that renewable energy solutions do not shift burdens onto mining-impacted communities, and reduce the immediate harms of extraction on disproportionately impacted low-income, Indigenous, Black, Brown, and communities of color.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Energy Program
The Energy Program pushes for the managed decline of the fossil fuel industry while working to gain immediate protections and environmental justice for people who live daily with oil and gas pollution. We directly assist communities whose air, water, and health are threatened by extreme and hazardous forms of oil and gas development, most notably hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and associated infrastructure, including extraction, storage, pipelines, processing, export terminals, and waste management. Earthworks’ field team partners with frontline communities to make oil and gas pollution visible using optical gas imaging cameras. Together, we document and disseminate evidence of pollution, file complaints with regulators, call attention to the widespread health and climate risks, and advocate for strong state and federal oversight of the oil and gas industry to reduce pollution, especially from methane, and slow the rate of climate change.
Mining Program
As global demand increases for minerals, the mining industry has adopted more extreme and risky practices that adversely impact human rights, drinking water supplies, and threaten vital ecosystems including oceans, fisheries, and wilderness areas on U.S. public lands. Earthworks’ mining program works in the U.S. and internationally to rein in the riskiest, most destructive practices, to shrink the human and ecological toll of mining, and rewrite the rules by which mining companies operate. Strategically, we stand by frontline communities, providing the technical and advocacy support to amplify local voices in mine fights; use legal tools to stop bad mining projects and practices; push for policy and regulatory reforms with a special focus on U.S. public lands; conduct research and develop public pressure campaigns to expose the impacts of mining; and use market-based and consumer pressure strategies to change corporate practices.
Membership/Public Information Program
Earthworks' Membership and Public Information Program includes our research and publications, including our website and online tools, newsletters, fact sheets, issue papers and reports that engage the public in advocacy.
Affiliate/Partnership Program
Earthworks provides back-office services (including payroll, accounting, and administration), a legal framework, and capacity building support to a variety of small programs (single staff or volunteer-only organizations) that share Earthworks’ mission of protecting communities and the environment from the adverse impacts of mineral development.
Making Clean Energy Clean, Just, and Sustainable
The Making Clean Energy Clean, Just and Equitable initiative (MCEC) ensures that the transition to renewable energy sources is powered by responsibly and equitably sourced minerals, minimizing the need for new mining. The initiative is committed to amplifying the voices and priorities of mining-impacted communities and grounded in technical analysis and research to advance these priorities. Earthworks engages electric vehicle (EV) makers, policymakers, academics, and market-based systems like the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA).
Where we work
Awards
BENNY Award - First Place to the No Dirty Gold Campaign for Outstanding Contribution to Corporate Ethics 2011
Business Ethics Network
BENNY Award - 3rd Place to the No Dirty Gold Campaign for Outstanding Contribution to Corporate Ethics 2007
Business Ethics Network
The Jean and Leslie Douglas Pearl Award 2020
Cornell Douglas Founation
EarthCare Award 2022
Sierra Club
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Annual number of sites visited at least once
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Energy Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Number of site visits in response to community requests.
Number of people on the organization's email list
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Membership/Public Information Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
# of active Earthworks members
Number of Facebook followers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Network of individuals connected to Earthworks' mission
Number of complaints filed with regulators
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Energy Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of mines delayed and/or defeated
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Mining Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of petrochemical facilities delayed and/or defeated
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Energy Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Funds distributed to grassroots partners
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Earthworks is committed is to stopping the destructive impacts of extractive industries. We believe that no mining or drilling should occur if it would harm human health, water, air quality, the surrounding environment, or the global climate. We work in close partnership with affected communities, and we are committed to elevating the stories of people in harm's way from destructive mining.
Energy Program: We focus on protecting clean water and air, preventing climate impacts, and defending community health from the effects of fossil fuel extraction.
Mining Program: We partner with grassroots groups in the US and globally to protect communities, biodiversity and water resources from the impacts of irresponsible mining, and to promote the responsible production and sourcing of metals.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Earthworks pursues a range of strategies on the federal, state, and local levels, including research to expose problems with, and impacts from, mining and oil and gas development; direct outreach to policymakers and regulators to advance protective measures; and campaigns that engage citizens in creating pressure for change.
Earthworks' Energy Program combines grassroots organizing with impact analysis, regulatory reform and direct challenges to destructive oil and gas development. Our staff engage with policymakers, conduct scientific research, educate and support community members, and at times litigate in order to achieve our goals.
Earthworks' Mining Program collaborates with grassroots groups to protect special places, communities and biodiversity from mining's impacts, improve corporate practices, reform government policies, influence investment decisions and encourage responsible materials production, sourcing and consumption.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Energy Program: Our staff is well-respected for their expertise on oil and gas issues by policy-makers, elected officials, the media, other NGOs, impacted communities, and citizens directly affected by oil and gas operations. Our network includes more than 150+ organizations nationwide in more than 25 states. In all of the regions where we work, Earthworks staff are active members of statewide coalitions, providing resources and helping to advance protective regulation and legislation on issues ranging from surface owner rights to watershed protection.
Mining Program: Earthworks is the leading hardrock mining expert and reform advocate among national and grassroots NGOs. We work in close partnership with affected communities, and we are committed to elevating the stories of people in harm's way from destructive mining. Our staff and board members include leading experts in the technical, scientific, legal, and policy issues surrounding mining.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
• Wilderness preserved: After 15+ years of advocacy by Earthworks and allies, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) used its Clean Water Act authority to put lasting protections in place for Alaska’s Bristol Bay, effectively stopping the Pebble Mine and preventing significant harm to watersheds and the largest wild salmon fishery on Earth. And, in March 2023, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) finalized the 20-year mineral withdrawal protecting 3,500+ acres from mining in the Little Rocky Mountains in Montana.
• Climate standards improved: The EPA released new proposed rules that, if enforced, will cut oil and gas methane pollution by 87% below 2005 levels. Methane has more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over the first twenty years after it reaches the atmosphere. The EPA informed Earthworks that video evidence from our Optical Gas Imaging cameras filmed in PA and associated coverage in the Wall Street Journal played an important role in strengthening the rule.
• Regulators and corporations held accountable: Earthworks has helped concerned residents file complaints against state regulators. Our complaints have resulted in a series of investigations, enforcement actions, and fines.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Earthworks
Board of directorsas of 11/14/2023
Patricia Weber
Mark Squillace
University of Colorado Law
Kenneth Colburn
Regulatory Assistance Project
Robin Broad
School of International Service at American University
Patricia Weber
All Against the Haul, Honor the Earth, Sightline Institute, Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN)
Casey Camp-Horinek
Ponca Tribe
Gene Collins
Odessa NAACP, Texas NAACP
Jennifer Krill
Earthworks
Karolo Aparicio
San Francisco Foundation
Ranjana Bhandari
Liveable Arlington
Laura Martin
PLAN
Vrinda Manglik
Growald Climate Fund
JoKay Dowell
Indigenous Environmental Network
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 08/23/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.