Programs and results
What we aim to solve
We want to change the rules by which extractive industries operate especially when they do so at the expense of people, animals, and the environment. Fossil fuel extraction threatens clean water and air, the climate, and community health. As the dirty practice of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking", for oil and gas has exploded across the US, we see a need to lead the fight to protect water, air, biodiversity, and community health from the unique threat posed by this dangerous drilling technique. We believe it is imperative that we make a just transition to 100% renewable energy sources ASAP. Communities across the globe are bullied by mining companies — essential natural resources and livelihoods are destroyed. Earthworks is compelled to protect communities, biodiversity and water resources from the impacts of irresponsible mining and promotes the responsible production and sourcing of metals.
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
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
Goals & Strategy
Learn 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 136 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: Montana’s Cabinet Mountain Wilderness, with its Outstanding Resource Waters, bull trout, and grizzly bears, has not been despoiled by copper and silver mines. Earthworks recently won 2 lawsuits to stop approval of mining permits in this unique and beautiful habitat.
• Climate progress defended: The Trump administration and Congress have attacked environmental standards designed to reduce emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that accelerates short-term climate change. Yet most of these regulations remain on the books after a failed Congressional repeal vote and the EPA and Department of Interior announced their intentions to roll them back, thanks to lobbying, protests, petitions, testimony, public comments, and lawsuits.
• 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.
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
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- 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 12/14/2022
Wilma Subra
Subra Company, Inc.
Gloria Flora
Sustainable Obtainable Solutions
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
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
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 06/03/2022GuideStar 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 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.