Earthjustice

Earthjustice does not seem to see the big picture of what they do - on Kauai they have effectively delayed and blocked a huge propsed clean energy project by Kauai Island Utility Cooperative to develop a clean power generation storage faciity and water dam project on West Kauai involving the Waimea River. KIUC had gone through over a decade of planning and mitigation of many factors for this - including a major water agreement involing all major stakeholders and an approved environmental impact study by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. After this green light go ahead by the State a small disgruntled group of locals - NIMBY - protested some of water diversion from the river for the hydro generation facility, and the resulting water irrigation dispersion for Hawaiian Homelands and development of agriculture business on Kauai - when this had alrady been decided in prior water mediation agreements. But Earth Justice took on their case for these minority of people citing absence in EIS of the water diversion may casue previous pesticides on the land to wash into the ocean - when there was no way to measure this unknown impact and the state had already approved it. This caused the project construction to be delayed to the point where it may not be feasble to go ahead, after almost a year later delay instead of further litagtion costs KIUC has agreed to drop the water diversion, reducing 25% of power generation as well as the benefit of the irrgation water for agriculture development. Earthjustice is supposed to be for enabling clean power generation, as well as sustainable developments, but they actually blocked this to the point where KIUC may have to drop the whole total project as construction timelines have been missed, costs increased- which end result in continued electric generation by oil instead of the clean solutions project. Bottomline Earthjustice involvement in this litigation and blocking this clean energy project will continue depedence on fossil fuels for electric generation for many years to come on Kauai. I also emailed people at Earthjustice with my concerns last year and no one responded-not even a courtesy reply. I have donated to them in the past but will not anymore. Earthjustice failed to see that in any project of this size, it is not possible to please alll the people all the time, but theoverall outcome of the project would have benfited the vast majority of the people on Kauai with clean energy and development of sustainable fresh agriculture crops grown on Kauai.

My favorite of all time, Earthjustice is the leading non-profit that supplies other non-profits with lawyers to fight on the environmental front lines in court. Donating and/or spreading the word are great ways to serve a broad spectrum of environmental non-profits. When you learn that an environmental non-profit has gone to court, they may well be doing so with Earthjustice's attorneys. Support Earthjustice... 'Because the Earth Needs a Good Lawyer'.

I am a former employee of Earthjustice. I would recommend against contributing funds or working for this organization. In my experience, the organization is so big that it essentially functions as a corporation. The organization spends too much on wholly unnecessary things and treats its junior employees poorly. I saw a concerning amount of turnover among junior staff while working there, and particularly among staff of color. Would you donate to a law firm? If not, I wouldn’t donate to Earthjustice either. Your funds would be better spent directed toward environmental justice and indigenous groups.

I have been contributing to Earthjustice since it was the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund. Unfortunately, even with environmental laws on the books, litigation ls often the only effective enforcement option. That is particularly true during periods such as under the current federal administration which has shown total disdain for all of the current environmental protections. Earthjustice represents most environmental organizations and private litigants in major environmental issues. It is truly an indispensable organization.

Because Mother Earth Can Use A Good Lawyer . . . . Earthjustice stands up to causes relevant to ourselves, our children and our children's children. And have given me an opportunity to help support their causes that have a direct effect on our environment and global warming.

A "big salary" is relative (especially for someone living in San Francisco). How does anyone know what good causes that salary supports, etc.?

I'm guessing some of the "best" charities are underwritten by people or businesses that profit from them. I'm not a big fan of how Big Pharma does business, for example, and charities that "go for the cure", or have a higher priority of supplying more antibiotics, etc., than providing clean water. Charities that look great re fund raising can be a front of sorts for too much treatment of one kind or another. I don't mean to be too obtuse here, and prefer readers think a bit more broadly about agendas, and not hyperfocus on what looks like a reasonable salary.

In regards to some of the earlier posts, I believe that deciding to withhold donations based on the well-deserved salary of the executive director is closed-minded. If you want the best work for your dollar, hire the best people. If you consider the salary that was forgone to take a position in the non-profit sector, the education and expertise required to achieve the leadership position, and the cost of living to raise a family and send children to college, I believe that non-profit leaders deserve top dollar for a job well-done. Stating that you won't consider contributing to an organization with a well-paid leader is equivalent to saying that teachers and firefighters don't deserve to earn a high wage because they too are public servants. Let's build a society where we value highly qualified environmental leaders and compensate them accordingly. Bravo Earthjustice!

I wonder why so many of the negative reviews were done by charity navigator people? Look on the bottom of the review and it says review by Charitynavigator

I, as with other people, am no longer supporting organizations where the CEO/President makes in excess of $250,000. I don't make anywhere near that and find it objectionable that such huge portions of my donations are going to one person. I appreciate Charity Navigator bringing transparency to the world of non-profits. Thank you.

I believe the compensation paid to president is too excessive.
$322,092--Donnell Van Noppen President

For many years I have given to Earthjustice and I think they serve a very important purpose, but this year I am withholding my contribution because it seems that Trip Van Noppen's salary is increasing at an accelerating rate at a time when most of us have not seen a raise (in fact more likely the opposite) in years. Noone needs $320k a year to live comfortably and I cannot in good conscience give to a charity whose CEO takes such a paycheck.

The environment is constantly under threat by corporations, politicians and , sadly, much of the public. The only recourse is to take these threatening sources to court. Too much of our society is greed-driven. We are destroying our own habitat at an alarming rate. Earthjustice is absolutely necessary to maintain any kind of sane approach to environmental issues. Both political parties are destructive. Earthjustice is a light that shines in an otherwise dark reality. They are courageous and organized in their approach.

Very active organization with easy online petition access. Makes a difference in many areas. Very imaginative, well written and professional emails. Worthy of support. Frequent communications.

I've supported Earthjustice because they've taken action on a substantial number of cases and gotten substantial results. Anyone who bothers to research the history of the extraction and use of natural resources will agree that the earth needs a good lawyer. Technologies like mountaintop removal and hydraulic fracturing need to be opposed, and our advocates need teeth. Chanting protesters are not going to stop BP, Exxon, or the Peabody Coal Company from destroying the earth. Existing laws, or lack of enforcement, enable corporations to plunder, and legal action is needed to stop them.

The more I learn about this organization, the less I believe in its mission. Yes, the environment needs protection. However, suing the government and other entities does not always enact the proper change that is needed for true protection. On top of the fact that they later seek attorney's fees and costs from the government makes me even more suspicious of their true goals. I'd rather send my money to the Nature Conservancy that actually does collaborative work to help the environment rather that confrontational tactics. The true impact of this organization is about litigation and no collaboration which in the end only fills their pockets with other people's monies.

I am grateful for the work done, but wish less was spent on fund raising. I get too many solicitations even after I have requested only once/year.

Compensation of Leaders (FYE 06/2011)
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$322,092 1.09% Donnell Van Noppen President

Regardless of their 4-Star ratings, I'm having trouble getting motivated to send donations to charities whose presidents are getting salaries over $100k.

Charities are not businesses, and pay for executive directors should not chase the for-profit corporate model. For that reason, I am declining to renew support for charities with executive compensation that exceeds $250,000 or 1% of budget (for national organizations). If the work is so important that I should support it, then I expect charity leaders to be willing to support the work at several times my income.

Earth Justice states 'because the earth needs a good attorney'. So true, and I am sooooo thankful that Earth Justice is here working to inform and ensure that the earth remains or recovers to be a healthy place for all who share this planet. They act where so many others sit on the sidelines and just make noise. They took up the water-rights fight in Hawaii when many thought it was a losing battle. They never took that stance, and Hawaii and the local people are better because of Earth Justice. Thank you.

Earth Justice makes sure that environmental laws and regulations do more than just sit on the books. They take on meaningful fights and collaborate with other organizations so they're using their resources wisely. Nonprofit legal groups can easily end up cherry picking high-profile and/or winnable cases, but Earth Justice takes cases on their merits. I feel good about supporting their work because I know where my money is going.

An awesome organization to donate to, 81% of all donations go to the work they do. I joined their monthly giving program and it is a great way to stay involved and make my money go further (less mail, they can count on my funds monthly, and I am member of a special group). I have had a few one-on-one interactions with Earthjustice and every time they have been polite and helpful. Keep up the good work. You have my support!