You don't hear from me often, but I'm the person in charge of the Sierra Club's budget. And with just 1 day left before our year-end campaign closes, we're far behind where we should be.
The last few days of the year are critical to how hard we can fight next year. In fact, it's during this final week that we raise 50% of our budget for the next year.
I know too well what it will mean if we fail to meet this goal of raising $500,000 by midnight tomorrow. And unfortunately, if something doesn't turn around quickly, we're not going to make it.
I'm so grateful for each and every one of you. Together, Sierra Club members and supporters have signed tens of thousands of letters, made countless calls to Congress, and spoken forcefully against polluters on behalf of our communities and wildlife.
But to be frank, along with other organizations in the progressive space, we've seen a drop in donations this year.
I understand for many, things are extraordinarily tough for families right now. But the reality is that we are still up against the well-financed fossil fuel industry. And we'll be facing a new anti-environment majority in the House next year.
The generosity of Sierra Club members and supporters last year is what helped make this year's victories possible. That includes helping to pass the largest climate bill in the history of our nation!
But with Big Oil's plans to plow forward with a MASSIVE drilling operation in Alaska and off our coasts, we cannot get complacent.
We can't afford to let our struggle against these anti-environment forces let up even a little. We're in a race against time.
As the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said this past November, "We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator."
I'm truly grateful for every dollar that comes in — because I know that behind every dollar is a person who is trusting us to fight on your and our planet's behalf.
All of us at Sierra Club take that responsibility seriously.
