While volunteering in environmental groups is fun, a great way to meet people and accomplish larger goals, this is also a reminder that sustainable action starts with each one of us, individually, at home, and with our families. To help get you started here are several guides for inspiration.
- Easy Eco-Friendly Efforts To Help The Environment
- Activities To Teach Kids How To Recycle
- The Importance of Reforestation Projects
- 10 Environmental Stewardship Activities For Kids
- Becoming Environmentally Efficient In Your Home
- A Guide To Environmentally Conscious Outdoor Activities
Looking to volunteer, donate, join, or work with environmental groups in the Bay Area, here is your comprehensive list!
BAY AREA ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS
Big Sur Land Trust, Monterey- (831) 625-5523
Mission: To inspire love of land across generations, conservation of our unique Monterey County landscapes, and access to outdoor experiences for all.
Bodega Land Trust, Occidental- 707-874-9001
Mission: Dedicated to preserving and restoring land and its communities. We promote the appreciation of human interaction with plants, animals, and other species by encouraging wise and caring land-use practices.
Butters Canyon Conservancy, Oakland- 510 318-6348
Mission: Conserves wild landscapes in Butters Canyon, along Peralta Creek and promotes environmental awareness throughout the watershed to preserve vital habitat for all Bay Area residents to enjoy.
California Invasive Plant Council, Berkeley- 510-843-3902
Mission: To protect California’s environment and economy from invasive plants.
California League of Conservation Voters, Oakland- 510-271-0900
Mission: To protect and enhance the environment and the health of all California communities by electing environmental champions, advancing critical priorities, and holding policy makers accountable.
California Wilderness Coalition, Oakland- 510-451-1450
Mission: Protects and restores the state’s wildest natural landscapes and watersheds on public lands.
Clean Water Action, California!, Oakland- 415-369-9160
Mission: 1.2 million members working to empower people to take action to protect America’s waters, build healthy communities and to make democracy work for all of us. To develop strong grassroots environmental leadership and to bring together diverse constituencies to work cooperatively for changes that improve their lives, focused on health, consumer, environmental and community problems.
Climate Reality Campus Corps: Saint Mary’s College of California Chapter, Moraga
Mission: To catalyze a global solution to the climate crisis by making urgent action a necessity across every level of society.
Coastwalk, Camp Meeker- 707-829-6689
Mission: To ensure the right of all people to reach and responsibly enjoy the California coast.
Earth Island Institute, Berkeley- 510-859-9100
Mission: To conserve, preserve, and restore the environment.
Elkhorn Slough Foundation, Watsonville- 831-728-5939
Mission: To conserve and restore Elkhorn Slough and its watershed.
Golden Gate Audubon Society, Berkeley- 510-843-2222
Mission: Engages people to experience the wonder of birds and to translate that wonder into actions that protect native bird populations and their habitats.
Golden State Land Conservancy, Sebastopol- (707) 695-7460
Mission: To promote and secure real, tangible land conservation outcomes in California by developing positive relationships with a property’s stakeholders.
John Muir Land Trust, Martinez- (925) 228-5460
Mission: Protects and cares for open space, ranches, farms, parkland, and shoreline in the East Bay.
Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation, Santa Rosa- 707-527-9277
Mission: To restore and conserve the Laguna de Santa Rosa, and to inspire public appreciation of this Wetland of International Importance.
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, Santa Rosa- (831) 429-6116
Mission: To protect, care for, and connect people to the extraordinary lands that make this area special.
Landpaths, Santa Rosa- 707-544-7284
Mission: To foster a love of the land in Sonoma County. Our passion is to create exceptional outdoor experiences for people as a way to increase their understanding, appreciation, and desire to steward nature.
Madrone Audubon Society, Santa Rosa- 707-241-5548
Mission: Promotes public education, enjoyment, study and protection of the natural world, especially birds.
Marin Audubon Society, Mill Valley- 415-924-6057
Mission: To conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats, for the benefit of humanity and the Earth’s biological diversity.
Marin Agricultural Land Trust, Point Reyes Station- (415) 663-1158
Mission: To permanently protect Marin’s agricultural land for agricultural use.
Marin Conservation League, San Rafael- (415) 485-6257
Mission: To preserve, protect, and enhance the natural assets of Marin County for the public.
Mendocino Coast Audubon Society, Fort Bragg- 707-734-3470
Mission: To help people appreciate and enjoy native birds, and to conserve and restore local ecosystems for the benefit of native birds and other wildlife.
Monterey Audubon Society, Carmel
Mission: Dedicated to conserving and celebrating the birds and wildlife of the greater Monterey Bay region.
Monterey Coastkeeper, Monterey- 831-663-9460
Mission: Protects our watersheds and coastal oceans for the benefit of California sea otters and humans through science-based policy and advocacy.
Monterey Peninsula Audubon Society, Carmel- (831) 372-4608
Mission: Dedicated to conserving and celebrating the birds and wildlife of the greater Monterey Bay region.
Mt. Diablo Audubon Society, Walnut Creek
Mission: Committed to the sustainable balance of our community’s people, birds, other wildlife, and habitat through conservation, education, and advocacy.
Napa-Solano Audubon Society, Napa- 707-207-0380
Mission: To share the fun of birding, promote conservation and scientific understanding of wild birds and their habitats, and offer engaging, science-based education emphasizing the communities of Napa and Solano counties.
Ocean Conservancy, Santa Cruz- 831-440-7973
Mission: Working with you to protect our ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it.
Ohlone Audubon Society, Hayward- 510-538-3550
Mission: To celebrate and protect birds and their habitats in Southern and Eastern Alameda County.
Our City Forest, San Jose- (408)-998-7337
Mission: To cultivate a green and healthy Silicon Valley by engaging community members in the appreciation, protection, growth and maintenance of our urban ecosystem, especially our urban forest.
Pacifica Land Trust, Pacifica- (650) 359-3275
Mission: To preserve, protect and enhance the natural, scenic, recreational, cultural, historic, and open space environment including waterways and wildlife corridors of Pacifica and the surrounding community for present and future generations.
Peninsula Open Space Trust, Palo Alto- (650) 854-7696
Mission: Protects open space on the Peninsula and in the South Bay for the benefit of all.
Plastic Pollution Coalition, Berkeley- (323) 936 3010
Mission: Committed to stopping plastic pollution.
Russian Riverkeeper, Healdsburg- (707) 433-1958
Mission: To Inspire the Community to Protect the Russian River Forever.
San Francisco Baykeeper, Oakland- 510-735-9700
Mission: Works to reverse the environmental degradation of the past and promote new strategies and policies to protect the water quality of the San Francisco Bay.
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, Cupertino- 408-252-3747
Mission: Promote scientifically sound conservation strategies for the protection of native ecosystems and demonstrate the value of conservation to the community. Educate our diverse community about the benefits of preserving and enjoying nature, focusing on youth education programs, public outreach, and field trips. Support research into maintaining, restoring, and understanding native ecosystems, particularly those of birds.
Santa Cruz Bird Club, Santa Cruz- 831-332-3785
Mission: Organizes birdwatching walks in and around the county, and talks on bird-related subjects at the Museum of Natural History.
Save the Bay, Oakland- 510-463-6850
The largest regional organization working to protect, restore, and celebrate San Francisco Bay. WE EDUCATE, PROTECT, AND RESTORE. Whether it’s fighting climate change, educating policymakers, or mobilizing thousands of residents to help us restore the wetlands, we’re dedicated to protecting and restoring the Bay for generations to come.
Save Mount Diablo, Walnut Creek- (925) 947-3535
Mission: To forever preserve the remaining natural lands on and around Mount Diablo, and to connect Mount Diablo to the rest of the Diablo Range.
Sempervirens Fund, Los Altos- 650-949-1453
Mission: To protect and permanently preserve redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forests, wildlife habitats, watersheds, and other important natural and scenic features of California’s Santa Cruz Mountains, and to encourage public appreciation and enjoyment of this environment.
Sequoia Audubon Society, Woodside- 650-529-1454
Mission: Sustaining habitat, protecting birdlife locally, encouraging appreciation of birds, and assisting in educating the next generation of bird-lovers.
Sierra Club – Loma Prieta Chapter, Palo Alto- 650-390-8411
Mission: To explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; To practice and promote the responsible use of the earth’s ecosystems and resources; To educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment, and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.
Sierra Club – Marin Group, Berkeley
Mission: Promoting the preservation, restoration, and enjoyment of Marin’s environment.
Sierra Club – Napa Group, Napa- 415-977-5528
Mission: Exploring and protecting the environment of Napa County, California. Napa Sierra Club supports slow growth within local cities and works for the protection of wildlife habitats, agricultural lands, and watersheds while accommodating affordable housing and transportation for the local workforce.
Sierra Club Foundation, Oakland- (415) 995-1780
Mission: Solve the climate crisis primarily through a successful transition to a resource-efficient, clean energy economy that better serves people and nature
Sierra Club – Northern Alameda County Group, Berkeley- 510-848-0800
Mission: Considers urban environmental issues in the cities of Oakland, Berkeley, Albany, Emeryville, Alameda, Piedmont, and San Leandro.
Sierra Club – Redwood Chapter, Santa Rosa- 707-544-7651
Mission: The Redwood Chapter of the Sierra Club is a geographically vast region composed of six local groups and encompassing all or part of nine counties in Northwest California.
Sierra Club – Sonoma Group, Santa Rosa- 707-544-7651
Mission: To protect Sonoma County’s most valued public interests: our air, water, and habitats. We also take folks outdoors to appreciate what we have. We’re here to protect Sonoma County’s most valued public interests: our air, our water, and our habitats.
Sierra Club – San Francisco Bay Chapter, Berkeley- 510-848-0800
Mission: To explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; To practice and promote the responsible use of the earth’s ecosystems and resources; To educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.
Sierra Club – West Contra Costa County Group, Berkeley- 415-265-4610
Mission: Work on topics such as: Refinery safety and emissions, Land use — protection of open space and ecosystems on the hillsides and the Bayshore.
Sierra Club – Ventana Chapter, Carmel
Mission: To explore, enjoy and preserve our Country’s scenic resources.
Sierra Club – Delta Group, Discovery Bay- 714-504-0838
Mission: Offers regular outdoor activities, and our members work on many conservation issues, including: Urban growth and land-use planning, transportation, toxics and solid waste, air and water quality.
Sierra Club – San Carlos & Belmont Group, San Carlos & Belmont- 650-508-8755
Mission: To enjoy the many local walking and hiking opportunities, to preserve the environment that makes this area so special, and to encourage others to be a part of these activities.
Sierra Club – Solano Group, Fairfield- 707-434-1313
Mission: Educates people on how to conserve the earth’s ecosystems and resources to prevent wastefulness or destruction; lobbies for more legislation to preserve the environment; organizes conservation programs and hiking trips in many countries; and publishes books, calendars, and Sierra, a bimonthly magazine.
Sierra Club – Southern Alameda County Group, Hayward- 510-889-5816
Mission: Weighs and takes positions on environmental issues facing our communities, including development proposals, water resources, agriculture, preservation of open space, land use, trails, air quality, creeks, conservation, and political endorsements.
Sierra Club – Tri-Valley Group, Pleasanton- 510-926-0010
Mission: Works to protect the Urban Growth Boundary and lobbies for open space.
Sonoma County Conservation Action, Santa Rosa- (707) 571 8566
Mission: To better our quality of life in Sonoma County for all generations, through educating and directly engaging the public on local environmental issues and policies using grassroots.
Sonoma Land Trust, Santa Rosa- (707) 526-6930
Mission: To achieve our mission of protecting the land of Sonoma County forever, we need a broad array of voices representing our community — a rich diversity of talent, ethnicities, backgrounds and beliefs — embodied in our board, staff, interns, volunteers, partners and program participants.
Tamalpais Conservation Club, Ross- (707) 769-5665 x227
Mission: To conserve things animate and inanimate in Marin County, particularly the scenic beauties and fauna of Mt. Tamalpais and its slopes and spurs.
The Climate Reality Project: Santa Clara County, Santa Clara
Mission: To catalyze a global solution to the climate crisis by making urgent action a necessity across every level of society.
Ventana Wilderness Alliance, Santa Cruz- (831) 423-3191
Mission: To protect, preserve, and restore the public lands within California’s northern Santa Lucia Mountains and Big Sur coast.
BONUS
Environmental Groups for All of California: Top to bottom, north to south, here is a listing for all environmental groups in C.A.
25 Most Impactful Environmental Advocacy Jobs in the San Francisco Bay Area: Links to find a nonprofit job to make a high impact on social change environmental advocacy efforts in San Francisco.
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