Nature — what people do with our natural environment — is an increasingly important field in philanthropy. In 2003-4, Massachusetts had about 200 environmental charities with budgets under $3 million and income over $25,000 — roughly 7.7% of all charities, and surprisingly, of all income in dollars: $126.2 million.

The numbers of charities in the field began to increase significantly in the ’70s, and jumped again in the ’90s. By 1960 there were only eight with IRS 501(c)3 designation; in the ’60s, the field more than doubled — 11 were added; in the ’70s, it doubled again with the addition of 34 (for a total of 53); in the ’80s, 36 more were added (total: 89); in the ’90s, it nearly doubled again, with 77 more (total: 166); and in the first three to four years of this century, 29 were added.

The distribution among main subfields is as follows:

           Number   (%)   Income   (%)
                 
Land           57 (29%)   $38.0M (30%) 
Animal Welfare 35 (18%)   $21.7M (17%)
Water          23 (12%)   $11.7M  (9%)
Energy         20 (10%)   $16.6M (13%)
Biodiversity   19 (10%)   $ 9.6M  (8%)
General        18  (9%)   $16.9M (13%)
Urban          12  (6%)   $ 5.3M  (4%)
  Environment

Each of these subfields can be further analyzed for fiscal structure, geographic distribution of services, age of charities, etc., to assist donors in identifying where they would most like to invest.