BlueGreen Alliance

The BlueGreen Alliance (BGA) (and its associated 501(c)(3) arm the BlueGreen Alliance Foundation) is a project of America’s national labor unions and major environmentalist groups designed to show a united front for progressive environmentalist policies. The Alliance was founded in 2006 by the United Steelworkers labor union and the Sierra Club to allow unions and environmentalist groups to more easily push agenda items they hold in common.1 The BlueGreen Alliance absorbed another “green jobs” advocacy group, the Apollo Alliance, in 2011.1

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(4)
Issue Areas: Environmental Policy, Labor Policy
Website: www.bluegreenalliance.org
Formation:

2005 2

Executive Director:

Kim Glas

Executive Director’s Compensation:

Reportable compensation: $120,146

Estimated amount of other compensation: $22,679 3

Location: Minneapolis, MN View on map
Tax ID: 26-4086284
Most Recent Filing: 2024
Budget (2024): Assets: $8,116,300 Revenue: $2,233,524 Expenses: $2,933,485

Contents

    Organizational Overview

    The Alliance’s membership consists of nine labor unions and five environmentalist groups. Notable member organizations include the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA), and the Amalgamated Transit Union.4 The Laborers International Union of North America was previously a member, but the union quit the BlueGreen Alliance to protest the group’s opposition to the Keystone XL natural gas pipeline.5

    The BlueGreen Alliance receives funding from numerous sources, including federal government grants, contributions from environmentalist foundations, and financial support from member labor unions.6 The organization is led by executive director Kim Glas, a former Democratic Party congressional staffer and official in the Commerce Department during the Obama administration.7 The executive director of the Sierra Club and the international president of the United Steelworkers serve as co-chairs of the board of directors.8

    Background

    The BlueGreen Alliance (BGA) was founded in 2006 by the environmentalist Sierra Club and the United Steelworkers labor union. The partnership is notable for seeking to bridge a perceived gap between the job-creation needs of labor and the economic costs of environmentalist policies.5 David Foster, a United Steelworkers official, was appointed the founding executive director of the organization.

    BGA was not the first effort to bring together labor and the environmental left: A “Blue/Green Working Group” was convened under former union official and then-president of environmentalist group Friends of the Earth at the urging of then-AFL-CIO president John Sweeney as early as the late 1990s.9 The Apollo Alliance, a major pressure effort aimed at obtaining federal subsidies for so-called “green-collar” jobs in environmentalist-backed industries, was founded in 2004.10

    By 2009, the labor-and-environmentalist-supported Democrats had taken power, and the BlueGreen Alliance made aggressive lobbying efforts for the ambitious progressive agenda of President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California). According to filings with the U.S. Senate, in 2009-2010 BGA reported $3.89 million in lobbying expenditures on such matters as “climate change legislation” and the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as the union “card check” bill.11

    However, the BlueGreen Alliance effort ultimately had more staying power. BGA merged with the Apollo Alliance in 2011, uniting the two organizations.12 BGA gained prominence in progressive and Democratic Party circles, and the group’s executive director, David Foster, was given a speaking role at the 2012 Democratic National Convention to attack Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s business record.13 Foster would leave BlueGreen in 2014 to take a job in the Department of Energy under the Obama administration.14

    The Alliance takes fairly orthodox environmentalist and labor union stands on most issues. In 2015, the group endorsed the Paris Agreement to compel reductions in carbon emissions.15 The Alliance also endorsed substantial new regulations on California oil refineries.16

    Funding

    Financial Overview

    BlueGreen Alliance: Financial Overview
    YearTotal RevenuesTotal ExpendituresGrants PaidNet Assets
    2019 $2,412,068 $1,187,049 $34,700 $4,978,823
    2018 $1,651,719 $995,177– $3,753,804
    2017 $1,449,321 $1,188,705 $20,400 $3,097,262
    2016 $1,541,553 $1,245,938– $2,836,646
    2015 $1,571,925 $1,311,535– $2,541,031
    2014 $1,285,511 $1,282,216– $2,280,621
    2013 $1,506,800 $1,315,782 $50,344 $2,277,326
    2012 $1,976,422 $2,497,857 $1,400,000 $2,086,308
    2011 $1,645,538 $1,367,960 $50,000 $2,607,743
    2010 $3,917,994 $3,222,455 $200,000 $2,330,165
    2009 $3,258,606 $1,623,980– $1,634,626
    Total: $22,217,457 $17,238,654 $1,755,444

    The BlueGreen Alliance (BGA) receives funding from across the progressive movement. The group consists of two organizations separated for tax purposes: the 501(c)(4) BlueGreen Alliance and the 501(c)(3) BlueGreen Alliance Foundation. The organization has been funded by its labor union membership, progressive donor groups and foundations, and the federal government.

    The following includes known grants to the BlueGreen Alliance: 17

    GrantorAmountYearGrant Description
    Casey & Family Foundation $50,0002017General Support
    Sierra Club $10,0002017ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT
    Clean Air Coalition of Western New York $9,7002017
    Bernard F And Alva B Gimbel Foundation $50,0002016General operating support
    National Wildlife Federation $10,0002014Conservation assistance
    Schmidt Family Foundation $130,0002014To support the advancement of clean energy policies
    National Wildlife Federation $5,0002013Conservation assistance
    Scherman Foundation $50,0002013Support for environmental projects
    Schmidt Family Foundation $110,0002013To support California climate policy defense and implementation
    Schmidt Family Foundation $170,0002012To provide general operating support education on climate change
    Scherman Foundation $40,0002011Environment-To public charities for unrestricted charitable purposes unless otherwise noted
    Tides Foundation $30,0002011Chemicals policy public health and green chemistry project
    Association of American Railroads $25,0002011
    Sierra Club $497,5002010Environment support
    Association of American Railroads $50,0002010
    Utility Workers Afl-Cio $25,0002017General Overhead
    Change To Win $5,0002011Contributions, Gifts And Grants
    Change To Win $5,2652010Representational Activities
    Utility Workers Afl-Cio $25,0002009General Overhead
    Utility Workers Afl-Cio $25,0002020General Overhead
    Utility Workers Afl-Cio $25,0002019General Overhead
    Utility Workers Afl-Cio $25,0002018General Overhead
    Auto Workers Afl-Cio $50,0002017Contributions, Gifts And Grants
    Utility Workers Afl-Cio $25,0002016General Overhead
    Utility Workers Afl-Cio $25,0002015General Overhead
    Utility Workers Afl-Cio $25,0002014General Overhead
    Utility Workers Afl-Cio $12,0002014Contributions, Gifts And Grants
    Utility Workers Afl-Cio $25,0002013General Overhead
    Utility Workers Afl-Cio $25,0002012General Overhead
    Utility Workers Afl-Cio $25,0002011General Overhead
    Utility Workers Afl-Cio $25,0002010General Overhead
    Food And Commercial Wkrs $100,0002011Representational Activities
    Plumbers Afl-Cio $10,0002013Contributions, Gifts And Grants
    Total: $1,719,465

    Labor Union Support

    As part of their membership in the BlueGreen Alliance, numerous labor unions provide funding to the organization and its foundation. In labor unions’ 2015 fiscal years, unions provided over $600,000 to the Bluegreen Alliance and the Foundation.18 Unions contributing over $100,000 included the Plumbers and Pipefitters; Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers; and the United Steelworkers.19

    Progressive Donor Support

    The 501(c)(3) arm of the BlueGreen Alliance, the Bluegreen Alliance Foundation, receives substantial funding from progressive foundations. The group was also identified as part of a 2014 “Progressive Infrastructure Map” by liberal donor organization Democracy Alliance.20

    The foundations that contribute to BlueGreen Alliance and BlueGreen Alliance Foundation are largely environmentalist in outlook. The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Energy Foundation, the Park Foundation, and the Marisla Foundation have all contributed to the Foundation in recent years.21

    Other notable foundation funders of BlueGreen Alliance Foundation include the JPB Foundation, which is run by the widow of an alleged leading beneficiary of the Bernie Madoff fraud schemes.22 The Rockefeller Foundation contributed over $450,000 to BlueGreen Alliance Foundation in 2012.23

    Federal Funding

    During the Obama administration, BlueGreen Alliance received substantial funding from the federal government through a program associated with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the fiscal stimulus. The Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration awarded the BlueGreen Alliance a $5,000,000 grant to conduct green jobs programs in Minnesota.24 Tax forms filed by the BlueGreen organizations show substantial revenues from government grants were reported by the 501(c)(3) BlueGreen Alliance Foundation.25

    Leadership

    Kim Glas has served as executive director of the BlueGreen Alliance and president of the BlueGreen Alliance Foundation since 2014. Prior to her taking the leadership of BlueGreen, Glas served in the Commerce Department during the Obama administration and as an aide to former U.S. Representative Mike Michaud (D-Maine).26

    The board of directors of the BlueGreen Alliance are mostly officers of the member unions and environmentalist groups of the alliance. Other notable board members include former Apollo Alliance Chair, California State Treasurer, and California Democratic Party Chairman Phil Angelides and Institute for America’s Future Co-Founder and President Robert Borosage.8

    Financial Statistics

    Total Assets

    Total Revenue

    Total Expenses

    YearTotal AssetsTotal RevenueTotal ExpensesFiling
    2024 $8,116,300 $2,233,524 $2,933,485 View
    2023 $9,237,871 $2,797,517 $3,285,210 View
    2022 $9,991,203 $3,755,221 $2,858,188 View
    2021 $7,043,049 $4,747,864 $3,881,978 View
    2020 $6,127,821 $2,359,253 $1,533,705 View

    Prior year filings: 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011

    Revenue Detail

    Expenses Detail

    Employee Compensation

    • Number of Employees: 72

    Highest Earning Employees

    EmployeeTitleTotal Compensation
    Jose TengcoVP for State Affairs$182,547
    Jason WalshExecutive Director$182,224
    Charlotte BrodyVice President, Health Initiatives$178,633
    Andy FullerVice President Development$170,295
    Airial ClarkVice President People Operations$154,352
    Katie HarrisVice President of Federal Affairs$141,095
    DiOnna King-WrightVP of Finance and Admin$81,646
    Denise SeckVP of Finance & Administration (Part Year)$33,266

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $6,052,315
    • Number of Grants: 53
    • Number of Funders: 26

    Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $750,0002022 Sixteen Thirty FundENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS
    $630,4152023 MultiplierTRANSMISSION SOLUTIONS FOR A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE
    $625,0002024 MultiplierTRANSMISSION SOLUTIONS FOR A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE
    $400,0002021 BlueGreen Alliance FoundationLobbying
    $375,0002020 BlueGreen Alliance FoundationLobbying
    $200,0002022 BlueGreen Alliance FoundationLobbying Grant
    $200,0002021 Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc.GENERAL
    $150,0002022 Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc.GENERAL
    $120,0002022 Fund for a Better Future IncCLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY
    $115,0002024 Sixteen Thirty FundENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS
    $100,0002024 BlueGreen Alliance FoundationLobbying Grant
    $100,0002023 Breakthrough Energy FoundationPOLICY IMPLEMENTATION
    $100,0002023 CLEAN AIR TASK FORCE INCINFLATION REDUCTION
    $100,0002020 Third WayTo bring major focus to ideas that help transition the us economy towards net-zero emissions in an equitable, worker-friendly way.
    $75,0002022 Nrdc Action Fund IncENVIRON. ADVOCACY
    $60,0002023 The Partnership Project IncProgram Support
    $50,0002024 Energy Action FundTO SUPPORT CLEAN ENERGY POLICY ADVANCEMENT IN THE STATES.
    $50,0002023 Energy Action FundTO SUPPORT CLEAN ENERGY POLICY ADVANCEMENT IN THE STATES.
    $50,0002022 The Partnership Project IncPROGRAM SUPPORT
    $50,0002021 Energy Action FundTO SUPPORT CLEAN ENERGY POLICY ADVANCEMENT IN THE STATES.
    $50,0002021 The Partnership Project Action FundPROGRAM SUPPORT
    $48,0002022 Union of Concerned Scientists, Inc.CORE SUPPORT – ENVIRONMENTAL RELATED PROGRAMS
    $40,0002020 The Casey & Family Foundation C/o the Philanthropic InitiativeCHARITABLE
    $40,0002020 The Casey & Family Foundation, Inc.Charitable
    $25,0002024 Tipping Point CommunityDISCRETIONARY ISSUE AREA

    All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $208,400
    • Number of Grants: 9
    • Number of Recipients: 7

    Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $42,0002021 Appalachian Citizens Law Center IncReclaim
    $42,0002021 Appalachian VoicesReclaim
    $35,0002022 Appalachian Citizens Law Center IncReclaim
    $35,0002022 Appalachian VoicesReclaim
    $5,0002020 Creation Justice MinistriesReclaim
    $5,0002020 Western Colorado AllianceReclaim

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    Financials, employee compensation, and grant information provided by Candid.

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    References

    1. “Blue Green Alliance (BGA).” Discover the Networks. Accessed January 18, 2017. http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7570
    2. Bluegreen Alliance Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (IRS Form 990), TY 2014
    3. Bluegreen Alliance Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (IRS Form 990), TY 2014, Part VII; Bluegreen Alliance, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (IRS Form 990), TY 2014, Part VII; author’s calculations
    4. “Members.” BlueGreen Alliance. Accessed January 18, 2017. https://www.bluegreenalliance.org/about/members/
    5. Malanga, Steven. “The Democrats’ Green/Blue Divide.” City Journal. May 25, 2016. Accessed January 18, 2017. http://www.city-journal.org/html/democrats-greenblue-divide-14450.html
    6. See among others: U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Energy Training Partnership Grants.” 2009. Accessed January 18, 2017. https://www.doleta.gov/pdf/ETP_SGA_Award_Summaries_FINAL_02032010.pdf ; “Grants.” Garfield Foundation. 2016. Accessed January 18, 2017. http://www.garfieldfoundation.org/grants/ ; Utility Workers AFL-CIO National Headquarters, Department of Labor Annual Report (Form LM-2), 2015.
    7. “Kim Glas.” BlueGreen Alliance. Accessed January 19, 2017. https://www.bluegreenalliance.org/about/team-staff/kim-glas/
    8. “Board of Directors.” BlueGreen Alliance. Accessed January 24, 2017. https://www.bluegreenalliance.org/about/board-of-directors/
    9. Moberg, David. “Enough Blue-Green Bickering.” Alternet. May 6, 2002. Accessed January 19, 2017. http://www.alternet.org/story/13061/enough_blue-green_bickering
    10. Tanzman, Will. “The Man Who United Labor and the Environment.” Alternet. January 2, 2008. Accessed January 19, 2017. http://www.alternet.org/story/72101/the_man_who_united_labor_and_the_environment
    11. Author’s calculations from a query of the Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act Database: [INSERT LINK to PDF IN FINAL VERSION]. See Also Blue Green Alliance, Lobbying Report, Q2 2009, https://soprweb.senate.gov/index.cfm?event=getFilingDetails&filingID=DC7D59B3-63DA-4319-8864-A15A2891021F&filingTypeID=60
    12. Cortez, Dave. “BlueGreen Alliance and Apollo Alliance Join Forces.” Texas Green Report. May 26, 2011. Accessed January 23, 2017. https://texasgreenreport.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/bluegreen-alliance-and-apollo-alliance-join-forces/
    13. Greenfield, Daniel. “EXCLUSIVE: David Foster, Fake Bain Employee, Real Union Boss and Millionaire.” Frontpage Mag. September 7, 2012. Accessed January 23, 2017. http://www.frontpagemag.com/point/143121/exclusive-david-foster-fake-bain-employee-real-daniel-greenfield
    14. BlueGreen Alliance. “BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster to Join Department of Energy as Senior Advisor to Sec. Moniz.” BlueGreen Alliance. June 17, 2014. Accessed January 23, 2017. https://www.bluegreenalliance.org/the-latest/bluegreen-alliance-executive-director-david-foster-to-join-department-of-energy-as-senior-advisor-to-sec-moniz/
    15. Hill, Joshua S. “World Organisations React To Paris COP21 Climate Accord.” CleanTechnica. December 14, 2015. Accessed January 23, 2017. https://cleantechnica.com/2015/12/14/world-organisations-react-paris-cop21-climate-accord/
    16. Thebault, Reis. “New regulations in the pipeline for California refineries.” Richmond Confidential. September 19, 2016. Accessed January 23, 2017. http://richmondconfidential.org/2016/09/19/new-regulations-in-the-pipeline-for-california-refineries/
    17. Information provided by FoundationSearch. MetaSoft. Search conducted July 7, 2021. www.FoundationSearch.org
    18. Author’s calculations from data retrieved from the United States Department of Labor Office of Labor Management Standards
    19. Author’s analysis of forms filed with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Labor Management Standards
    20. “Democracy Alliance (DA).” Discover the Networks. Accessed January 23, 2017. http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/printgroupProfile.asp?grpid=7151
    21. Data compiled by FoundationSearch.com subscription service, a project of Metasoft Systems, Inc., from forms filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Queries conducted January 24, 2017.
    22. JPB Foundation, IRS Form 990, 2014. See also Vardi, Nathan. “Barbara Picower Is Back In Business As One Of The Nation’s Top Philanthropists.” Forbes. September 09, 2014. Accessed January 24, 2017. http://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2014/09/09/barbara-picower-is-back-in-business-as-one-of-the-nations-top-philanthropists/#6c84208725f4
    23. Rockefeller Foundation, IRS Form 990, 2012.
    24. United States. Department of Labor. Employment and Training Administration. Energy Training Partnership Grants. 2009. https://www.doleta.gov/pdf/ETP_SGA_Award_Summaries_FINAL_02032010.pdf
    25. BlueGreen Alliance Foundation, IRS Form 990, 2010, Part VIII line e
    26. “Kim Glas.” BlueGreen Alliance. Accessed January 24, 2017. https://www.bluegreenalliance.org/about/team-staff/kim-glas/