Earthjustice
Earthjustice is a nonprofit public interest environmental law organization founded in 1971 that provides free legal representation to environmental NGOs, community groups, and tribes through approximately 230 lawyers across 15 U.S. offices, handling roughly 700 active cases on clean air, water, climate, and environmental justice matters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Earthjustice does
Earthjustice is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public interest environmental law organization founded in 1971 and headquartered in San Francisco, California. It provides free legal representation to environmental organizations, community groups, and tribal entities, deploying approximately 230 specialized lawyers across 15 U.S. offices (spanning the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico) to handle roughly 700 active cases at any time. The organization argues cases before federal and state courts and engages directly with regulatory rulemakings, with a docket spanning clean air, clean water, biodiversity, public lands, climate, and environmental justice matters. Core services include litigation, policy and legislative advocacy in Washington D.C., action alerts via email and SMS, an online library of expert resources, and legacy/planned giving programs; supporting technology consists of standard nonprofit SaaS including the FastAction/EveryAction advocacy platform and Microsoft Forms, with no proprietary AI or software products disclosed.
Earthjustice is funded entirely through charitable contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporate giving programs, and reports that 84% of every dollar contributed goes directly to program work. Its go-to-market model is partnership-driven rather than commercial: the organization acquires matters through formal and informal coalitions with entities such as the Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, National Parks Conservation Association, NAACP, Healthy Gulf Coalition, Habitat Recovery Project, and Puerto Rico-based community organizations (El Puente, Comité Diálogo Ambiental, Queremos Sol, AERA). A separate affiliated entity, Earthjustice Action, operates as a 501(c)(4) for lobbying activity. The organization maintains a Charity Navigator 4-star rating for 14+ consecutive years, Gold-level GuideStar status, and CharityWatch Top-Rated recognition, and is governed by an independent Board of Trustees with no parent company, equity backers, or subsidiaries.
Earthjustice firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Earthjustice
- Legal name
- Earthjustice
- Website
- https://earthjustice.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Earthjustice is a nonprofit public interest environmental law organization founded in 1971 that provides free legal representation to environmental NGOs, community groups, and tribes through approximately 230 lawyers across 15 U.S. offices, handling roughly 700 active cases on clean air, water, climate, and environmental justice matters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Earthjustice industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Legal Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental & Energy Law (BPAHAAAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Environmental Policy, Advocacy & Litigation (BPAGAGAG), Environmental Justice & Community Environmental Health (BPAGAGAL), Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)
Keywords
Where Earthjustice is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices15 records
Markets served
Earthjustice business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: Earthjustice generates revenue through charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate giving programs. As a nonprofit, all revenue supports the organization's mission of providing free legal representation in environmental cases. The organization does not charge clients for legal services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels11 records
Earthjustice product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Earthjustice is a nonprofit public interest environmental law organization that provides free legal representation to environmental organizations, communities, and tribes in environmental and public health matters. The organization operates 15 offices across the United States with approximately 230 lawyers handling roughly 700 active cases at any given time, covering litigation, policy advocacy, and community partnerships focused on clean air, clean water, wild places, and environmental justice.
Product overview
Earthjustice is a nonprofit public interest environmental law organization offering free legal representation to clients fighting for clean air, clean water, wild places, and environmental justice. The organization operates 15 offices nationwide with 230 lawyers handling over 700 active cases. Core offerings include litigation services, action alerts (email and text), an online library of expert resources, and legacy giving programs. The organization uses the FastAction (EveryAction) platform for online advocacy and donation forms, with additional tools including Microsoft Forms for mail preferences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Legal Representation Services
Companies that use Earthjustice
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Earthjustice technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Earthjustice partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC)coreLong-standing regional environmental law partner working on shared environmental protection goals in the southeastern United States. Collaboration on cases involving air quality, water protection, and land conservation in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.
- Sierra ClubcoreMajor environmental organization partner providing referrals and collaboration on environmental litigation cases. Works together on climate, wildlands protection, and clean energy cases.
- NAACPcoreEnvironmental justice partnership addressing racial equity in environmental protection. Joint litigation on cases affecting minority communities disproportionately impacted by pollution and environmental hazards.
- El Puente (Puerto Rico)coreCommunity organization partnership in Puerto Rico addressing environmental justice issues. Collaborates on cases involving environmental health concerns in Puerto Rican communities.
- Comité Diálogo Ambiental (Puerto Rico)coreEnvironmental dialogue committee partnership working on environmental advocacy in Puerto Rico. Joint efforts on cases involving environmental contamination and community health.
- Coalición想去替代方案 para un Programa Integral de Energía (Queremos Sol)coreCoalition partner working on solar energy and energy transition issues in Puerto Rico. Collaboration on energy justice cases and advocacy for renewable energy alternatives.
- AERA (Puerto Rico)corePuerto Rican environmental organization partner collaborating on environmental protection and advocacy efforts in the territory.
- Healthy Gulf CoalitioncoreRegional coalition partner focused on Gulf Coast environmental protection. Collaboration on cases involving industrial pollution, wetland destruction, and coastal environmental issues in Gulf states.
- Center for Biological DiversitycoreEnvironmental organization partner specializing in species protection and biodiversity cases. Works together on Endangered Species Act litigation and wildlife habitat protection.
- National Parks Conservation AssociationcorePartner organization dedicated to protecting national parks. Collaboration on cases involving park preservation, air quality in parks, and protection of park resources.
- Habitat Recovery ProjectcoreEnvironmental restoration partner working on habitat recovery and ecological restoration cases. Collaboration on litigation supporting habitat restoration efforts.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Earthjustice competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Sierra Club: Earthjustice's largest long-standing litigation referral partner and overlapping donor base; not a direct legal peer but functions as a key co-litigant and funding ecosystem participant.
Direct peers
- Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC): Regional nonprofit environmental law firm with a similar model of free legal representation for environmental clients, often co-counseling with Earthjustice on cases in the Southeast. Direct counterpart in mission, funding model, and practice areas.
- Center for Biological Diversity: Nonprofit that runs an active in-house litigation practice focused on endangered species and biodiversity, frequently partnering with Earthjustice on ESA cases and competing for similar donor support.
Broad incumbents
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Larger, broader environmental nonprofit combining litigation, advocacy, and science. Overlaps with Earthjustice on climate, clean air, and water cases and shares the same major donor pool.
- National Wildlife Federation: Large U.S. conservation NGO with a legal arm that litigates wildlife and habitat cases; competes with Earthjustice for foundation grants and conservation-aligned donors.
- Greenpeace USA: International environmental advocacy organization with U.S. operations; competes for similar mass-market donor support and overlaps on climate, oceans, and fossil-fuel litigation campaigns.
- Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): Major environmental NGO with a significant legal and policy operation; competes for similar corporate, foundation, and high-net-worth donor dollars and operates in overlapping climate and air-quality practice areas.
Emerging players
- Waterkeeper Alliance: Nonprofit network focused on Clean Water Act enforcement through citizen suits; overlaps with Earthjustice's water practice and shares small-donor fundraising mechanics.
- Earthworks: Smaller environmental nonprofit focused on mining, oil and gas, and climate impacts; occasionally co-litigates with Earthjustice but with a more specialized mandate and tighter resources.
Regional players
- ClientEarth: International environmental law charity headquartered in Europe; comparable mission and free-representation model but geographically distinct, representing what a global expansion of Earthjustice's model could look like.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Earthjustice social profiles
Digital presenceEarthjustice financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Earthjustice leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Earthjustice funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Earthjustice M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Earthjustice
What does Earthjustice do?
Earthjustice is a nonprofit public interest environmental law organization that provides free legal representation to environmental organizations, communities, and tribes in environmental and public health matters. The organization operates 15 offices across the United States with approximately 230 lawyers handling roughly 700 active cases at any given time, covering litigation, policy advocacy, and community partnerships focused on clean air, clean water, wild places, and environmental justice.
Is Earthjustice a public or private company?
Earthjustice is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Earthjustice founded?
Earthjustice was founded in 1971. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Earthjustice based?
Earthjustice is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Earthjustice make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Grants.
Who are Earthjustice's main competitors?
Sierra Club is listed as an others. Direct peers are Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) and Center for Biological Diversity. Broad incumbents are Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), National Wildlife Federation, Greenpeace USA and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). Emerging players are Waterkeeper Alliance and Earthworks. ClientEarth is listed as a regional player.
Does Earthjustice have an API?
No public API is recorded for Earthjustice.
What industry is Earthjustice in?
Earthjustice's product category is Environmental Legal Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAAAO, Environmental & Energy Law, with a secondary code of BPAGAGAG, Environmental Policy, Advocacy & Litigation. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 8111.