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League of Conservation Voters

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League of Conservation Voters
LeagueofConservationVotersLogo2025.jpg
Basic facts
Location:Washington, D.C.
Type:501(c)(4)
Top official:Pete Maysmith, President
Founder(s):David Brower
Website:Official website


The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that aims to educate the public regarding environmental legislation and support what the group considers to be pro-environmental public policies and political candidates. LCV is headquartered in Washington, D.C.[1][2][3] According to it's website, the organization "advances policy solutions that ensure clean air, clean water, and access to our democracy are not a privilege but a right afforded to every community."[4]

Background

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) was founded in 1969 by environmental activist David Brower. As a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, the group aims to educate the public regarding environmental legislation and support what the group considers to be pro-environmental public policies and political candidates.[1][2]

LCV maintains a network of local affiliates in 32 states and the District of Columbia. LCV membership grew from roughly 161,000 members in 2008 to nearly 1.2 million members by August 2015.[5]

According to the organization's website, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) has the following mission statement:

We envision a world in which tackling the climate crisis, confronting environmental injustice, and strengthening our democracy lead to cleaner and healthier communities, good, well-paying jobs, and a just, equitable, and sustainable future for all.[6][7]

Leadership

In 2025, the organization named Pete Maysmith as its next president.[8]

Work

The League of Conservation Voters' website lists the following as things it does:

We campaign for policy and legislation, including passing the most significant climate bill in U.S. history.

We fight to expand ballot access and protect and strengthen our democracy through legislation and executive action.

We elect champions for climate and democracy.[9][7]

Political activity

In 2012, the organization spent $11 million on election ads, supporting Barack Obama's (D) re-election campaign, and opposing the U.S. Senate candidacies of George Allen (R-Va.) and Heather Wilson (R-N.M.).[1]

In 2024, the organization spent $42.5 million in support of Democratic candidates.[10]

Notable endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section displays endorsements this organization made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.

Notable candidate endorsements by League of Conservation Voters
EndorseeElectionStageOutcome
Raquel Terán  source  (D) U.S. House Arizona District 3 (2024) PrimaryLost Primary
Lateefah Simon  source  (D) U.S. House California District 12 (2024) PrimaryWon General
George Whitesides  source  (D) U.S. House California District 27 (2024) PrimaryWon General
Jamaal Bowman  source  (D, Working Families Party) U.S. House New York District 16 (2024) PrimaryWithdrew in General
Colin Allred  source  (D) U.S. Senate Texas (2024) PrimaryLost General
Shontel Brown  source  (D) U.S. House Ohio District 11 (2022) PrimaryWon General

Affiliation and alliances

The group's affiliated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, seeks to encourage participation in the political process and educate the public and policymakers regarding what the group considers to be significant environmental issues.[11]

LCV's affiliated political action committees, the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund and the League of Conservation Voters Victory Fund, support the overarching LCV mission by making independent expenditures, campaign contributions, and endorsements in support of pro-environmental candidates.[2][12]

Finances

The following is a breakdown of League of Conservation Voters' revenues and expenses from 2015 to 2022. The information comes from the Internal Revenue Service

League of Conservation Voters financial data 2015-2-22
YearRevenueExpenses
2015$20.4 million$19.8 million
2016$38.8 million$40.3 million
2017$32.7 million$26.1 million
2018$65.1 million$66.5 million
2019$34 million$36.9 million
2020$78.1 million$71.6 million
2021$114.8 million$94.1 million
2022$68.9 million$91 million

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms League of Conservation Voters. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

See also

External links

Footnotes