30+ Nature and Outdoor Organizations We Love

As many regulations and protections for nature and the outdoors are at stake, we wanted to focus on the organizations that are bringing attention, funds, and time to the great outdoors. Here are some of our Commons favorites.

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• Lonely Whale: Lonely Whale has spearheaded impactful global movements to raise awareness and offer alternatives to problematic plastics, convened a consortium of multi-national brands to create the first global network of ocean-bound plastic supply chains, and supported the global youth movement with the tools and network needed to advance their efforts.
• Re:Wild: Re:wild protects and restores the wild because the solutions to our most pressing challenges — climate change, biodiversity loss, and threats to human health — lie in nature. Re:wild works with a global network of 500+ highly effective conservation partners, many of whom are Indigenous peoples and local communities, in nearly 90 countries. 
• NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council): NRDC is a national environmental advocacy group that takes climate action with the help of 700 scientists, lawyers, and other environmental specialists to protect public health and safeguard nature. Get updates on our issues.

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• Cool Earth: The rainforest is a vital carbon sink. Cool Earth supports Indigenous people and local communities that have lived in balance with the rainforest for generations.
• Surfrider Foundation: The Surfrider Foundation protects the ocean, coastline, and water sources through a powerful activist network that works at the local and national levels. Most recently, the Surfrider Foundation has taken on Exxon, suing the fossil fuel producer for hiding the truth about plastic recycling.
• Environmental Defense Fund: a global nonprofit organization tackling climate change through a vast range of efforts, from the renewable energy transition to slashing methane. 
• The Conservation Alliance: Since 1989, The Conservation Alliance has funded and advocated to protect wild places in America by teaming up with outdoor communities and businesses. The organization pushed for President Biden to cancel federal mining leases in wild areas, and they’ve helped save over 73 million acres of wildlands. 
• The Venture Out Project: Not everyone feels accepted in outdoor spaces. The Venture Out Project creates safe spaces for in nature for the queer and transgender community with wilderness trips across the country, workshops, and training. 
• Trust for Public Land: Everyone should have nearby access to nature. Trust for Public Land is on a mission to make that happen. The org does research, raises money, and acquires land to transform it for community access. 
• SheJumps: In Salt Lake City, SheJumps helps women and girls (cisgender, transgender, and nonbinary) of all skill levels get involved with outdoor activities from mountain biking to fly fishing. 
• Outdoor Afro: By creating group experiences, Outdoor Afro empowers and enables Black people the confidence, visibility, and solidarity to get outside, particularly on public lands. ‍
• Recreation.gov: Your go-to site for booking campsites, permits, and outdoor adventures across U.S. public lands. It connects millions of people with nature in just a few clicks.

• Parks Project: Parks Project sells fun gear and donates a portion of every purchase to support national parks.
• National Park Foundation: As the official partner of the National Park Service, National Park Foundation helps keep parks protected and accessible. The org has raised hundreds of millions for everything from trail maintenance to youth programs.
• The Nature Conservancy: One of the biggest and most effective conservation groups out there, working in 70+ countries. The Nature Conservancy has helped protect over 125 million acres of land.
• Protect Our Winters: Started by pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones, this group turns athletes and outdoor lovers into climate activists. This org brings the outdoor community into the climate conversation.
• Sierra Club: This is one of the oldest environmental groups in the U.S., fighting for clean energy, wild places, and justice. It has millions of members and a long track record of real wins for the planet.
• Earth Guardians: This youth-led crew blends art, activism, and culture to take on climate change and social justice. It’s inspiring to see young people leading the charge with such creativity and passion.
• The Wilderness Society: This org is all about protecting public lands and making nature more inclusive. It's helped safeguard millions of acres and is always pushing for better access and conservation.
• The Conservation Alliance: Funded by outdoor brands, The Conservation Alliance gives money to grassroots organizations that protect wild places. Their efforts have united business and conservation for real results.
• World Wildlife Fund: Famous for its panda logo, WWF works around the globe to protect animals and habitats. WWF's science-based approach and global reach make a big difference.
• Sea Shepherd Conservation Society: These ocean defenders take direct action, like confronting illegal fishing boats. Their bold, no-nonsense tactics have saved countless marine animals.
• Sogorea Te’ Land Trust: This group of Indigenous women is leading the way in returning land to Native stewardship in the Bay Area. Sogorea Te’ Land Trust is doing powerful, groundbreaking work that’s reshaping how we think about land and history.
• Rainforest Trust: This org buys and protects tropical land to save rainforests and endangered wildlife. Every dollar goes a long way toward protecting nature.
• Arbor Day Foundation: These folks are all about planting trees and making communities greener. The Arbor Day Foundation has planted over 500 million trees!
• One Tree Planted: This org plants a tree for every dollar donated. One Tree Planted's global reach and easy approach make them a favorite for everyday environmental action.
• National Parks Conservation Association: This org fights to protect and improve America’s national parks through advocacy and education. With over a century of wins, it's a major force behind many of the protections parks have today.
• Seaspiracy: This organization and its provocative documentary call out the big issues with industrial fishing. It’s sparked tons of conversation and pushed people to think more critically about seafood and the oceans.
• Ocean Conservancy: The Ocean Conservancy works on protecting ocean health with science-backed solutions and community cleanups. Known for its International Coastal Cleanup, the org has helped remove millions of pounds of trash from the ocean.
• Oceana: Focused entirely on ocean conservation, Oceana fights for policies that protect marine life and reduce overfishing. The team has helped to make big moves like banning destructive fishing practices and saving entire ecosystems.
• Center for Biological Diversity: This org uses science and legal action to protect endangered species and wild places.
• American Bird Conservancy: This org's work is important for biodiversity, saving birds, and their habitats. And they’ve got solid results to show for it. ‍
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology: A top-tier bird research center that also gets the public involved through tools like eBird. Its science and community outreach help people connect with nature in meaningful ways.

• 5Calls: A quick, easy way to call your elected officials on the issues that matter most, like protecting nature! The app makes civic engagement less intimidating and more effective.
• Hike Clerb: This outdoor community-based non-profit reimagines an equitable and inclusive outdoors for people of color.

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Remember: Before you donate to any 501 (c)(3) nonprofits, check their score on Charity Navigator to ensure it’s legit. Mutual aid orgs will likely not be listed on this site, which doesn’t mean they’re not trustworthy, but just that you should ensure that the org is transparent about how they spend their funds. 

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Looking for small, local orgs? 

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A simple Google search is a good place to start. You may discover small nonprofits or mutual aid organizations in your area. You can also browse Charity Navigator, using filters to find trustworthy, small nonprofits in your area. Here’s a jumpstart — just add your state to narrow down the results.