About SELP

Originally the State Environmental Leadership Conference, SELP is a networked community of organizations that share experiences from state legislatures, representing coalitions working on state-wide issues, and the day-to-day complexities of organizational management.

The conference first began in 1988 as a knowledge-sharing meeting between executive directors from 19 independent environmental advocacy groups, all multi-issue and state-wide.

In 1998, the participating groups created SELP as a staffed organization operating year-round to organize the conference and more effectively achieve our goals.

Importance of State Work

States are the front lines of American environmental policy.

They serve as early innovators in pioneering new policy – often stronger and bolder than federal programs. Moreover, it’s the states’ job to enforce federal laws that protect our air and water quality.

States set standards and shape plans for everything from mercury emissions to the size of factory farms to the future of transportation systems and water supplies. They provide the budgets for state environmental and health agencies to carry out their mandates. Whether these policies, plans and enforcement capabilities are bold enough and strong enough depends on public involvement, leadership, big picture strategies, and frankly, political clout.

The 46 affiliated organizations of the State Environmental Leadership Program are the vanguard of driving strong, innovative state environmental policy in state legislatures throughout the nation. Our seasoned expertise in state policy and the decision-making process, combined with active grassroots networks has shaped victories that are protecting people and the natural world.

In short, State Environmental Leadership Program, together with our member groups, is re-defining America’s environmental agenda.

SELP's Future

The State Environmental Leadership Program is working to build strong, powerful, strategically nimble and sustainable advocacy organizations that can answer the challenge of 21st Century environmental leadership at the state level.

Strong networks and strong organizations lead to a more powerful and sustainable movement, achieving tangible gains in policy resulting in a cleaner, safer, healthier and more resilient world.

Our Vision

Every state will have at least one state policy organization that is all of the following:

Smart: strategically guided; clearly defined and followed mission; active and engaged board; cultural competency

Powerful: no significant environmental decision is made in a state without our group’s knowledge and consent.

Well run: effective financial tools and management, effective personnel management tools, competitive staff compensation, diverse and stable funding.

Our Mission

SELP improves the quality of state level advocacy, and thereby achieves state and national environmental gains. SELP achieves this through direct assistance and coordination efforts that strengthen the strategic and organizational capacity of SELP members.

For more in-depth information about how SELP achieves our goals please read our Programs & Services page