CAN YOU SUGGEST ANY FUNDING SOURCES FOR OPERATING SCORECARD?

ABOUT SCORECARD|CAN YOU SUGGEST ANY FUNDING SOURCES FOR OPERATING SCORECARD?

CAN YOU SUGGEST ANY FUNDING SOURCES FOR OPERATING SCORECARD?

RESPONSES FROM GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS
RESPONSES FROM THE PUBLIC
RESPONSES FROM EDUCATORS
RESPONSES FROM PROFESSIONALS: MEDIA, GOVERNMENT, HEALTH AND SAFETY PRACTITIONERS

RESPONSES FROM GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS

Why can't all the major environmental groups go into together on one comprehensive scorecard? Grassroots efforts are enhanced by RTK services like Scorecard. The folks fighting for environmental regulation on the municipal and state level need a unified resource.
E.S., Citizens for Healthy Growth
Denton, TX

I am certainly sad to hear that Scorecard may not be with us anymore. Having been part of this effort since its inception and having so many of my members that use the site to get information on pollution sources in their community, I am anxious to see us identify a way to keep it going. I think my board would be supportive of granting a stipend each year to keep the site active since so many of our members use it.
J.W., California Communities Against Toxics

I would suggest allowing ads on the site, I'm sure there are some progressive groups that would like to reach people concerned about pollution, like Grist or Mother Jones magazine, or Sierra Club.
C. K., Clean Water Action
Philadelphia, PA

I urge you to look into all options for maintaining Scorecard.org. Perhaps you can do so by requiring or suggesting a donation. You could do this by opening a window for donations whenever someone runs a zipcode search. Perhaps you could (with a coalition of other groups) apply for funding from the EPA.
J. D., University of Minnesota

As a statewide organization we struggle every year to meet payroll and cover reasonable expenses to carry out our mission. We could pay a small fee per use of scorecard, but we have no financial resources to contribute to maintaining scorecard. Charging a fee to individuals will discourage use by those with a need and a right-to-know.
C. T., Sierra Club - John Muir Chapter
Madison WI

You may want to petition some of the industrial labor organizations (Health and Safety Depts) such as PACE, Teamsters (which has the railway workers now), ICWU, UAW, AFLCIO. American Public Health Association has Occupational Health and Environmental sections, so you may have some access to academic communities. Maybe you should consider allowing some advertising, but limit it to peace, environmental justice, environmentally friendly products and such. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Some websites do solicit donations on-line. Maybe you should state how much you need to continue operating the site. Please don't pull the plug just yet.
L.V, United Auto Workers

I think some university assistance would be a great idea. Some could be in-kind, with faculty/student/staff doing some of the work behind the site and with analysis. I believe EPA should be funding much of this work, since you all are essentially doing their outreach. However independence is crucial. Yale, University of Michigan, maybe Santa Cruz would be logical starting places. We would like to contribute somehow. Private foundations should pitch in. Maybe the World Bank, since they have long argued for the value of this kind of information in driving better environmental performance.
T. R. , Environmental Science and Policy, College of William and Mary
Williamsburg, VA

Are there national or state EPA funds available for cost sharing? Could donations be gathered to support the site at some of the larger annual sustainability conferences or Earth day events?
C. R., Sustain Environmental

RESPONSES FROM THE PUBLIC

If you charged a small fee using paypal for people to generate your reports, and based on the traffic you get, would the system self-sustain? You could also promote the service for people who are researching new homes. Probably just running a small google campaign, something like "Get an pollution scorecard before you buy" and this site would pay for itself. Have you tried that? I just read an article about "the death of environmentalism" and it made me think of this site. The only way people are going to start thinking about this stuff is if it directly affects them. Wouldn't an org like the Sierra Club offer this service to people who sign up as members? And you could get some funding in turn from the Sierra Club?
E. B., yahoo.com

I do not belong to an organization - but I would be willing to pay a yearly fee for the use of Scorecard, if it were reasonable. Other ideas might be to offer your services to be linked to real estate sites and job seeker sites. There are probably a number of sites that you could link with to get individuals to your site and then charge a reasonable amount for people to look up information. I think people today are trying to find cleaner environments to raise families.
A. D., starband.net

Perhaps you could charge a small fee for each search with a subscription offer for those who would use your site repeatedly?
P. M., emich.edu

I hope it doesn't come to this, but I would have to try and raise funds to maintain this service if it becomes necessary. Since I am retired, it would be a heavy burden on me, without income.
I.U., Dallas, TX

I belong to the Society of Environmental Journalists--would they pay? I don't think so, because they'd count on the news organizations that their members work for. I belong to innumerable national, state, and local environmental groups--would they pay? Certain ones might, especially if they had a campaign going related to one of the Scorecard topics, but I don't know how to generate a list, exactly. Would I pay, personally? Well, I'd be willing to make a small contribution, on the order of $10, say, but I'm not sure how many people would be willing to do that, especially since environmental issues are so diversified. Have you considered asking contacting local or state public health departments to see if they'd assist?
B.B.
Milford, CT

I want to thank Environmental Defense for these years of access to the data covered by Scorecard.org. Regardless of whether Scorecard.org is reduced or cut altogether, the citizens and children of the U.S. will be the losers. I believe many industry interests will be delighted; they prefer to control all the spotlights.
N.F., earthlink.net

RESPONSES FROM EDUCATORS

That is the tough one, isn't it. You might keep tabs on the National Environmental Info Exchange network grants to see if 501 c 3s can apply for any of them. I am happy to send possible funding opportunities when I see it.
S.M., School of Public Policy, University of Maryland
College Park, MD

RESPONSES FROM PROFESSIONALS: MEDIA, GOVERNMENT, HEALTH AND SAFETY PRACTITIONERS

NAPA's ability to contribute to the costs of Scorecard would depend on what level of funding is needed and how many other contributors can share, but we do not have sufficient resources to support it alone. The Science Committee in the House of Representatives, particulary Rep. Sherwood Boehlert and his staff, as well as Rep. Waxman on the House Environment Committee and Sen. Jeffords on the Senate Envir. Committee, are well aware of the importance of good data for improving environmental protection. They might support direct federal funding for Scorecard or be willing to send letters directing EPA to give ED a grant to continue Scorecard.
S.K., National Academy of Public Administration

I have used the Scorecard site for college students to look up environmental information about their assigned or chosen communities. With this in mind, I believe that colleges and universities with any type of community or environmental program would be a good source of possible funding.
L. M., nku.edu