Political Leanings: Progressive/Liberal
2022 Total expenditure by its super PAC alone: $58.5 Million
The League of Conservation Voters is a 501(c)(4) non-profit dedicated to electing pro-environment and democracy candidates across all political levels, according to their website.
Friends of the Earth was established by activist David Brower in 1969 after serving as executive director for Sierra Club during its 1950s-’60s period and founder of that group’s predecessor organization Friends of the Earth. Gene Karpinski – former executive director for U.S. Public Interest Research Group and now current president – currently leads this initiative, while several notable environmental organizations, such as Earthjustice and Wilderness Society are represented on its board of directors.
The League of Conservation Voters keeps tabs on Congressmembers’ voting records on environmental issues through its National Environmental Scorecard, while its super PAC LCV Victory Fund compiles its “Dirty Dozen,” an ongoing list of politicians they hope to defeat due to their voting records on conservation matters and political vulnerability. They also designate state-level “Dirty Dozen.”
The League of Conservation Voters Action Fund and LCV Education Fund, two affiliated organizations of this league, serve as traditional political action committees with regards to fundraising for political action committees as well as performing outreach and education for their target populations respectively.
Super PACs typically spend their funds on independent expenditures that advocate either for or against candidates running for election; traditional PACs contribute directly to candidate and party committees. Most independent expenditures by super PACs support Democratic candidates while oppose Republicans.
On March 19th, LCV Victory Fund and its affiliated groups unveiled plans to spend over $120 Million during 2024 elections – surpassing their spending total during both 2020 elections ($115M) and midterm elections of $2022 ($100 Million).
Priorities for 2024 of LCV Victory Fund include winning the White House, protecting climate majority in Senate and taking back House from Big Oil’s MAGA allies, all while continuing climate progress within states, according to press releases issued by LCV Victory Fund.
As of July 31st, this super PAC had raised approximately $44.7 million this election cycle according to their most recent filing with the Federal Election Commission and had made independent expenditures worth $5 Million, per OpenSecrets’s research on campaign finances.
Most of this spending went toward supporting Democratic candidates, such as Vice President Kamala Harris – Democratic presidential nominee – and Rep. Ruben Gallego who is running for Senate in Arizona.
As a super PAC, LCV Victory Fund must disclose its donors to the FEC. So far, its largest donor has been League of Conservation Voters – which donated an impressive almost $27.7 million!
As a nonprofit 501(c)(4) entity, the League of Conservation Voters does not need to disclose its donors and can make unlimited donations to super PACs without disclosing its source of funds – known as dark money spending by OpenSecrets research group.
Major donors to this cycle’s LCV Victory Fund include former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, investor Reuben Munger, designer Giovanna Randall, author Thomas Barron and philanthropist Adam Lewis.
On July 31st, LCV Action Fund had raised approximately $765,000. Of this sum, approximately $588K had been distributed in contributions and contributions made directly to federal candidates and other political committees in 2024 election cycle; for 2022 election cycle LCV Action Fund collected about $8898 and gave around 763,000 in grants to other committees.
Staff Writer D’Angelo Gore contributed significantly to this piece.
