National Wildlife Federation

The National Wildlife Federation is dedicated to preserving animals in the United States and works with local agencies in the 48 contiguous states. It is one of the largest environmental organizations, with over 4 million members participating in grass-roots efforts on a variety of wildlife issues. The organization was actually founded by a cartoonist named Jay Darling in 1936 at the behest of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)

According to the official website: "The Natural Resources Defense Council works to protect wildlife and wild places and to ensure a healthy environment for all life on earth". The NRDC combines hundreds of active lawyers with over 1.2 million members to create direct and legislative change. The focus is on preventing climate change and saving endangered species, among other goals.

1 % For The Planet

If you've shopped for anything organic or sustainable you've likely seen the 1 % logo. With nearly 1,000 firms and companies now participating, 1 % is helping corporate interests green their bottom lines by giving back to environmental causes. It's a meaningful start.

Co-Op America

"Economic Action for a Just Planet" is the slogan of this green organization that seeks to empower consumers and harness the power of consumers to make the planet sustainable for future generations. They emphasize economic initiatives and actions over other more traditional environmental actions. This business-friendly environmental organization is also considered the gold standard for green businesses to be approved by. Co-Op America focuses equally on social justice and environmental responsibility. (Note: the organization changed its name to Green America in 2009.)

World Business Council for Sustainable Development

Interested in sustainable development? The World Business Council for Sustainable Development is the place to go online. This global association of 200 leading companies states: "Our mission is to provide business leadership as a catalyst for change toward sustainable development, and to support the business license to operate, innovate and grow in a world increasingly shaped by sustainable development issues". The capitalist's online environmental organization.

Forest Stewardship Council

Certification from the FSC is essential for a green retailer to have genuine "eco cred". Environmental labels and certifications are not globally standardized, but FSC is one you can trust. This non-governmental nonprofit was established to protect forests. Located in 46 countries, the FSC helps companies, governments and communities with proper forest management and accreditation. Though there are many certifications in the green world, the FSC is the only one that prohibits conversion of natural forests or other habitat around the world

• prohibits the use of highly hazardous pesticides around the world;
• prohibits the cultivation of genetically modified trees (GMOs);
• respects the right of indigenous peoples around the world;
• controls each certified operation at least once a year – and if they are found not to comply, the certificate is withdrawn.

Rainforest Action Network

The relatively new Rainforest Action Network (RAN) is lauded by various media organizations as being incredibly savvy. Based in San Francisco and Tokyo, the 43 employees and thousands of members create memorable and often stigmatizing (when necessary) marketing campaigns to get corporations to clean up their acts. When companies like Home Depot and Citigroup make positive changes that better the environment, RAN is quick to give praise – but never scared to dish out harsh critique.

The Nature Conservancy

Since its inception in 1951 the Nature Conservancy has dedicated itself to saving lands and waters. With over 117 million acres sustained, 5,000 miles of rivers kept clean, and hundreds of marine conservation projects, the Nature Conservancy is one of the most successful and effective green organizations in existence. The science-based approach (they have 700 scientists on staff) is used in all conservation efforts around the world.

Heal the Bay

This regional (California-based) research-and-advocacy organization has become an iconic representative of ocean conservation and marine sustainability. It has inspired numerous other ocean protection organizations. It all started in 1985 when founder Dorothy Green and her cofounders got sick of the fact that Santa Monica Bay was a cesspool of untreated sewage. Animals were dying, people suffered infections if they swam, and vast swaths of the Bay were essentially dead. Today, the Bay is much cleaner and safer.

Surfrider

Like its just-barely southern cousin Heal the Bay, Surfrider protects California coastline and marine life. From the site: "The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world's oceans, waves and beaches. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 50,000 members and 80 chapters worldwide". Though originally focused on Southern California, Surfrider helps mobilize people to get active in supporting ocean conservation everywhere.

Environmental Defense Fund

The Environmental Defense Fund was started in 1967 and works with corporations and government to create environmental programs, initiatives and policy. Areas the EDF seeks to address: using "strong science" to affect markets, laws and corporate partnerships. EDF has received numerous top awards from media and charity evaluators.

Friends of Earth (FOE)

Champions of healthy people, animals, plants, land, water and air, and devoted to stopping global warming, Friends of Earth supports a number of causes and is focused primarily on the United States, especially political and economic decisions as they affect public health and land conservation. In the 39 years in operation FOE has stopped over 150 dams from being built (among other achievements).

Worldwatch Institute

The largest and most respected environmental news research service, this environmental organization publishes online as well as providing science-based environmental information and news to over 100 countries. Founded in 1974, the mission statement notes that "Worldwatch research is the gold-standard for sustainability analysis for decision makers in government, civil society, business, and academia".

American Bird Conservancy

The American Bird Conservancy, like the Audubon Society, exists primarily to support bird conservation but broadly supports environmentalism and sustainability. Using education, advocacy and direct action, the ABC is the only U.S.-based organization that supports not just United States bird conservation but species preservation throughout all of the Americas.