Too many outdated reviews. Current bent to clean energy in poor and developing countries. NRDC defines clean energy as wind and solar. Note they leave our hydro-electric and nuclear, both of which are the cleanest and very competitive. Why? Simple, they hate dams and believe migratory fish are too stupid to use a fish ladder and of course they hate nuclear as they see a mushroom cloud at every containment building. Instead they push expensive power onto those who can least afford it. Worse they close off access to low cost power, the single most thing that could life them out of poverty. Many of their self-called experts are not. They prefer very high compensation and expensive offices. Find a better place to donate.
Review from Guidestar
Their site page here isn't even claimed by the NRDC.
Yet this site Great Nonprofits.org are soliciting for a donation for NRDC.
Additionally, the reviews on NRDC are very, very old.
I like your fight for the bees Aside from a few blemishes eg. Holdings in oil and gas, you still demand respect.
In the fight against Bayer, you should take the gloves off and create a no holds barred tussle.
Bayer is a criminal enterprise! This started during WWII when Bayer rendered fat from Jewish prisoners and used it to make soap. Have no mercy for these goons from Leberkussen, they have none for the world and all of us. Without bees we are in a gigantic heap of trouble !
Looks more like a political organization rather than one focused on preserving nature. got some "hate mail" from them blaming big government on bee population.
Review from Guidestar
It is with with great regret that I donated to this organization back in March of 2018. They obviously sold my name and address to EVERY ENVIRONMENTAL organization on the planet and every other organization looking for money. I will NEVER again trust an organization that I am not personally involved in. LESSON LEARNED!!
One star because I could not enter zero. Please lose my name and address!
Review from Guidestar
NRDC does exactly what it's name states: Defends our country's precious natural resources for future generations. Whether our natural resources are jeopardized by corporate profit motives, governmental inaction or public inattention, NRDC is on the job, monitoring the health of our natural resources, identifying threats, forging solutions, and taking action. They have a solid reputation for working with landowners to partner on the preservation of these resources. They contribute to and utilize scientific research that adheres to the rigorous standards recognized by professional scientists around the world. I am thankful for their work.
Review from Guidestar
NRDC is clearly a terrible non Profit. They spread fake science and enrich themselves. Won't donate again.
Serious environmental work. NRDC advocates for environmental causes relevant for our day, our planet, and future generations. It is for this reason that they get my vote as well as my support. Thank you NRDC!
I went to one of the fundraising socials and met one of the program directors and was thoroughly impressed. He spent over an hour answering my questions and I learned so much - from federal and California energy policies to Eco-tourism, to home energy audits. Thoroughly knowledgeable and passonate staff!
If it is OK for Bob Redford then it is OK for me. Their record in the courts is enough to justify a donation.
Ask them how many states they have approved on drilling in? Ask them what their stance is? Ask them if they try to ban drilling or if they only pass road use, land use laws? Ask them if they want a ban or if they MITIGATE damage while trying to protect the lives of people in the way of drilling... Ask them FLAT OUT, what their position is.
They will do nothing any different in any other state they have worked with the industry in.. they will miitigate damage, and side with industry.
Non profits can say anything they want. It isn't law. I can say I'm santa clause. People who are stupid enough to believe it, will continue to contribute to this organization, and to me as Santa Clause. Until they PUBICALLY STATE EXTRACTION INDUSTRY NEED TO BE FORCED TO PROTECT THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF PEOPLE, don't believe anything they say..
Review from Guidestar
I am unclear why NRDC needs 0.2 billion in assets. I am inclined to contribute to organizations that spend above 90% on program.
I am concerned that NRDC seems to view utility firms as sufficient to manage energy efficiency programs, when programs operated by local government or local community organizations would better answer to the people. Utility firms in my area have brought in out-of-state energy audit providers that have essentially taken the market from small businesses that have served Illinois and Wisconsin residents for decades. As the large firms preferred by utilities move in they hire away staff trained by local firms. I have brought this to NRDCs attention . . . no reply.
I would like to see NRDC and other environmental organizations consider more democratic template, less PR/spin/buzz, and tap grassroots energy and wisdom in their governance. I will be grateful to learn of any environmental organization that solicits membership when selecting issues and stands.
Review from CharityNavigator
Not sure why they got such a high rating when after reading their 2010 tax return, half of their donated money went toward staff salaries which are administrative costs.
Review from CharityNavigator
Unfortunately the NRDC has been on the wrong side of battles over toxics for a long time.
Most notably, they supported NAFTA, one of several international trade agreements being used to impose industry-friendly regulations about toxic emissions, and to push pesticides and genetically modified crops, on other countries.
Their name really says it all: Natural Resources Defense Fund. They take money ('Fund') to defend natural resources. But how was it determined that nature is a 'resource', to be managed, controlled, and used by humans, rather than something that exists for its own reasons, and with its own priorities?
Some other explicit examples of NRDC not supporting environmental justice:
They refused to oppose the pesticide program against the light brown apple moth (aka. LBAM), which injured at least hundreds, if not thousands of people in California, and killed hundreds of birds in the Monterey Bay. They questioned the validity of the claims of the injured, and stubbornly defended the use of the injurious synthetic 'pheromones' pesticides, to eradicate a moth which even the agency involved in the program admitted had not done any crop damage:
http://www.sfdph.org/dph/files/EHSdocs/ehsLBAM/NRDC.pdf
http://www.dontspraycalifornia.org/lbam.html
Currently they are defending the electricity, gas, and water utilities' installation of digital 'Smart' meters, which have been injuring and displacing many residents with pulsing emissions of radio-frequency radiation and dirty electricity from the meters' switching mode power supply:
http://stopsmartmeters.org/2011/07/26/the-green-sheen-wearing-thin-how-corporate-environmental-organizations-are-providing-cover-for-the-mounting-ecological-catastrophe-of-the-%E2%80%9Csmart-grid%E2%80%9D/
http://www.kpfa.org/archive/id/75265
NRDC has also been linked to wetlands developers:
http://www.nonprofitwatch.org/nrdc/
The organization is included in an important expose about 'green' groups that are involved in greenwashing:
http://www.thenation.com/article/wrong-kind-green
And I also echo others who shared their opinions in the archived comments of this site (see link at the bottom of the reviews page), that it is inappropriate for a 'nonprofit' to pay anyone a 6-digit salary.
There is really no more doubt. The NRDC is corrupt. There are far better groups to support, who need donations far more urgently to continue their work to defend communities under assault from toxic corporate greed, than the NRDC.
Review from CharityNavigator
I've worked with several environmental advocacy organizations, and have been volunteering for NRDC for the past several months. I noticed that there has been some concern that when a person takes action on a website and sends a message to a government agency (like the US Wildlife Services or the EPA), the agency may post it online. This is in every activist website policy, just as it is in NRDC’s. Keep in mind NRDC's work has definitely paid off; online activists have helped save millions of acres of wildlife and stopped countless polluters from endangering our health. I trust activists demonstrate the current of their convictions, and continue to take action online to protect the environment.
Review from CharityNavigator
I have donated to NRDC for years and I am confident of the positive impact their work has upon our environment. I particularly like that NRDC is brave and smart enough to calibrate their efforts primarily upon good science---even when that leads sometimes to controversial stands within the Green Movement community.
Review from CharityNavigator
We no longer donate. NRDC clearly bows to industry instead of the environment. It repeats talking points about technology saving us from ourselves instead of defending natural resources like basic requirements for life. NRDC now speaks out for the forced installation of smart meters and the smart grid, which represent a contamination of our "wireless commons", the space around us. Smart meters have created terrible suffering and will continue to do so. If NRDC gets its way there will be no escape anywhere from the invisible unwanted microwave penetration of our homes and communities.
Review from CharityNavigator
You need to be aware that when you send those action letters for NRDC that all that personal information you provide can be posted online in pdf form. I just found out that not only my name and address is on a pdf action letter when you google my name but also it includes my email address and yes my phone number. NRDC knows this can occur but does not feel it is important to point this out to members it's just all part of the risks involved. I think they really should be disclosing this information to members. This letter went to a government agency. I have spoken with an Amy at NRDC HQ but haven't heard back yet. Before I found out about this pdf I had left NRDC due to all the action letters it wanted me to send out. There is no focus with this organization and a lot of busy work and my guess not a lot really gets done or impacted due to the way they take it all on. Another non profit looking busy. I wonder if Redford or Mr. Tishman the Chair would like their personal information posted on a pdf online without their knowing it? They better start googling since who knows what NRDC has gotten them into as well.
I am glad that NRDC does what it does. With their teams of lawyers, scientists, policy experts, and fundraisers, they are able to fight the good fight against private industry, and government, when their practices are hurting the environment. Through the use of litigation, and strategic partnerships, awareness is raised and change happens.
NRDC is one of my favorite environmental groups. It is respected worldwide and when they go into the courts, you can count on them being thorough and very effective. They are an organization that most aspire to in their honesty and ethics. I am a proud member of NRDC and have been for over 20 yrs. They choose their battles wisely and fight with intelligence supported by tons of research and documentation. I am glad they are on OUR side when it comes to protecting the earth and all species from humans. It is through their good work that the big conglomerates who continuesly fight NRDC are able to because NRDC has kept them healthy with clean air, water and habitats!
This organization is hands down the best for organizing a collective voice to protect our earth. The NRDC does everything right- they pick the right battles, use the right strategies, communicate clearly and effectively with their constituents and make a difference. As a fundraiser and grass roots organizer, I aspire to the standards the NRDC lives up to.
I worked with NRDC in my capacity as an employee of another environmental organization and found them to be one the most effective national green groups. They have sound strategy and a powerful network of spokespeople, which enables them to get things done. A very savvy operation.
The NRDC is an organization that is a positive and effective voice in environmental policy. They have a great website where they keep you updated on government issues dealing with the environment. You can send messages to your representatives through their site. It's very easy, and from looking at results, also has an impact. They also have plenty of information on how to improve your own personal environmental choices and how to get involved in your community. They are highly rated by organizations such as Charity Navigator, so if you donate, you know your money is being spent correctly.
The NRDC is organized into several fronts dealing with the spectrum of environmental issues--Climate, Energy, Water, Legislation, etc. This is a well-run and capable organization with a focus on personal power and grassroots change, they have the dedication and prowess to engender lasting change.