The Environment Council of RI (ECRI) was founded as a 501(c)4 in 1970 and has since served as a voice for the Ocean State’s environmental advocacy community. As a council, ECRI has been a venue for organizations to come together in monthly board and committee meetings to collectively develop and support the advancement of environmental policies. ECRI’s membership also consists of individuals, all of whom have a seat at the table in these monthly discussions.  As a 501(c)4, ECRI aims to involve members in civic engagement. ECRI members follow topics and provides inputs on policies at various state agencies, and produce a biennial Green Report Card to evaluate the Governor and General Assembly on their records on ECRI’s priority issues. ECRI also hosts a legislative coffee hour with lawmakers at the start of each session and a lobby day in the spring that provides members and concerned residents a shared space to advocate for environmental protection and action.      In 1991, ECRI launched a 501(c)3, the ECRI Education Fund to educate Rhode Islanders about the health and protection of our environment through community conferences and school environmental programs. The Fund also offers fiscal agency sponsor services to environmental groups that lack 501(c)3 tax-exempt statuses, thus providing these groups with the additional capacity to seek charitable grants.