The club has also closely aligned with the broader liberal ideological movement. During the George W. Bush administration, the Sierra Club was a co-sponsor of pro-abortion events. It also joined a couple of anti-war coalitions that opposed the war in Iraq. Michael Brune serves as the executive director of the Sierra Club. He formerly worked at the Rainforest Action Network.
The organization has an elected and all volunteer board of directors. Aaron Mair serves as the president while Robin Mann serves as the vice president. Susana Reyes serves as the secretary and Liz Walsh serves as treasurer.
Although the Sierra Club itself has not embraced eco-terrorism, it has attracted some who have. In , Paul Watson was elected to its board of directors. Watson is infamous for using steel-hulled ships and ramming and sinking whaling vessels. The Sierra Club Foundation is the tax-exempt charitable arm that provides financial support for the Sierra Club. The foundation and club are heavily backed by numerous corporations.
The foundation is also heavily backed by other foundations, left-wing organizations, and even some government agencies. The Sierra Club is a c 4 organization that can engage in independent political expenditures. Among the expenditures the club made in the election was a poll from Public Policy Polling.
The club also contracted out voter contact to Winning Connections, a Washington D. House members. In , the Sierra Club was critical the effort by Democrats to retain the Senate and take control of the House of Representatives. In the election, the club did not support a single Republican candidate. Its biggest target was U. Senate candidate Joni Ernst R-Iowa. Senate seat vacated by John Kerry in He won. In , the club supported the reelection of Democratic President Barack Obama. Senate race in New Mexico.
Senate Heather Wilson. Common lands and natural preserves were prevalent among the Old World rich in the 17th century and prior Haines Continuing in this tradition, a major impetus for the creation of the Sierra Club was the preservation of land for conservation, such as with Yosemite as a public trust in and Yellowstone as the first national park in He appreciated the differing flora and fauna in all the areas he traveled ibid, 51 , a definite basis for his later interest in conservation.
John Muir and the Sierra Club came about because of an interest at that time. As mentioned above, the preservation of lands for the national trust was an important concept in the last half of the 19th century. Continuing in its efforts, the club works with other groups in lobbying for Mr. Not all of its efforts resulted in success. Muir and the Sierra Club opposed the damming of the Valley in , but Congress flooded the valley in ibid. Throughout the 20th century the Sierra Club has continued to advocate for the preservation and continuance of natural lands.
The first official chapter was started in in southern California, while in the Club supported the bill that created the National Park Service ibid. The organization continued its conservation efforts by contributing money to preserve lands in Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks ibid. By the s the Sierra Club had chapters on both coasts and was fighting to get Congress to pass the Wilderness Act, which it did in ibid. Much of what it has done in the time since relates to its importance today.
Because of its historical success and with its dual focus on experiencing nature and advocacy on behalf of that nature, the Sierra Club is considered one of the most influential environmental groups in the U. The Club is considered to be a moderate organization, especially as compared to extreme environmental groups like Earth First!
The Sierra Club works with opposing groups—such as loggers and oil companies— to work for a common solution and compromise on environmental solutions. For many regular Americans the Sierra Club and the environmental movement are synonymous. One of the reasons many Americans know of the Sierra Club is because of their historic ties to national parks, wilderness areas, and other federally mandated preserves.
They have historically supported, and continue to support, the enhancement and establishment of national parks. The Sierra Club not only supports legislation on behalf of almost all land conservation, but also its volunteers help in numerous ways by spending countless hours doing trail maintenance, relocating exotic plants, and performing other services. Today the Sierra Club continues to play an important role in lobbying government to establish natural preserves by working with other environmental groups as a team.
Today, the overall importance of the Sierra Club lies in its successful leadership role among environmental groups. In contrast to most other well-known philanthropic organizations, the Sierra Club is organized as a c 4 in the Internal Revenue Service. This designation means that although the organization is tax-exempt and a nonprofit, the monies people donate to it are not tax-deductible, as would be the case if it were a c 3. These organizations are almost always exempt from state income and franchise taxes.
Because of its IRS status, the Sierra Club is able to participate more fully in the electoral process than other environmental organizations, most of which are c 3 s.
This ability to lobby is a strength, but the lack of tax-deduction is a weakness. The Nature Conservancy could then ask the Sierra Club in return to lobby on behalf of an environmental cause that is important to its members.
In general, the overall connection of the Sierra Club to philanthropy is its status as a c 4 , its ability therein to affect governmental change through its lobbying, and its success at working with different environmental groups.
This paper was developed by a student taking a Philanthropic Studies course taught at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. Sierra Club. Grade Level:. The Sierra Club, with over , members nationwide, is the oldest grassroots environmental organization in the United States. Sierra Club California is based in Sacramento. It has a staff of advocates and organizers who defend and advance environmental policies that fight climate disrupting pollution, protect air and water quality, advance clean energy, support parks, and preserve natural resources, wildlife and wildlife habitat.
The staff also works to keep members around the state informed about legislative and regulatory activities affecting the environment. Click here to see a list of some of our recent accomplishments.
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