Earth Day Contest
As Earth Month kicks off, a nonprofit group called GreatNonprofits has launched their 2009 Green Choice Awards in an effort to identify the best organizations working towards environmental sustainability. The focus of GreatNonprofits and their Website is to offer a way for everyday people to review their experiences with nonprofit groups — similar to resources like Yelp and the Zagat Guide. For Earth Day, they are focusing on the green sector, and when the contest ends of April 15th, they will be able to announce the best-reviewed small, medium and large environmental nonprofits according to everyday people.
The thinking is that by shedding light on organizations — as large as Greenpeace and as small as the tiny Spring Creek Horse Rescue– the resulting transparency leads to accountability. Especially in an economic climate like the current one, this seems more important than ever. From our perspective, this added accountability is directly related to sustainability, both economic and environmental. Resources in any form are scarce by nature; indeed, at any given time there are numerous different parties vying for the same resources, regardless of whether it’s funding or fossil fuel. The work of GreatNonprofits can help inform where resources eventually end up.
What’s more is that those resources will be sustaining what are considered — by at least one type of yardstick — the most efficient and productive organizations, a notion that is standard in the private sector but not always easy to measure in the nonprofit one. And the work of environmental groups determined to be the ‘cream of the crop’ will indubitably continue sustaining our own planet and its health.
For more information and to share your opinion about any environmental organizations you’ve worked with, volunteered for, or given money to, visit their Green Choice Awards site. The contest ends on April 15th and reviewers are entered to win prizes of all shapes and sizes (from Whole Foods gift cards to environmentally aware Fetzer Wines and even a getaway stay in the boutique Joie de Vivre hotels).
On a side note, the web site administrator for Green Earth Friend, Guy, happens to share a birthday on April 22nd with Earth Day. So happy birthday to Guy, on Earth Day, from all the writers of Green Earth Friend!
About the Author: GreenTmom is a contributing author and editor with Green Earth Friend. She researches and writes on environmental issues, green living and green energy.
Owl | Apr 4, 2009 | Reply
I think one of the benefits that is often missed of going green is the cost savings. Whether it be switching bulbs or creating policies around lights and computer usage (or telecommuting) in the end going green can save money.
In terms of the reviews, it is good to see as there are so few accurate and reliable third party ratings systems out there. Hopefully they get meaningful participation.
admin | Apr 5, 2009 | Reply
We love blogroll links thanks.
Earth Day Contest | Apr 13, 2009 | Reply
I think the link isn’t working for the Green Choice Awards site. It wouldn’t show up in my browser. I’m running an Earth Day Contest as well giving away some green, organic products. I’m trying to make some new resolutions this Earth Day, one of which is to use less water (my biggest vice!).
admin | Apr 14, 2009 | Reply
The link is slow to load for some reason. You can go directly to their site to check out the contest. Good Luck with your Earth Day contest and your resolution to decrease water use is a great eco-friendly move.