Nature and nature’s laws, as Bacon perceived, impose absolute constraints on human possibilities. Each of the three sectors – commerce, government, and philanthropy – has characteristic roles and responsibilities in mediating our relations with it. Commerce develops natural resources technologically and economically; government promotes and regulates their use, handles civil engineering, and defines environmental public policies; philanthropy focuses on quality of life in nature – through science and education, by monitoring environmental impacts, and by direct action – e.g., land, water, air, and biodiversity conservation and political advocacy.

The modern environmental movement began, and is guided, promoted, and sustained, through philanthropy. The Catalogue has identified about 70 first-rate small-to-mid-sized environmental charities since 1997 (three more here), in all fields of interest – all are on our website. Nationally, the environment receives less than 3% of philanthropic dollars; here donors give it 10%. Surveys consistently show that environmental quality is one of Americans’ highest priorities, and in the current budget crunch Massachusetts donors will have to support environmental philanthropy more than ever before, to prevent loss of gains already made, to identify emerging issues, and to focus on quality when others would rather pursue private profit or political compromise.