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TREC Reports

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Weathering the Storm (2009)

In 2009, TREC completed its third in an ongoing series of surveys of staff members and boards of directors responsible for fundraising for environmental nonprofits in the United States and Canada. Development and executive directors from 98 organizations responded. The results show that environmental groups have strengthened their relationships with individual donors and foundations, which are — by far —the largest source of revenue for groups in our sample. In particular, organizations increased communication with their supporters (including through online fundraising) and actively built closer connections with them. The data also suggest that the economic recession will have significant negative impacts on environmental nonprofits.

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Salary and Benefit Survey of Western Environmental Groups (2008)

TREC’s third survey of salaries and wages for employees of nonprofit environmental organizations is based on data from 169 different groups in the United States and Canada. The report shows that one-quarter of surveyed groups decreased their benefits packages for employees in 2007. At the same time, median salaries for executive directors and program directors increased while development director salaries lagged. The results show a significant lack of racial/ethnic diversity among environmental nonprofits. The report includes details about health and retirement benefits, sabbaticals, family leave, lay-offs, and personnel policies.

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Signs of Health (2007)

This survey examined fundraising trends and practices among environmental nonprofits in 2006 and 2007. Our results show that environmental groups increased their budgets in 2006 and 2007, accumulated operating reserves, and created strategic plans. Boards of Directors, however, continue to lag in their involvement in fundraising.

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Salary and Benefits Survey of Western Environmental Groups (2006)

Between June and November 2005, TREC surveyed environmental nonprofits in the western United States and Canada. TREC is proud to be the only capacity building organization providing this important information which is designed exclusively for the special needs of environmental nonprofits. The report includes salary and wage data for nonprofit staff members. It also contains details about health and retirement benefits, sabbaticals, family leave, lay-offs due to budget cuts, and personnel policies.

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Conservation Fundraising at a Crossroads: Creating Healthy Fundraising Organizations (2005)

This report diagnoses five fundamental obstacles to healthy fundraising in environmental nonprofits. The report also addresses the high rates of turnover among fundraising professionals and the lack of knowledge transfer that results. The report presents clear recommendations for strengthening environmental nonprofit resource development, including: strengthening executive director leadership in fundraising, greater board participation in fundraising, and placing greater value on donors as organizational stakeholders.

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Strategic Planning in Western Grassroots Conservation Groups: Lessons from the Field (2005)

This report includes the advice and insights of leaders from nine environmental nonprofits in relation to strategic planning. The report lays out a clear, straightforward path for completing a strategic planning process and addresses issues such as: external facilitation, staff involvement, evaluation of the strategic plan, and key resources for completing a plan. Sample planning tools and templates are included.

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Surviving or Thriving: Raising Funds for Environmental Nonprofits in the West (2005)

A survey of executive directors and fundraising/development staff at 134 conservation organizations in the Western U.S. and Canada reveals how environmental nonprofits have been affected by changes in foundation giving. The results indicate that nonprofit budgets have fluctuated since 2002 and that staff cuts have resulted. Survey results reveal that environmental nonprofits are heavily dependent on foundation funding and need to increase attention on major gift fundraising.

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Building a Stronger Conservation Community: Key Challenges and Effective Action (2005)

The nonprofit environmental movement has faced serious challenges in the last 20 years. Those of us who work to preserve wilderness and ensure environmental protection must rethink who we are and how we do our work. External political factors compound internal organizational challenges that. This paper presents strategies that grassroots environmental nonprofits can use to address the movement’s current challenges — by honing mission, planning realistically, rethinking outreach and constituency building, and making some difficult choices about internal functioning. The report includes examples of effective environmental constituency building among environmental nonprofits.

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Salary and Benefits Survey of Western Environmental Groups (2004)

The report is TREC’s first survey of wages and salaries for employees in environmental nonprofits. Survey results reveal that those who work for environmental groups with budgets under $500,000 are economically vulnerable and are the least likely to receive employer-paid health care benefits. The report includes salary and wage data for nonprofit staff members in the United States and Canada. It contains details about health and retirement benefits, sabbaticals, family leave, lay-offs due to budget cuts, and personnel policies.

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Stressed but Steadfast (2002)

A TREC survey of 148 executive directors of environmental nonprofits in the Western U.S. and Canada found that they are generally satisfied in their positions, but they are struggling with the demands of keeping their organizations afloat financially. Executive directors are also hampered by not receiving adequate fundraising assistance from boards of directors. Women are gaining leadership positions in a field long dominated by men while racial/ethnic diversity is woefully absent from many environmental nonprofits.

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