Earth Island Tools

Community: Learning and acting together, we are more effective.

Recognition: Gain public recognition by joining a highly regarded organization.

Earth Island Journal: The printed voice of Earth Island. The EIJ provdes an excellent project outreach tool.

Database Management: Systems to manage a membership base and access Foundation data.

Web Site: Build a web presence within Earth Island’s popular web site.

Office Space: Share offices with other EI Projects, access office equipment, use meeting spaces.

Services

Accounting: Earth Island provides central accounting services

Fundraising Assistance: Access resources and guidance on fundraising efforts.

Skills Training: Participate in periodic training sessions in non-profit skills (fundraising, web skills, etc.).

Have a great idea? Join our Project Network

Background

Since its inception, Earth Island Institute has been working with a diverse array of environmental activists to launch innovative environmental projects. Founder David Brower conceived of Earth Island as the organization "bringing ecological conscience to all spheres of society."

As an alternative to dozens of separate nonprofits, each duplicating basic administrative functions, EII is a consortium of more than thirty grassroots campaigns, each functioning independently while sharing resources and benefiting from the synergistic exchange of experience, ideas, and energy.

Our organizational structure provides an opportunity for a committed environmental activist with a good idea to launch a project with us, or to gain sponsorship for an existing project. Starting and running a non-profit campaign requires a great deal of administrative and logistical effort. This limits the time and energy that can be applied toward actually carrying out campaign objectives.

Earth Island Institute eliminates this obstacle by providing non-profit sponsorship and administrative services for its Projects. In addition, we provide our Projects with assistance in strategic planning, public outreach, fundraising, and other resources and services that maximize the effectiveness and quality of our collective efforts.

Sponsorship Criteria

For your information, the following criteria are used by the Program Committee and the Board of Directors in considering proposals for project sponsorship.

1. Is the purpose of the project clearly stated and will it complement or advance the EII Program?
2. Is the work of the proposed project consistent with the Earth Island Institute Mission Statement?
3. Is the project willing to abide by the provisions of the EII Project Procedures?
4. Does the proposal offer a strategically valuable approach to an important problem defined in environmental or ecological terms?
5. Does the proposal offer a unique approach to that problem?
6. Does the work of the proposed project complement existing or proposed Earth Island program strategies?
7. Does the project offer potential for expanding Earth Island membership?  Is the project leadership interested in the development of the Earth Island Network?
8. Is the project leadership capable of carrying out its purposes?
9. Does the project stress grassroots mobilization for environmental change?
10. What significance does the project have beyond its specific focus?
11. Can the project expand the capabilities and resources of Earth Island?

What is the Process?

To launch a Earth Island project you must apply through our Program Committee. The process works in the following way:

1. Complete the New Project Application
2. Read and sign the Earth Island Project Procedures
3. The Program Committee reviews the application to evaluate the campaign ideas and strategies and whether it fits within our organizational mission.
4. If accepted by the Program Committee, a proposal is drafted and sent to the Earth Island Board of Directors.
5. The Board of Directors makes all final decisions to accept or decline a new project.

The process to become an Earth Island Project normally takes around 4 months from the time we first make contact with a prospective director, to the final approval by the Earth Island Board of Directors. It is, of course, a selective process; we normally review 12-15 applications and approve only 2-3 new projects every year. We look forward to exploring your project to determine whether it would be an appropriate match for our organizational structure.

The Earth Island Institute Program Committee and Board of Directors review new project applications quarterly. Applications received by the stated deadline will be considered during that review period. Although exceptions to this schedule may be made in special circumstances, please use the below timeline as a guide to the application process and plan accordingly.

Earth Island Institute
Application deadlines, Review Process, & Criteria

The Earth Island Institute Program Committee and Board of Directors review new project applications quarterly.  Applications received by the stated deadline will be considered during that review period.  Although exceptions to this schedule may be made in special circumstances, please use the below timeline as a guide to the application process and plan accordingly.  If you have any questions, please contact Susan Kamprath at 415-788-3666 x. 107.