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Sierra Club

Diversity Survey Results For 2004

"Hi Norris.  Thanks for keeping in touch.  As I mentioned last year, the Sierra Club collects such information for EEO federal reporting purposes. However, we  inform our employees that this personal information is private and confidential.   We collect the information only for the purposes of federal reporting requirements and do not release it to the public.  I'm sure you understand this. As I think you are aware, the Sierra Club has an active Environmental Justice program with organizers from the affected communities working with their neighbors to protect their communities.  Among the sites are Detroit, Memphis, Flagstaff, Washington DC, El Paso and others.  We have a Beyond the Borders prorgram which works with and provides funding for groups in Mexico to protect their region.  In addition, we have an Environmental Partnerships program which partners with a number of communities and organizations of color at the local and national levels, including Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, Environmental Support Network (serve on their board), Mexican American Legal Defense Fund (which saluted the Club last year for the release of our Latino Communities at Risk report,) the Indigenous Environmental Network and dozens of local groups.  Let me know if you are interested in more information about these programs, or check out our website.  Thanks for your interest."

Melanie L. Griffin, Sierra Club

National Programs Director

202-675-6273

Note: AAEA took the information provided in an email response by Melanie Griffin and applied it to the survey.

Green Group Diversity Report Card

Does your organization have grants or contracts with the Federal government?

Yes______ No_______ List  Agencies_______________________________________

If yes, indicate range: Less than 100,000________Greater than 100,000___________

1. Number of professional minority employees (number of nonminority employees).

2. Number of administrative minority employees (number of nonminority admin employees).

3. Percent of minority employees over the past 3 years (average) compared to nonminority employees

4. Do you have a formal Diversity Program? 10 Points

5. Number of minority program managers and project directors (number of nonminority program managers and project directors).

6. Number of formal (programmatic, monetary, managerial) partnerships with minority organizations. 10 Points

7. Number of minority contractors used for goods and services (at least 3 with at least 15% of supplier/services budget).

8. Use services of minority bank (at least one).

9. Total amount of contributions to minority environmental organizations (threshold: 15% budget)

10. Percent of budget dedicated to minority staff and minority programs.

Bonus: Describe the positive or negative effects of diversity at your organization. Describe your plans to improve diversity at your organization in 2005.

Report Card Explanation

 Each item has a value of 10 points or 10 percentage points.  The ratings include: 100%-80%-Excellent, 70%-50%-Good, Below 50%-Poor

The Environmental Movement should reflect the demographics of America.  As such, we are using a specific percentage as the basis for evaluating environmental groups.  We believe that a 15% participation rate is a fair measure for applying the criteria listed above.  It also provides a tangible target for groups to measure themselves.  This percentage rate will be applied to appropriate criteria.

  1. Number of professional minority employees (number of nonminority employees). Although many environmental groups have minority employees, they are usually administrative staff, especially the receptionist position.  Professional employees include research assistants, research associates, researchers, lobbyists, and management/accounting-level (CEO, VP, COO, CFO, CPA, Development Director).  We believe that a 15% minority participation rate is reasonable for full ten-point credit.  Ten percent or more-six points.  Five percent or more-three points.  

However, we realize that this level of participation will be problematic for traditional environmental organizations because the work environments can be hostile, exclusive, and policy positions can be contrary to personal, racial and cultural beliefs.  Thus, the history of minorities in these positions is poor.  When minorities are hired, the retention rate is poor.   Minority participation will remain poor as long as working environments at environmental groups are hostile and as long as they are unwilling to entertain and adopt minority-friendly policies.  

  1. Number of administrative minority employees (number of nonminority admin employees).  Groups should score here because it must be comfortable for both parties to interact at this level.  Secretaries, receptionists and typists are important positions for effective and efficient operation of any organization, however, more aggressive efforts should be made to recruit and retain professionals.  This should not be difficult in urban and suburban areas where most environmental groups are located because there is abundant minority talent in these areas.  A 15% participation rate qualifies the group for credit in this category.  Ten percent or more, 6 points. Five percent or more, 3 points. 
  1. Percent of minority employees over the past 3 years (average) compared to nonminority employees.  This is a combination of administrative and professional employees over time.  A group, for whatever reason, might have a year where minority employment slips.  However, if there is a low percentage over time, then a clear pattern and practice of discrimination is implied.  It also implies that minorities are not aware of positions at these organizations as a result of separate living patterns, cultural disconnects and intent to avoid employing diverse populations.  A 15% combined participation rate qualifies the group for full credit in this category.  Ten percent or more, 6 points. Five percent or more, 3 points. 
  1. Do you have a formal Diversity Program?    This question requires a simple yes or no response.  If yes, specify program director and range of estimated program budget (e.g., $100,000-$200,000, etc).   
  1. Number of minority program managers, project managers, program directors and project directors (number of nonminority program managers and project directors).  These positions are crucial to the implementation of the policies of the organizations.  At least two (2) positions are needed to qualify for full credit in this category.   Five points for one position. 
  1. Number of formal (programmatic, monetary, managerial) partnerships with minority organizations.  This category includes programmatic partnerships that deal with substantive issues.  This category can include jointly funded and executed programs or programs that are subcontracted to, and executed by, minority organizations.  At least three (3) formal partnerships are needed to qualify for full credit in this category.  Six points for two formal partnerships. Three points for one formal partnership.    
  1. Number of minority contractors used for goods and services (at least 3 with at least 15% of supplier/services budget for total credit).  Three points for 1 contractor. Six points for 2 contractors.
  1. Use services of minority bank (at least one). 
  1. Total amount of contributions to minority environmental organizations (threshold: 15% budget).  A group can take credit for this category if 15% of its budget goes to minority organizations.    Six points for 10%. Four points for 5% or more. 
  1. Percent of budget dedicated to minority staff and minority programs.  A group can take total credit for this category if 15% of its budget is dedicated to minority staff salaries and minority programs.  The credit is 6 points if 10% or more of its budget is dedicated to minority staff salaries and minority programs.  The credit is 4 points if 5% or more of its budget is dedicated to minority staff salaries and minority programs.   

Bonus: How has your organization changed due to having a diverse or more diverse staff? In what new areas are you now doing or considering doing business or investing? What new, better or different ways are you communicating to or with the public? In what new geographic areas are you now working or considering? What new or different short term and long term strategies do you now have that you might not have had otherwise? In other words, has it made a substantial or significant difference to your organizational activities and goals to have diversity in significant staff and management levels? Up to 10 points at the discretion of AAEA.