Which Organizations are included in the WiserEarth Directory?

These guidelines include information about the basic requirements required for inclusion in the WiserEarth directory. Please feel free to add your thoughts or comments about these guidelines in the comment area below. 

If you are new to the WiserEarth community, you may want to learn more about the history and background of this website.


Which organizations are included in the WiserEarth directory?

WiserEarth's online directory of organizations focuses on organizations working in the fields of sustainability and social justice. These organizations can be non-governmental, governmental, or for-profit and also have additional characteristics (based on their mission statement) for overcoming inequality and environmental harm. The metrics for determining these characteristics have never been defined, and as a result, deciding on the appropriateness of an organization can be difficult. The information below will help you decide whether an organization meets the qualifications for a sustainable society.

Organizations included in WiserEarth

• All Non-profit and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), for-profits, and government entities that address poverty, social justice and the environment – contributing to a sustainable world
• Faith-based organizations doing non-denominational work that do not require an acceptance of their faith to participate in the organization or to carry out their work
• Health-related organizations that work on environmental health, human rights and health, and equity issues
• Research Institutes working on sustainability or social justice issues
• Schools/Universities with a sustainability or social justice focus
• United Nations organizations working on sustainability issues
• Foundations addressing sustainability issues
• Organizations working on Human Rights
• Organizations working on Social Justice and Equity
• Organizations working on Environmental Protection and Environmental Sustainability

Organizations that do not qualify for inclusion

• Labor Unions
• Trade Associations
• Political Parties
• Faith-based organizations that require acceptance of their religion, or are performing missionary / proselytizing work
• Museums / Aquariums / Libraries / Zoos
• Orphanages
• Hospitals
• Organizations that are purely health-related

While browsing through the site you may see organization profiles that are flagged Out of Scope. This means that an organization's mission does not fit within the parameters provided above.