$3,032 raised by 30 donors
30% complete
$10,000 Goal
ECOS is a powerful advocacy organization in the Sacramento region, working for over fifty years to curb sprawl, protect open space and habitat, and promote transit, walking, and biking. However, with the climate crisis escalating, we are taking steps to be even more effective in our advocacy:
- To make sure the public understands the consequences of poor land use decisions; that wasteful land use planning and increased greenhouse gas emissions go hand-in-hand; that it is important to elect representatives who will take aggressive climate action.
- To persuade our elected officials to focus their jurisdictions' efforts and funding toward infill and transit-oriented development and to reject sprawl proposals; to take bold, even difficult, steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- To litigate when necessary, when jurisdictions’ policies make sprawl inevitable; or when plans for greenhouse gas emission reductions are not credible or verifiable or a good faith effort to comply with state law.
ECOS has re-organized to reflect the importance of climate change, and the need to better coordinate transportation and land use, green building and environmental justice; to better prioritize activities and strategize methods both internally and with our partners. We hope these changes will strengthen ECOS, create more synergies, and attract a new generation of enthusiastic and dedicated people who are frustrated with the status quo, apprehensive about the future, and ready to get to work.
ECOS is a 501(c)(3) organization. As such, ECOS studies, educates, advocates, and litigates to help drive community conversations about environmental issues, and to shape policies and actions by Sacramento area cities and counties.
ECOS was established in 1971 by the organizers of the first Earth Day as a visionary and action-oriented coalition of member organizations in the Sacramento region. In 1991, ECOS added individual members. Together, our board members represent a broad depth of knowledge and experience on environmental, legal, economic, and social issues.
MISSION CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT
Our mission is to achieve regional sustainability, livable communities, environmental justice, and a healthy environment for existing and future residents. ECOS will strive to energize and bring positive changes to the Sacramento region by proactively working with individual and organizational ECOS members, neighborhood groups, and local governments to enhance community, develop a thriving and sustainable economy, and promote environmental stewardship.
FUNDING: PROGRAM
POLICY WORK --
ECOS studies and takes positions on issues at play at the regional and local levels -- climate change, land use, transportation, green building, habitat, and water. We seek funding for policy analysis and for part-time staff. At this time, we would like to participate in a regional infill (transit-oriented development) planning effort but need funding to do so.
SUCCESSION PLANNING --
ECOS seeks to build its next generation of leaders. Consider joining us and work on climate change, land use, transportation, green building, environmental justice, habitat preservation, and water. We seek the knowledgeable and those who want to learn, especially younger people who recognize the dangers of climate change and want to do something about it.
LEGAL ACTION --
ECOS seeks funding for legal counsel and action. ECOS needs funding for ongoing legal actions at this time.
We recently had a legal analysis done of the Sacramento County Climate Action Plan (CAP) that shows “the CAP only effectuates a small amount of GHG reductions.” The Supervisors plan to vote on a final CAP this summer and ECOS may take legal action then. As another example, last year ECOS filed a lawsuit against Caltrans for piecemealing (under CEQA) the widening of the Capital City Freeway American River Bridge.
ECOS has achieved good results from its past litigation activities. ECOS sued SACOG for lack of conformity with the federal Clean Air Act: its pro-sprawl transportation plan would have exacerbated our region’s serious air pollution. This led to the nationally touted “Blueprint” for land use and transportation, which SACOG's board adopted in 2004. Subsequently, ECOS twice sued Caltrans over its plans to widen the US 50 freeway. Both settlements resulted in SacRT receiving millions of dollars for transit capacity improvements.
Litigation activities are a recognized component of 501c(3) organizations like ECOS that are dedicated to the preservation of the environment (IRS Rev. Rul. 80-278 -- https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/eotopicd84.pdf).
FUNDING: UNRESTRICTED
PERSONNEL, OPS & COMS --
ECOS needs funding for staff salaries and benefits, office rent and supplies, and communications systems. Over the past few months we completed a “refresh” of the ECOS website and other communications systems, to reflect our new organization and make our interactions more effective.
COVID --
Although Sacramento Earth Day on April 24, 2022 was successful, and a great time for all, we still need to make up for the past two years when the event was not held due to COVID. Sacramento Earth Day is ECOS' largest fundraiser.
Organization name
Environmental Council of Sacramento
other names
ECOS
Tax id (EIN)
94-2852079
Mission Category
Environment
Operating Budget
$50,001 - $100,000
Organization Need
Funding: Program, Funding: Unrestricted
Demographics Served
BIPOC, Seniors, Youth & Children, Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx, Low-income individuals/families, LGBTQ+
Address
909 12th Street Ste 203Sacramento County, CA, US