Earth Share of Oregon (ESOR) is a federation of 68 leading local and national non-profit conservation groups that provides a convenient way for Oregonians to support conservation and healthy communities.

Through Earth Share workplace campaigns, conservation groups reach new audiences and supporters in nearly 100 public and private organizations in Oregon. Since our founding in 1989, we have raised over $8.5 million for conservation, and increased our revenues by an average of 8% each year.

Earth Share of Oregon’s conservation groups work to protect the health and quality of life of Oregonians through conservation projects with three important objectives:

Earth Share of Oregon is an independent 501(c)(3) organization with four full-time and two part-time staff in Portland, Eugene, and Bend. A 21-member volunteer Board of Directors representing environmental groups and local businesses govern the organization.

Keeping People Healthy

Clean air, pure water, and chemical-free food are crucial to our health and well-being. Harm to our environment results in more than barren landscapes and endangered animals. It affects our health, the health of our families, and the health of generations to come.

Earth Share of Oregon conservation groups advocate stronger water pollution controls, enforcement of Oregon’s pesticide tracking law, and support for organic farmers. Conservation groups also study human milk to determine the risk of pesticides and chemicals passed to babies during nursing. Some member groups seek legislation banning toxic mercury in consumer products and build public awareness about health hazards in the Willamette River.

Reducing Global Warming and its Effects

Taking action now will slow the effects of global warming on our climate, land, and water. Scientists believe that increased levels of carbon dioxide from automobiles, power plants, and landfills are overheating the earth.

Earth Share of Oregon conservation groups seek to reduce carbon dioxide production by promoting use of clean, renewable energy from the sun, wind, and water.  Examples of the many ways this is being accomplished include planting tens of  thousands of trees, creating recycled paper co-ops, proposing energy policies that promote efficiency, encouraging sensible urban development, and monitoring national forest management practices.

Preserving Natural Habitat

Landscapes rich in a diversity of plants, animals, and people enrich our lives. Preservation of habitat encompasses desert, forest, and coastal ecosystems, as well as our own backyards. Last year, thanks to Earth Share of Oregon member groups, 62 urban backyards became certified wildlife habitats, while 56,238 acres of Northwest forest, range and coast land were protected.

From the family farm to the wildlife refuge, natural habitat is affected by human actions or inactions. Some of the funds donated to conservation groups provides nature education for school children, research to save endangered species and ecosystems, and the improvement of policies that protect fish and wildlife.

Earth Share of Oregon conservation groups support sustainable farming practices keep the soil and the life forms that depend upon the soil healthy. How we treat the land affects nearby streams, lakes, rivers, oceans, and the plants and animals living in and near the water. 

Our History

In 1989, thirteen environmental groups in Oregon came together to form the Environmental Federation of Oregon. Their goal was to gain access to workplace fundraising campaigns so that non-profit conservation groups could count on stable year-round funding for their important work. Only eight months later, the Environmental Federation of Oregon broke national records with its success and support from Oregonians across the state.

In 2000, with 32 local conservation groups, the Environmental Federation of Oregon (EFO) decided to take another step forward in supporting the quality of life in Oregon by joining Earth Share and becoming Earth Share of Oregon. With this change, Earth Share of Oregon supporters now have the benefit of choosing to fund national and global conservation causes as well as Oregon efforts.

As the third environmental federation to be formed in the country, EFO served as a model for many other similar federations across the country. EFO’s former Executive Director, Sarah Sameh, now serves on the Board of Directors of Earth Share National, bringing her experience to ensure the success of Earth Share across the country.