League of Conservation Voters
“To turn environmental values into national, state, and local priorities.”
The origin
How they started
The League of Conservation Voters does one thing relentlessly: it holds Congress accountable on the environment, including votes on drilling, mining, and public land protections. Since 1970 it has published the National Environmental Scorecard, which grades every member of Congress on their environmental record and has become the standard reference for green voting histories. LCV also spends heavily in elections to reward or punish lawmakers. It’s based in Washington, DC.
Every year they sign one sentence and file it with the federal government: “SEE PART III, LINE 1”
Where the money went, FY2024
The work, and what it cost
Bringing people into the fight
$50.9MEDUCATED THE PUBLIC ON ISSUES GERMANE TO THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS INCLUDING CONSERVATION, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC HEALTH; ENGAGED THE PUBLIC AND OUR MEMBERS IN SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL & DEMOCRACY AGENDAS; INFORMED...
Including $47,389,679 granted onward, most of it $36,000,000 to Lcv Victory Fund.
Read it as they filed it
EDUCATED THE PUBLIC ON ISSUES GERMANE TO THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS INCLUDING CONSERVATION, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC HEALTH; ENGAGED THE PUBLIC AND OUR MEMBERS IN SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL & DEMOCRACY AGENDAS; INFORMED PUBLIC ABOUT POSITIONS OF CANDIDATES ON KEY ISSUES.
IRS Form 990 Part III, fiscal year 2024, signed under penalty of perjury.
Bringing people into the fight
$43.5MTHE CLIMATE AND ORGANIZING PROGRAM ENLISTS THE ENTIRE LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION MOVEMENT (STATE LEAGUES AND SELECT PARTNERS) TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND MEDIA ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE.
Including $16,773,420 granted onward.
Read it as they filed it
THE CLIMATE AND ORGANIZING PROGRAM ENLISTS THE ENTIRE LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION MOVEMENT (STATE LEAGUES AND SELECT PARTNERS) TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND MEDIA ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO EDUCATE AND ENGAGE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO INSIST THAT THE UNITED STATES BECOME A WORLD LEADER IN HELPING TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE.
IRS Form 990 Part III, fiscal year 2024, signed under penalty of perjury.
Bringing people into the fight
$22.6MEDUCATED AND LOBBIED UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES, HELD PUBLIC OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR POSITIONS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THROUGH VARIOUS EFFORTS INCLUD...
Including $7,416,274 granted onward.
Read it as they filed it
EDUCATED AND LOBBIED UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES, HELD PUBLIC OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR POSITIONS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THROUGH VARIOUS EFFORTS INCLUDING PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SCORECARD.
IRS Form 990 Part III, fiscal year 2024, signed under penalty of perjury.
The work as filed
$18.0MPROVIDED TRAINING, GUIDANCE AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STATE LEAGUE CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS FOR SUPPORT OF THEIR PROGRAMS, INCLUDING BOARD DEVELOPMENT, LIST ENHANCEMENT, FUNDRAISING, PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT SUCH AS GLOB...
Including $9,808,257 granted onward.
Read it as they filed it
PROVIDED TRAINING, GUIDANCE AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STATE LEAGUE CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS FOR SUPPORT OF THEIR PROGRAMS, INCLUDING BOARD DEVELOPMENT, LIST ENHANCEMENT, FUNDRAISING, PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT SUCH AS GLOBAL WARMING, AND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT.
IRS Form 990 Part III, fiscal year 2024, signed under penalty of perjury.
Follow the dollar
92 cents of every dollar goes to the work
That ratio is a good sign, not a scorecard. Plenty of great groups run leaner and lumpier. What matters is the extremes, and League of Conservation Voters is nowhere near one.
Backed on the record by Wilderness Society and Resources Legacy Fund, latest filing FY24.
$135,037,627 programs, $5,751,419 management, $5,796,729 fundraising. Form 990, FY2024.
The people
Who does the work
Honesty note: leadership comes from each year’s federal filing, so it can run a year behind. Orgs that claim their page can update it same-day. Work at LCV? Claim this page.
Those 14,037 volunteers are people who decided this ground was theirs to defend. If LCV is fighting for your place too, the matchmaker will find your way in.
Make it 14,038The filings
14 years of filings
14 years of filings
Total revenue by fiscal year, as filed. Point at the line for any year.
| Year | Revenue |
|---|---|
| 2011 | $11,581,344 |
| 2012 | $37,022,326 |
| 2013 | $19,597,426 |
| 2014 | $38,292,219 |
| 2015 | $20,431,957 |
| 2016 | $38,779,210 |
| 2017 | $32,654,016 |
| 2018 | $65,184,681 |
| 2019 | $33,970,862 |
| 2020 | $78,082,041 |
| 2021 | $114,796,662 |
| 2022 | $68,906,791 |
| 2023 | $67,539,884 |
| 2024 | $159,276,886 |
From $11.6M in 2011 to $159.3M in FY24, with no missed filing in 14 years. The 2024 peak of $159.3M reads like one-time gifts, so trust the line, not the peak.
Fights alongside Center for Biological Diversity (1 shared case) and Earthjustice (1 shared case). Same case, same side, on the federal docket.
The record
On the Hill
League of Conservation Voters files its own federal lobbying reports: 71 filings from 2019 to 2026, naming 334 bills. The filings, at the Senate.
Most filed on environment/superfund, energy/nuclear and natural resources.
League of Conservation Voters files 6 related organizations on its return: League Of Conservation Voters Action Fund (527), Lcv Political Engagement Fund (527), Lcv Victory Fund (527), New American Jobs Fund (527), Chispa Arizona PAC (527) and Givegreen United Action (527). A related organization shares people or purpose; it does not share the books.
Ways in
How to help
92 cents of your dollar goes straight to the work above.
Give on their site ↗Show upVolunteer with themFind their volunteer door on their own site.
Find it on their site ↗SpeakComment and callOpen comment windows and call scripts for fights like these, ready to send.
Public Lands Action NetworkFollowWatch the mapEvery threatened place in the country, tracked, with who stands for each.
Threatened Lands MapStand with League of Conservation Voters
56 years on the ground, 14,037 volunteers, 92 cents of every dollar on the line. That is who is holding it. There is room for one more.