The Green Counter-Establishment: How it Holds Power

Published June 1, 2006

The Nature Conservancy, the Sierra Club, the Audubon Society, and the National Wildlife Federation are examples of traditional conservation organizations that underwent a radical transformation during the rise of modern environmentalism.

On the other hand, Greenpeace, NRDC, the Environmental Working Group, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the Rainforest Action Network are examples of groups that came of age after the first Earth Day.

What both groups have in common is that they recognize the importance of money—and lots of it—to achieve their ends. Whether through land deals, foundation grants, government funding, individual contributions or membership dues, the big environmental groups have found a way to stay big and rich.