Nature is Nonpartisan is an environmental advocacy group founded by Benj Backer, who is also the founding executive chairman of the American Conservation Coalition (ACC), an ostensibly right-of-center environmental advocacy group. ^{1  2  3}

Nature is Nonpartisan has previously advocated for climate-related policies such as increased land stewardship, protecting up to 50 million acres of forestland through planned thinning and controlled burns, replenishing aquifers through expanded water infrastructure to capture runoff, creating voluntary conservation programs, and establishing new precedents to prevent the sale of public land. The group was allegedly involved in the adoption of an executive order in July 2025 by the second Trump administration to establish a “Make America Beautiful Commission.”  ^{4  5}

Background and Activities

Founded in 2025, Nature is Nonpartisan advocates for climate and environmentalist policies such as increased land stewardship, protecting up to 50 million acres of forestland through planned thinning and controlled burns, replenishing aquifers through expanded water infrastructure to capture runoff, creating voluntary conservation programs, and establishing new precedents to prevent the sale of public land.  ^{6  4  7}

According to a July 2025 story by the Washington Post, Nature is Nonpartisan was involved with persuading the second Trump administration to create the “Make America Beautiful Again Commission,” a federal body created by executive order to increase conservation efforts within the country. According to the article, Nature is Nonpartisan founder CEO Benji Backer reportedly proposed an early draft of the executive order and met with the Trump administration’s Domestic Policy Council to plan the commission.  ⁵

People

Benji Backer is the founder and CEO of Nature is Nonpartisan. Backer is also a next-gen advisor for GE Vernova. Previously, Backer was the founder, executive chairman, and president of the American Conservation Coalition (ACC) and a visiting fellow on energy for the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP). Backer is also the author of The Conservative Environmentalist, a book published by Penguin Random House that promotes a right-of-center approach to responding to climate change. ^{2  3  8}

Michael Reszler is the chief operating officer for Nature is Nonpartisan. Rezler was previously the director of citizenship and American identity programs at the Aspen Institute, the chief strategy officer and senior vice president of American Public Media Group, a member of the board of advisors for the Diversity Institute, a member of the board of directors for Lunar Startups, the interim new managing director for Minnesota Public Radio, and the senior editor for online at the St. Paul Pioneer Press.  ^{2  9}

The board of directors for Nature is Nonpartisan includes podcaster Brett Cooper, former U.S. Rep.  Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), Environmental Media Association CEO Debbie Levin, Thiel Capital managing director Jack Selby, Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library executive director Robbie Lauf, and CNN host Van Jones. ¹⁰

Other listed advisors to Nature is Nonpartisan include Republican political strategist Chris LaCivita and National Wildlife Federation CEO Collin O’Mara. ⁵

Financials

According to its 2024 tax filings, Nature is Nonpartisan reported $400,000 in revenue, $83,301 in expenses, and $316,699 in assets. Of its expenses, Nature is Nonpartisan spent $33,082 to recruit staff and develop strategies to build a “pro-environmentalist movement.” The organization received all its revenue from gifts, grants, and other contributions. ¹¹

1. “Nature is Nonpartisan.” Nature is Nonpartisan. Accessed September 18, 2025. https://natureisnonpartisan.org/. 
2. “Meet the Team.” Nature is Nonpartisan. Accessed September 18, 2025. https://natureisnonpartisan.org/our-team. 
3. “Benjamin (Benji) Backer.” LinkedIn. Accessed September 18, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjibacker/. 
4. “Our 2025 Action Plan.” Nature is Nonpartisan. Accessed September 18, 2025. https://natureisnonpartisan.org/action-plan. 
5. Spring, Jake and Maxine Joselow. “How this group got Trump to sign a pro-environment executive order.” The Washington Post. July 3, 2025. Accessed September 18, 2025. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/07/03/make-america-beautiful-again-trump/. 
6. “About Us.” Nature is Nonpartisan. Accessed September 18, 2025. https://natureisnonpartisan.org/about. 
7. Backer, Benji. “The future of nature is nonpartisan. Let’s combat environmental extremism with common sense.” Fox News. March 20, 2025. Accessed September 18, 2025. https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/future-nature-nonpartisan-lets-combat-environmental-extremism-common-sense. 
8. “The Conservative Environmentalist.” Penguin Random House. Accessed September 18, 2025. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/730880/the-conservative-environmentalist-by-benji-backer/. 
9. “Michael Reszler.” LinkedIn. Accessed September 18, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikereszler/details/experience/. 
10. “Or Board.” Nature is Nonpartisan. Accessed September 18, 2025. https://natureisnonpartisan.org/our-board. 
11. Nature is Nonpartisan. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax. Form 990. 2024.