• The Izzak Walton League. The Izzak Walton League takes a common-sense approach toward protecting our country's natural heritage and improving outdoor recreation opportunities for all Americans.  It is one of the oldest and most respected conservation organizations in America.

• The National Wildlife Federation.  The Mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for all of our children's futures.

• Minnesota Conservation Federation. The Minnesota Conservation Federation is a common sense conservation organization made up of hunters, anglers, and others who are dedicated to the enjoyment, education, and ethical use of our natural resources. MCF provides means for all members to become involved in sound conservation policy.  They have been the Minnesota affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation since 1936.  Their relationship is a good one; as they work to develop national and global conservation policy.  As one of the state’s most effective wildlife groups, it has helped put the state of Minnesota at the top for its environmental policies.

• The Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people.  They've protected more than 117 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of rivers worldwide — and they operate more than 100 marine conservation projects globally.

• The Natural Resources Defense Council. The Natural Resources Defense Council's purpose is to safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants, animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends.

• The Defenders of Wildlife.The Defenders of Wildlife is a national, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities.  They work to protect and restore America’s native wildlife, safeguard habitat, resolve conflicts, work across international borders, and educate and mobilize the public.

• Clean Water Action. Clean Water Action is a national organization of diverse people and groups working in four areas: 1) Clean Water – Assuring supplies of clean, safe and affordable water for all Americans, now and for the future, 2) Protecting Health – Preventing health-threatening pollution at its source.3) Creating Jobs – Building an economy based on environmentally safe jobs and businesses, 4) Making Democracy Work – Empowering people to take charge of their environmental future.

• The Wilderness Society. The Wilderness Society is a “spirited people protecting America's Wilderness since 1935 through the potent combination of science, advocacy and education.”  Their Mission is to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild lands.  The Wilderness Society does this by bringing to bear their scientific expertise, analysis, and bold advocacy at the highest levels for saving, protecting, and restoring America's wilderness areas.  Their programs Include: 1) protecting the last great American wilderness area, the Arctic Wildlife Refuge, from oil and gas drilling, 2) staving off logging and road building on 58 million acres of road less lands, 3) curbing the abuse of our lands by off-road vehicle users, and 4) protecting wild places within the lower 48 states from rampant oil development.

• The Global Warming Alliance. The GWA is a campaigning group dedicated to promoting initiatives to arrest the trend of climate change.  A body of concerned people in Wentworth, Surrey, England, established the GW Alliance.  They seek to draw together the many disparate companies, research bodies and individuals who are engaged in finding solutions to the fundamental atmospheric changes taking place on the earth.  They carry out research in atmospheric science to broaden understanding of this highly complex arena.  They seek pragmatic solutions and endorse industrial initiatives of a viable nature, as well as individual efforts to stabilize climate change in order to continue human life on this planet.  They further acknowledge that adjustments will not be easy and will use their scientific advisors resource to put forth sensible & logical solutions.

• Global Green USA. Global Green USA is a national environmental organization addressing three of the greatest challenges facing humanity: 1) Stemming global climate change by creating green buildings and cities, 2) Eliminating weapons of mass destruction that threaten lives and the environment, and 3) Providing clean, safe drinking water for the 2.4 billion people who lack access to clean water.  Global Green was founded in order to create a new approach to solving the world's most pressing environmental challenges by reconnecting humanity to the environment. Global Green's unique approach merges innovative research, cutting-edge community based projects and targeted advocacy that: educates hundreds of millions of people annually, leverages billions of dollars for environmental initiatives, and implements ground-breaking environmental policy.

• The Ocean Conservancy. The Ocean Conservancy promotes healthy and diverse ocean ecosystems and opposes practices that threaten ocean life and human life.  Through research, education, and science-based advocacy, Ocean Conservancy informs, inspires, and empowers people to speak and act on behalf of the oceans.  In all its work, Ocean Conservancy strives to be the world's foremost advocate for the oceans.

• The Sierra Club. Inspired By Nature, The Sierra Club works together to protect our country and the world.  The Club is America's oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization.  John Muir, who also helped establish the National Park System, founded the Club in 1892.  It is a leader in global warming awareness, & climate change.

• The World Wildlife Fund. The largest multinational conservation organization in the world, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by 1.2 million members in the United States and close to 5 million globally.  WWF's mission is the conservation of nature.  Using the best available scientific knowledge and advancing that knowledge where they can, they work to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth and the health of ecological systems.  It is a leader in the fight against global warming and climate change.

• Environmental Defense. The Environmental Defense is dedicated to protecting the environmental rights of all people, including future generations.  Among these rights is access to clean air and water, healthy and nourishing food, and flourishing ecosystems.  They partner with business, government, and communities to find practical environmental solutions.

• Take Pride America. Take Pride in America® is a national partnership program aimed at increasing volunteer service on America’s public lands.  It is the goal of Take Pride to empower volunteers from every corner of America to maintain and enhance America’s natural, cultural, and historical sites.  Take Pride encourages citizen stewardship through an innovative public awareness campaign and an interactive web site that showcases volunteer opportunities at natural and cultural sites.

Green (SRI) Investing-

• Social Funds.  Com. With over 10,000 pages of information on SRI mutual funds, community investments, corporate research, shareowner actions, and daily social investment news, it is the Internet’s largest personal finance site devoted to socially responsible investing.

Environmental Certification

The Forest Stewardship Council

Sustainable Forestry Initiative

The Environmental Choice Program

The Rainforest Alliance

The Chlorine Free Products Association

• Social Invest.  Org. The Social Investment Forum (SIF) is the only national membership association dedicated to advancing the concept, practice, and growth of socially and environmentally responsible investing (SERI).  Their members integrate economic, environmental, social and governance factors into their investment decisions; the Forum provides programs and resources to advance this work. SIF's membership includes more than 500 social investment practitioners and institutions, including financial professionals, analysts, portfolio managers, banks, mutual funds, researchers, foundations, community development organizations, and public educators.

• The Calvert Fund Group. At Calvert, the investment advisors will offer you a full family of mutual funds designed to help you achieve financial security, while helping to build a sustainable world and protect everyone’s quality of life.  Though bucking strong headwinds recently, the Calvert Fund Group believes “that in the long run actively managed socially responsible funds will have returns that are equal to or better than the returns of non-socially screened portfolios, while also advancing the goals of corporate leadership and environmental and social responsibility that are important to all of us.”  (Source: The Calvert Report: “Reading the Headwinds,” Feb. 13, 2007)

• The Green Century Funds.  With Green Century's Mutual Funds, you can use your investment dollars to help the environment.  Green Century seeks competitive returns while they put your money to work for cleaner air, cleaner water, and a healthier planet.  They believe that, "in the long run, companies that now seek to protect the environment may be more profitable than those companies that pollute.  And that means a better future for everyone.”  The company manages two mutual funds and is wholly owned by non-profit environmental groups.  (Source: greencentury.com/homepage)