50 years ago, EDF faced a very uncertain future. Our founders and trustees were gaining momentum toward securing a national ban on the use of DDT, which was then threatening ospreys, bald eagles and other iconic birds. But our funding sources were extremely tight and our ability to continue our work hung in the balance.

As EDF co-founder Charles Wurster wrote in his book on those early days, DDT Wars, “We would need more funding or we would not be long for this world.” Staff and volunteers often joked that they weren’t so much the Environmental Defense Fund as they were the Fundless Environmental Defenders.

So 50 years ago today, our small team pooled their resources and launched a membership program with a full-page ad in The New York Times.

The responses poured in and quickly offset the $25,000 cost to run the ad. From then on, as Charlie put it, “finances began to improve… [and] EDF was soon able to hire new staff and expand its programs.”

Ever since, EDF members have seen us through trying and often difficult times. We’ve seen wars and recessions. We’ve seen deadly natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina and tragic environmental catastrophes like Exxon Valdez and Deepwater Horizon. And we’re now hunkered down during a terrifying global pandemic.

But thanks to you and our now more than 2.5 million members and activists, we’ve achieved so much. EDF members stood with us to secure a national ban on DDT and slash acid rain pollution by 90%. Together, we’ve persuaded large companies like Walmart and McDonald's to reduce waste and improve efficiency.

And today, we’re helping fisheries manage the impacts of climate change. We’re helping farmers and ranchers produce more food with less harm to the environment. We’re protecting wildlife habit and critical ecosystems, cleaning up toxics in our food and household items and partnering with our affiliate MethaneSAT to launch a satellite to monitor the global emissions of methane, a powerful climate pollutant.

You and our membership community make all of this work possible. And as Director of Membership, it is an honor to stand with you as we take on the world’s most serious environmental challenges.

I can’t thank you enough!

In solidarity,

Sam Parry
Membership Director

P.S. We know this is a difficult and unnerving time. But I want to assure you that our work continues and our staff, while adjusting to working remotely, remains active and fully engaged. We're tracking and seizing opportunities to advance our core issues in Washington, across the country and around the world.

If you are able, we would greatly appreciate it if you could support our ongoing work with a gift today. You might even consider making a smaller monthly gift as a way to spread out your support. And if you are unable at this time to make a donation, we certainly understand – and we look forward to earning your support when you are able.

Thanks so much for everything you do.