ADVOCACY: National Wildlife Federation lays off senior officials -- source
Phil Taylor, E&E reporter
E&E PM: Monday, July 28, 2014
The National Wildlife Federation, one of the nation's oldest and most influential environmental groups, has laid off several high-level officials, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The federation's new CEO, Collin O'Mara, has "purged" some senior officials both as a cost-cutting measure and to "get the right people in," the source said.
"I'm kind of sad about it," the source said. "They've had a lot of financial pressure."
The number of layoffs could not be confirmed. An NWF spokesman declined to comment.
John Kostyack, NWF's vice president of wildlife conservation, also declined to comment.
NWF was founded more than 75 years ago and bills itself as the nation's largest conservation organization, with 360 staffers in 11 offices across the country.
Its top issues include protecting wildlife and open spaces, connecting youth to the outdoors, promoting renewable energy and combating climate change.
NWF reported annual revenue of $83 million in its 2013 filing to the Internal Revenue Service. Most of that revenue came from contributions and grants.
The layoffs come just months after the group announced that O'Mara, who led Delaware's Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, would replace Larry Schweiger as CEO (E&ENews PM, May 1).
O'Mara is an environmental up-and-comer who made his name in 2007 by creating San Jose, Calif.'s "Green Vision," a 15-year plan to attract clean-technology companies. He has also served as chairman of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and numerous other environmental boards.
Schweiger, who retired in May, had led NWF since 2004 and had been associated with the group on and off since 1981.
Although some large environmental groups including the Sierra Club have made a leftward shift, NWF has not. Schweiger said in February that NWF's priorities -- "protecting wildlife in a changing world" -- will remain at the forefront under new leadership.
"The world is demanding that we stay focused on those priority angles," Schweiger said.
