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CBOs & NGOs

Local community and neighborhood groups, and climate-adjacent non-profits.

The list below pulls together environmental and community-based organizations across all nine Bay Area counties as well as in Santa Cruz County. This is a place to find non-profit or grassroots organizations run by and for local residents—organizations that build trust, empower local communities, and address local challenges.

We hope this list makes it easier to discover the CBOs and NGOs nearest you and learn what they do. These organizations work on a range of environmental topics including: climate resilience, environmental justice, food sovereignty, water quality, healthy communities, wildfire prevention, just transition, watershed health, and land protection. Their services might benefit you directly, or you might find ways to volunteer and support their work. Please reach out via our contact form if you know of an organization you’d like us to add.

Alameda County

  • Asian Pacific Environmental Network – Environmental justice organizing in Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. >LINK
  •  Alameda Interfaith Climate Action Network – Faith-based climate advocacy and community organizing. >LINK
  • Community Action for Sustainable Alameda – Community education and local emissions and waste reduction. >LINK
  • The Ecology Center – Services for a healthy, sustainable, and just future for urban residents. >LINK
  • Greenaction – Health and environmental justice. >LINK
  • Mycelium Youth Network – Equipping youth for a climate-just future. >LINK
  • Oakland Climate Action Coalition – Climate action is rooted in social justice and equity. >LINK
  • Planting Justice – Sustainable land-based social enterprises for those impacted by mass incarceration. >LINK
  • Sustainable Watersheds Action Teams – Stormwater pollution & water quality solutions. >LINK
  • Tri-Valley Air Quality Climate Alliance – Improve air quality, reduce emissions, mitigate health impacts, and reduce climate change in the Tri-Valley area. >LINK
Drawing of diverse people in color.

Contra Costa County

  • Agroecology Commons – Food sovereignty and ecological justice. >LINK
  • All Positives Possible – Environmental justice and equality. >LINK
  • Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) – Advocating to stop big polluters. >LINK
  • Blue Green Alliance – Contra Costa Refinery Transition Partnership – Just transition for refinery workers. >LINK
  • Communities for a Better Environment – Towards a regenerative and more democratic, local economy. >LINK
  • Contra Costa Watershed Forum – Healthy water resources. >LINK
  • Fresh Approach – Combating food insecurity by connecting communities to locally grown food. >LINK
  • Friends of Alhambra Creek – Volunteer projects for watershed health. >LINK
  • John Muir Land Trust – Land protection in Northern California. >LINK
  • Healthy Martinez – Refinery accountability group. >LINK
  • Interfaith Climate Action Network of Contra Costa – Faith-centered climate education and advocacy. >LINK
  • Save Mount Diablo – Protect Mount Diablo’s natural lands forever. >LINK
  • Sustainable Contra Costa – Initiatives around green space and shade, youth education, waste reduction, and energy efficiency. >LINK
  • Richmond Our Power – Advocate for quality housing, food, air, land, and water. >LINK
  • Richmond Progressive Alliance – Grassroots campaigns and organizing. >LINK
  • Richmond Shoreline Alliance – Toxic site clean up and restoration of our wetlands to combat sea level rise. >LINK
  • Rising Juntos – Building power for racial, economic, and health justice. >LINK
  • Urban Tilth – Trainings and support toward a sustainable food system. >LINK

Marin County

  • Canal Alliance – Services & programming for Marin’s immigrant and Latino communities. >LINK
  • Environmental Action Committee of West Marin – Conservation of West Marin lands, waters, and biodiversity. >LINK
  • Marin Biodiversity Corridor Initiative – Habitat connectivity and wildlife movement corridors. >LINK 
  • Marin Interfaith Climate Action – Faith-based climate advocacy and education. >LINK
  • Marin Organic – Organic farming, food systems, and regenerative agriculture. >LINK
  • Multicultural Center of Marin – Social and environmental justice. >LINK
  • Sustainable Marin – Supports local start-up projects and sustainability solutions. >LINK

Napa County

  • Napa Green – Sustainable business certification and climate action in the wine industry. >LINK
  • Napa Land Trust – Permanent land protection. >LINK
  • Friends of the Napa River – River protection and restoration. >LINK
  • Napa County Wildlife Habitat Conservation Coalition – Coalition protecting open space, habitat, and biodiversity. >LINK
  • Environmental Education Coalition of Napa County – Connects community with the local environment. >LINK
  • Institute for Conservation Advocacy, Research & Education – Science-based watershed advocacy and restoration. >LINK
  • MOMS Advocating Sustainability – Advocacy to reduce environmental toxins and protect children’s health. >LINK

Santa Cruz County

  • Casa de la Cultura – Services for migratory farmworkers. >LINK
  • Center for Farmworker Families – Education, services, and advocacy in support of farmworkers’ well-being. >LINK
  • Esperanza Community Farms – Local food production and environmental advocacy. >LINK
  • Land Trust of Santa Cruz County – Land protection. >LINK
  • Regeneración Pajaro Valley – Climate justice. >LINK
  • Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter – Environmental advocacy. >LINK
Illustration of houses

San Francisco County

  • 1000 Grandmothers – Climate advocacy. >LINK
  • Sierra Club San Francisco Bay Chapter – Environmental advocacy. >LINK
  • PODER SF –  Environmental and economic justice for the Latinx community. >LINK
  • Bayview Hunters Point Community Advocates – Environmental justice. >LINK
  • Brightline Defense – Environmental justice, workforce development, and clean energy. >LINK
  • Friends of the Urban Forest – Planting and caring for street trees. >LINK
  • Greenaction for Health & Environmental Justice – Community organizing targeting environmental, social, economic, racial, and climate justice. >LINK
  • SF Bay Physicians for Social Responsibility – Health professionals advancing climate and environmental justice policy. >LINK
  • San Francisco Bicycle Coalition – Working for a more bicycle-friendly city. >LINK

San Mateo County

  • Nuestra Casa – Services and support to encourage local resilience and leadership. >LINK
  • Rise South City – Air quality & public health. >LINK
  • Climate Resilient Communities – Empowering under-resourced communities to stay safe. > LINK
  • Peninsula Interfaith Climate Action – Faith-based organizing for climate policy and sustainability. >LINK
  • Sustainable San Mateo – Tracking sustainability progress, awarding local champions. >LINK
  • The HEAL Project – Nature and food system education for kids. >LINK
  • San Bruno Mountain Watch – Conservation and education to protect San Bruno Mountain. >LINK
  • Friends of Edgewood – Conservation of San Mateo’s only natural preserve. >LINK
  • Surfrider – San Mateo Chapter – Ocean protection, coastal access, and beach cleanups. >LINK
Drawing of diverse people in color.

Santa Clara County

  • Acterra – Climate change education and convening. >LINK
  • Carbon Free Mountain View – Local organizing for building electrification and clean energy. >LINK
  • Caras – Culturally based programs and services for Latinos. >LINK
  • Collaborating Agencies’ Disaster Relief Effort (CADRE) – Community network focused on disaster prep. >LINK
  • Farmworker Caravan – Acknowledge, support and uplift agricultural workers. >LINK
  • Gilroy Growing Smarter – Town stewardship. >LINK
  • Grassroots Ecology – Engage and educate on the restoration of local ecosystems. >LINK
  • Green Foothills – Protects local nature and farmland. >LINK
  • Guadalupe River Park Conservancy – Park programming and management. >LINK
  • Land Trust of Santa Clara Valley – Land preservation. >LINK
  • Our City Forest – Urban forestry and environmental education. >LINK
  • Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) – Land protection. >LINK
  • Palo Alto Student Climate Coalition – Student-led advocacy for local climate policy and sustainability. >LINK
  • San Jose Conservation Corps + Charter School – Workforce development and career training for conservation and resilience projects. >LINK
  • Santa Clara FireSafe Council – Wildfire prevention and fire safety. >LINK
  • Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority – Land protection. >LINK
  • Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition – Safe and accessible biking for all. >LINK
  • Silicon Valley Community Foundation – Grantor for social justice, community empowerment, and environmental projects. >LINK
  • SOMOS Mayfair – Building community power for a thriving city. >LINK
  • The South Bay Food Justice Collaborative – Food justice. >LINK
  • The Tenacious Group – Climate and environmental health education. >LINK
  • Veggielution – Community building through food and farming. >LINK
  • Valley Verde – Food justice for self-sufficiency, health, and resilience. >LINK

Solano County

  • Benicia Community Air Monitoring Program (BCAMP) – Air quality & public health. >LINK
  • Fresh Air Vallejo – Protection of air, lands, water, and health. >LINK
  • Glen Cove FireSafe Council – Wildfire prevention and fire safety. >LINK
  • Restore the Delta – Water quality and water restoration projects. >LINK
  • Solano Land Trust – Land protection. >LINK
  • Sustainable Solano – Projects for economic and social justice and ecological health. >LINK
  • Sierra Club – Solano Chapter – Environmental advocacy. >LINK
  • Napa-Solano Audubon Society – Conservation education and advocacy. >LINK
  • Unity Vacaville Earthcare – Faith-based environmental stewardship and climate education. >LINK
Drawing of diverse people in color.

Sonoma County

  • Coalition Opposing New Gas Stations – Campaign to stop new gas stations and accelerate clean transportation. >LINK
  • North Bay Jobs with Justice – Services & support for working families. >LINK
  • North Bay Organizing Project – Leadership training & community services. >LINK
  • Nuestra Comunidad (NC) – Community-centered disaster preparedness. >LINK
  • Sonoma Land Trust – Land protection. >LINK
  • LandPaths – Environmental education and conservation. >LINK
  • Sonoma Ecology Center – Education, preservation, and restoration. >LINK
  • All Hands Ecology – Land-based conservation and education. >LINK
  • Pepperwood Preserve – Research, land stewardship, and education. >LINK
  • FireSafe Sonoma – Wildfire prevention. >LINK
  • Sonoma Bicycle Coalition – Bike advocacy and education. >LINK

Bay Area

  • 350 Bay Area – Clean energy. >LINK
  • Baykeeper – Watershed protection & advocacy against big polluters. >LINK
  • Firewise – Wildfire prevention and fire safety. >LINK
  • Greenbelt Alliance – Climate resilience. >LINK
  • GRID Alternatives – Clean energy. >LINK
  • Save the Bay – Restoration projects. >LINK
  • SPUR – Urban planning. >LINK
  • Sunflower Alliance – Advocacy against big polluters. >LINK
  • The Watershed Project – Education and outreach for watershed protection. >LINK
  • Y-Plan – Youth civic learning strategy to improve city planning. >LINK

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