350 Colorado is a child organization of 350.org, a left-of-center environmentalist organization that advocates for the elimination of conventional energy use. It lobbies, protests, and promotes “civil disobedience” among activists. ^[1]

350 Colorado advocates for legislation that places taxes and limits on carbon emissions, divests government funds from fossil fuel companies, and transitions state infrastructure to rely on environmentalist energy. ^[2] Additionally, it demands that the legislation it advocates for “dismantle[s] oppressive systems that enable poverty, racism, and inequity.” ^[3]

Activities

350 Colorado lists “civil disobedience” as one of its forms of activism. ^[4] It cites a July 2017 meeting with the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission where 350 Colorado protestors were removed by police for chanting and interrupting the appeal a court ruling regarding the distribution of fracking permits. ^[5]

People

Micah Parkin is an executive director and co-founder of 350 Colorado. She has worked for numerous Colorado-based environmentalist activist groups and serves on the city of Boulder’s Clean Energy Technical Team and as a climate mobilization action plan finance working group lead. ^[6]

Sunni Benoit is the president of 350 Colorado. She worked as an attorney until 2016 when she moved to Colorado to focus on environmentalist activism. ^[7]

Gina Hardin is a co-founder and former chair of the board of directors. She has worked in executive roles for several Colorado-based environmental activist groups. ^[8]

Financials

350 Colorado is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and does not have to disclose its donors. In 2018, 350 Colorado reported a total revenue of $173,413, with only $149 not coming from contributions. ^[9] It reported $5,000 in grants paid, $50,000 in salaries, $62,183 in professional fees to independent contractors, and $139,634 in total expenses. ^[10]