UW Sustainability Courses - Non-Profits & Trade Organizations

NON-PROFITS & TRADE ORGANIZATIONS

http://www.newdream.org/ - The Center for a New American Dream helps Americans consume responsibly to protect the environment, enhance quality of life, and promote social justice. At their web site, you will: · Find tips and tools to live consciously, buy wisely and make a difference; · Learn from other members' inspirations, experiences, and expertise;
- Find New Dream-sponsored events near you and publicize your own;
- Suggest and discuss future actions for the community to take;
- Take action to push businesses and governments to change the way goods are produced and consumed;
- Teach and learn from thousands of others who are, like you, trying to get more of what matters by living consciously, buying wisely and making a difference.
http://www.abetterfuture.org - A BETTER FUTURE is a one-of-a-kind “gateway” site to sustainable development. This site raises public awareness and promotes a societal movement toward more sustainable lifestyles. Helping the public from all walks of life better appreciate the scientific issues that underlie progress on global sustainability is at the heart of this site.
A Better Future offers a portal to information needed to recognize the many connected issues in our world and how the kinds of choices we make based upon this understanding will affect the consequences of our actions (the 3 Cs). It does not try to tell you how to live, but rather provides you with enough information so you can make your own, well-informed decisions about how you conduct your life in relationship to sustainability.

The goals of “A Better Future” include:
- To increase the awareness for sustainable development issues with the public.
- To increase the societal health/quality of life literacy of the public.
- To scientifically inform the public about the interdependencies among environmental, economic, and social equity concerns in their lives.
- To influence grassroots change in social behavior that will lead to a more sustainable society world-wide.
http://www.greenbiz.com/ - Greenbiz is a self-described resource center on business, the environment and the bottom line. This site allows you to subscribe to a weekly newsletter, check jobs and look at a calendar of upcoming events. A sort of one stop place for business and the environment information.
http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/ - Sustainable business.com is designed for companies that show exceptional leadership by committing to address the ecological crisis as it relates to their industry. The site provides direct access to the information and tools sustainable business people need, including meaningful employment and resources for sustainable business development.
http://www.bsr.org/ - Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) is a global organization that helps member companies achieve success in ways that respect ethical values, people, communities and the environment. BSR provides information, tools, training and advisory services to make corporate social responsibility an integral part of business operations and strategies.
http://net-impact.org/ Net-Impact is a network of emerging business leaders committed to using the power of business to create a better world. It is also the most progressive and influential network of MBAs in existence today. Originally founded as Students for Responsible Business in 1993, Net Impact serves to broaden business education, refine leadership skills, and pursue professional goals, while building networks.
http://www.lohas.com/ - LOHAS Online is focused on people with Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability and the businesses that serve them. This is a growing segment of the population which controls a substantial amount of buying power.
http://www.future500.org/ - The Future 500 is a global network of leadership companies who are seeking to learn how to maximize their triple bottom lines. Future 500 provides them with tools, training and consultation that can maximize corporate returns not just to shareholders, but to all their stakeholders, in the workplace, community, marketplace, and environment. Members include Coke, Ford, Nike, HP and Deloitte & Touche.
http://www.wbcsd.ch/ - The World Business Council on Sustainable Development is an international trade association of multi-national companies that provide business leadership toward sustainable development, and promote the role of eco-efficiency, innovation and corporate social responsibility. They claim to be the leading business advocate on issues connected with sustainable development; and they participate in policy development in order to create a framework that allows business to contribute effectively to sustainable development.
http://www.ceres.org/ - CERES is a leading coalition of environmental, investor, and advocacy groups working together for a sustainable future. These groups form a community of forward-looking companies that have committed to continuous environmental improvement by endorsing the CERES principles, a ten point code of environmental conduct.
http://www.naturalstep.org/ - The Natural Step is a unique non-profit that provides a visionary blueprint for a sustainable world. They engage with companies to transform the way they do business by integrating sustainability principles into their core strategies, decisions, operations -- and bottom line. They help companies understand how the current state of the world is impacting business systems, and how, in turn, business systems are impacting the state of the world.
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/home.cfm - Environmental Defense is a leading national nonprofit organization. Their mission is to protecting the environmental rights of all people, including future generations. Among these rights are clean air and water, healthy and nourishing food, and a flourishing ecosystem. They are renown for linking science, economics and law to create innovative, equitable and cost-effective solutions to society's most urgent environmental problems.
http://www.ofrf.org/ - The Organic Farming Research Foundation is a non-profit whose mission is to sponsor research related to organic farming practices, to disseminate research results to organic farmers and to growers interested in adopting organic production systems, and to educate the public and decision-makers about organic farming issues.

More Resources:

BALLE, http://www.livingeconomies.org - Business Alliance for Local Living Economies. Organization truly following the "think globally act locally" philosophy. Believe communities thrive by having strong local business ownership, economic justice, cultural diversity, and a healthy, natural environment. Follows mission by building networks among local businesses interested in maintaining a local living economy.
Co-op America, http://www.coopamerica.org - "Practical skills for using your consumer and investment power for social change." Membership organization providing resources for making sustainable purchasing decisions, such as their Green Pages program. Also sponsor campaigns pushing for social or environmental sustainability, as well as organize an annual Green Business Conference.
Corporate Governance, http://www.corpgov.net - "Enhancing return on capital through increased accountability." Organization geared toward both institutional and individual investors. Believes accountability and better governed corporations creates wealth particularly when shareholders are active, informed participants in corporate decision-making. Organization helps to facilitate link between shareholders and corporations through resources, networks, and advocacy.
Corporate Watch, http://www.corpwatch.org - A non-profit organization committed to "holding corporations accountable." Functions as a resource on corporate globalization research, news stories, and ways to take action. Also, organizes campaigns against political campaign financing, greenwashing, and war-profiteering.
Corporate Sunshine Working Group, http://www.corporatesunshine.org - “An alliance of investors, environmental organizations, unions and public interest groups working to enforce and expand Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) corporate social and environmental disclosure requirements.” Achieves mission by building a coalition of organizations and individuals requesting more enforcement from the SEC, researching corporations not abiding regulation, and educating the public about including people and the environment on the books.
Global Reporting Initiative, http://www.globalreporting.org - As an official collaborating center of the United Nations Environmental Program this institution works to develop global Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. The Guidelines are intended to be used by businesses and organizations for reporting on “the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of their activities, products, and services.”
Reclaim Democracy, www.reclaimdemocracy.org - “Restoring citizen authority over corporations.” Covering civil rights, corporate accountability, corporate personhood, globalization, transforming politics, and more, this site serves as a kind of clearinghouse for topics of interest to those concerned about the state of both the private and public sectors of the nation. A little rough around the edges in terms of format, the site offers an impressive range of information and articles, defining both the apparent problems and some possible solutions.
Sustainable Business, www.sustainablebusiness.com - “We help green businesses grow.” A thorough and broad site covering many aspects of the sustainable business movement, like green building, renewable energy, and information on green investing. Listing news, events, Green Dream Jobs, and Business Connections that help connect partners, distributors, and other players in growing businesses.
National Association of Socially Responsible Organizations, www.nasro-co-op.com - A non-profit business association that helps with one of the major business problems, health insurance.
Social Venture Network, www.svn.org - “SVN promotes new models and leadership for socially and
environmentally sustainable business in the 21st century.” As a nonprofit network, they do this by championing member initiatives, information services, and community forums.
Redefining Progress, www.redefiningprogress.org - “Working with a broad array of partners to shift the
economy and public policy towards sustainability.” Offering tools like the Ecological Footprint Calculator and the Genuine progress Indicator, information on recent policy developments, and initiatives like Environmental Justice & Climate Change, this group appears to be very engaged in the legwork that would have to go into “redefining progress”.
Program on Corporations, Law & Democracy, www.poclad.org - “We are 13 activists working with individuals and existing groups to launch democratic insurgencies that put corporations once again subordinate to ‘We the People’.” Group develops vital research and analysis: reading lists, pamphlets on critical issues, a thrice-yearly publication (By What Authority) an anthology on corporations and democracy, videos, powerpoint presentations, and workshops on strategic engagement.
Natural Capital Institute, www.naturalcapital.org - “The Natural Capital Institute researches and initiates projects relating to the relationship between human and living systems, with particular emphasis on natural capital, green business, biomimicry, innovative design, and social justice.” Particular focus on Socially Responsible Investing Project and Database, and Wind Energy Resources Project.
The American Independent Business Alliance, www.amiba.net - “The American Independent Business Alliance helps organizers start and sustain Independent Business Alliances (IBAs).” The group provides resources such as how-to advice, important new and research, local campaigns, and a network of IBA’s to help share ideas and problem solve. The website also provides links to articles, recommended readings, and related websites.