Climate
Non-Profits
New York
Whether you’re looking to volunteer, learn, donate, or get involved in local climate solutions, there’s an organization for you.
This list includes a few of our favorite non-profits working on policy, advocacy, climate justice, urban greening, environmental education, and more.
Environmental Policy and Advocacy
NY League of Conservation Voters
The NY League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) is a nonprofit organization that advocates for environmental sustainability and conservation in New York State. They produce an annual environmental scorecard to evaluate the performance of state legislators, promoting transparency and accountability. NYLCV works on clean energy initiatives, supporting policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. They also prioritize environmental education, providing resources and engaging communities to raise awareness about environmental issues and encourage sustainable practices.
Alliance for a Green Economy
The Alliance for a Green Economy (AGREE) is a New York State-based organization dedicated to building a just and sustainable energy system. AGREE focuses on advocating for renewable energy policies and addressing environmental justice issues. They work to advance renewable energy by promoting policies supporting wind and solar power. AGREE also advocates for energy affordability, aiming to ensure that clean energy access is accessible to all, particularly low-income communities. The organization actively supports environmental justice initiatives, striving for equitable access to clean energy and opposing environmentally harmful industries in vulnerable communities.
350 Brooklyn
350 Brooklyn is a grassroots organization focused on climate change action in the Brooklyn area. As a local chapter of 350.org, they advocate for fossil fuel divestment and encourage institutions to withdraw financial support from the fossil fuel industry. 350 Brooklyn places an emphasis on climate justice, recognizing the disproportionate impacts of climate change on marginalized communities and working to address systemic inequalities. They promote renewable energy solutions, pushing for policies and programs that facilitate the transition away from fossil fuels and toward clean, sustainable energy sources.
Spring Street Climate Fund
The Spring Street Climate Fund is a New York-based organization that supports high-impact policy campaigns that can make New York a model state for climate progress. Spring Street identifies opportunities to win scalable climate solutions and invests in the grassroots climate campaigns that can succeed. They focus on three main campaigns: #GasFreeNY, ElectrifyNY, and NYRenews. #GasFreeNY aims to make New York the first state in the nation to require zero emissions in new construction buildings. ElectrifyNY seeks to electrify New York’s entire public fleet of vehicles, starting with 50,000 school buses. NYRenews advocates for securing billions of dollars from New York State to fund a just and inclusive clean energy transition.
NY Renews
NY Renews is a coalition of over 300 environmental, justice, faith, labor, and community groups, and the force behind the nation's most progressive climate law, New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). The CLCPA sets ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to renewable energy sources, while ensuring that at least 35% of the state's clean energy funds are invested in disadvantaged communities. NY Renews advocates for policies that advance climate justice, create good jobs, and hold polluters accountable.
Environmental Justice and Community
WE ACT
WE ACT for Environmental Justice (WE ACT) is a New York-based organization that works to build healthy communities by ensuring that people of color and/or low-income residents participate meaningfully in the creation of sound and fair environmental health and protection policies and practices. WE ACT focuses on urban quality of life issues such as climate justice, clean air, access to good jobs, public health, pollution, and sustainable and equitable land use. They use community-based participatory research, evidence-based campaigns, education, and advocacy to empower communities and hold decision-makers accountable.
NY Environmental Justice Alliance
The NY Environmental Justice Alliance (NYC-EJA) is a citywide membership network of grassroots organizations from low-income neighborhoods and communities of color that struggle for environmental justice. NYC-EJA empowers its member organizations to advocate for improved environmental conditions and against inequitable environmental burdens by coordinating campaigns that inform City and State policies. They focus on issues such as climate justice and community resiliency, waste equity, waterfront justice, just transitions and energy, transportation justice, and extreme heat and air quality. They involve people of color and other stakeholders directly affected by environmental justice issues in leadership roles to resolve them.
Align NY
Align NY is an alliance of community and labor organizations united for a just and sustainable New York. Align NY works at the intersection of economy, environment, and equity to make change and build movement. Their model addresses the root causes of economic injustice by forging strategic coalitions, shaping the public debate through strategic communications, and developing policy solutions that make an impact. They focus on campaigns such as Transform Don't Trash NYC, which aims to reform the city's waste management system to create good jobs, protect workers' rights, and reduce environmental impacts; Climate Works for All, which advocates for equitable and ambitious climate policies that create green jobs and invest in low-income communities; and Amazon Accountability, which challenges Amazon's exploitative practices and demands accountability from the corporation.
Sustainable South Bronx
Sustainable South Bronx (SSBx) is a community-based organization that works to address environmental and economic issues in the South Bronx and beyond. SSBx was founded in 2001 by Majora Carter, a Bronx native and environmental justice activist. SSBx advocates for parks and green development, promotes environmental justice, and provides green jobs training and placement for residents. They have programs such as NYC CoolRoofs, which coats rooftops with reflective paint to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions; Intervine, which installs and maintains green infrastructure such as green roofs, rain gardens, and urban farms; and YouthBuild, which offers education and career pathways for young adults in the construction and maintenance fields.
Environmental Education and Outreach
Green City Force
Green City Force (GCF) is a nonprofit organization that trains young adults from low-income communities across New York City for careers in the green and inclusive economy. GCF is an AmeriCorps program that engages its participants in national service related to the environment, such as installing and maintaining green infrastructure, conducting energy audits and retrofits, and growing and distributing fresh produce. GCF also provides education, life skills, and professional development support to help its graduates access good jobs or college. GCF's vision is to build a green city where everyone can thrive.
Solar One
Solar One is a nonprofit organization that provides education, training, and technical assistance to foster sustainability and resilience in diverse urban environments. Solar One was founded in 2004 to manage Stuyvesant Cove Park, a 2-acre park on the East River that showcases native plants and renewable energy. Solar One also operates a green energy education center that hosts events and programs on environmental topics. Solar One's programs include Green Design Lab, which engages K-12 students and teachers in STEM education and green initiatives; Green Workforce, which trains and certifies individuals for careers in the green economy; Here Comes Solar, which makes solar energy accessible and affordable for low-income communities; and Clean Energy Connections, which connects cleantech entrepreneurs and innovators with investors and policymakers.
GreenHomeNYC
GreenHomeNYC is a volunteer-run nonprofit organization that promotes an energy efficient and sustainable built environment and supports green professional development in New York City. GreenHomeNYC provides sustainability information to the general public and technical education to advance sustainability careers through a variety of programs, events, peer-to-peer mentoring, and networking opportunities. GreenHomeNYC's programs include monthly forums on various environmental topics, green careers workshops and panels, green building tours, and a database of green buildings across the city.
RETI Center
The RETI Center is a non-profit organization in Brooklyn, New York, that educates, trains, and works with local youth, experts, professionals, and community members to transform New York City from one that is driven by fossil fuel to one balancing equity, ecology, and economy. They believe that experiential learning and innovative ideas empower society to adapt and thrive together. Some of the RETI Center's programs include Local Power, to builds community solar and train new energy experts, the Floating Garden, to help the urban coastline go green again, and the Barge Field Station on the water in Red Hook, offering educational programs and events.
Urban Greening and Community Gardening
New York Restoration Project
New York Restoration Project (NYRP) is a nonprofit organization that believes nature is a fundamental human right and works to provide access to high-quality public green space for all New Yorkers. NYRP was founded in 1995 by Bette Midler, a singer, actress, and environmental activist, who started by picking up trash in a park. NYRP partners with local communities, public agencies, and the private sector to renovate gardens, restore parks, plant trees, promote urban agriculture, and build partnerships that transform the city's landscape. NYRP also runs programs such as free tree giveaways, environmental education, community events, and forest restoration.
GrowNYC
GrowNYC is a nonprofit organization that provides environmental programs that improve New York City's quality of life and empower all New Yorkers to secure a clean and healthy environment for future generations. GrowNYC was founded in 1970 as the Council on the Environment of New York City (CENYC), a policy-based organization that wrote reports on environmental issues. Since then, GrowNYC has evolved into a citywide sustainability resource that offers a variety of programs, events, and services. GrowNYC's programs include food access and agriculture, which provides access to fresh and local food through farmers markets, youth markets, fresh food box pick-ups, and wholesale distribution; conservation, which promotes waste reduction and recycling through food scrap and textile collection, community reuse events, and education and outreach; green space, which builds and supports community and school gardens, urban farms, and green infrastructure; and education, which engages students and teachers in environmental STEM education and green initiatives.
GreenThumbNYC
GreenThumbNYC is a program of NYC Parks that supports and educates community gardens and urban farming across the five boroughs. GreenThumbNYC was established in 1978 as the nation's largest urban gardening program, in response to the city's financial crisis and the abandonment of public and private land. GreenThumbNYC provides free garden materials, technical assistance, educational workshops, and seasonal programs to help neighborhood volunteers transform vacant lots into green spaces that strengthen communities. GreenThumbNYC also organizes signature public events such as the GreenThumb GrowTogether conference, Harvest Fair, and Open Garden NYC. GreenThumbNYC's mission is to preserve open space and ensure that every New Yorker has access to nature.
GreenThumbNYC
GreenThumbNYC is a program of NYC Parks that supports and educates community gardens and urban farming across the five boroughs. GreenThumbNYC was established in 1978 as the nation's largest urban gardening program, in response to the city's financial crisis and the abandonment of public and private land. GreenThumbNYC provides free garden materials, technical assistance, educational workshops, and seasonal programs to help neighborhood volunteers transform vacant lots into green spaces that strengthen communities. GreenThumbNYC also organizes signature public events such as the GreenThumb GrowTogether conference, Harvest Fair, and Open Garden NYC. GreenThumbNYC's mission is to preserve open space and ensure that every New Yorker has access to nature.
Waterfront and Coastal Conservation
The Waterfront Alliance
The Waterfront Alliance is a nonprofit organization that works to build, transform, revitalize, and protect accessible waterfronts for all communities. The Waterfront Alliance was founded in 2007 as a partnership of over 1000 organizations, including community groups, businesses, environmental groups, and civic leaders, who share a common vision for a vibrant and resilient New York Harbor. The Waterfront Alliance advocates for policies and projects that advance waterfront access, sustainability, resilience, equity, and economic development. The Waterfront Alliance also develops and implements programs and events that engage and educate the public about the waterfront, such as the Waterfront Conference, the Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines (WEDG), the City of Water Day, and the Heroes of the Harbor awards.
The Hudson River Foundation
The Hudson River Foundation (HRF) is a nonprofit organization that seeks to make science integral to decision-making with regard to the Hudson River and its watershed, and to support competent stewardship of this extraordinary resource. HRF was established in 1981 as a result of a settlement agreement between environmental groups and the power companies that operate on the river. HRF funds and conducts scientific research, provides grants and fellowships, develops and disseminates information and analysis, and convenes stakeholders and the public on issues related to the river and its watershed. HRF also manages the New York-New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program (HEP), a partnership of federal, state, and local agencies, scientists, civic and environmental organizations, and the public that works to protect, conserve, and restore the harbor estuary.
