Our Methodology
Every organization in our database earned its place through a structured evaluation. Here's how it works.
Criteria version 2026.04.6
How We Select Organizations
Terramedic connects people with environmental organizations aligned with three UN Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). We prioritize organizations where everyday people can get meaningfully involved — through hands-on participation, high-impact giving, learning, advocacy, or career development.
We evaluate every candidate organization against a consistent set of criteria before it enters our database. No organization is included automatically. AI assists with research, but humans review and approve every organization.
The key question is: does this organization offer something people can't easily find on their own? Focused conservation groups, regional volunteer networks, niche career platforms, and research groups producing guides for advocates all belong. Globally recognized NGOs that everyone already knows about do not — we focus on organizations that are underserved by visibility.
Nomination Categories
Each organization is evaluated for fit in one or more of these categories, based on the engagement pathways it offers:
Volunteer
Direct, hands-on engagement people can show up to — volunteer shifts, canvassing, community organizing, restoration work, citizen science, local chapter meetings, or civic engagement like voter mobilization and testimony at public hearings.
Donate
Organizations where donations create outsized impact through a specific, accountable model — not just a generic donate button. We look for a clear theory of change with measurable outcomes, like funding community rangers or supporting targeted campaigns.
Everyday
Organizations that help people take everyday actions — small, practical steps that fit into daily life, requiring little or no spare time or money. Guides to reducing personal environmental impact, carbon footprint calculators, or community action checklists.
Resource
Organizations that produce tools, research, or educational content that help people take informed action — advocate resources, messaging guides, data visualizations, or solutions journalism.
Career
Organizations that help people find or transition into environmental work — job boards, professional development, training programs, or community networks for environmental professionals.
6-Step Evaluation Criteria
Each candidate organization is assessed on six dimensions, in order. If an organization fails Step 1 (no SDG alignment), the evaluation stops there.
1. Mission Fit
Does the organization's work align with UN Sustainable Development Goals 13 (Climate Action), 14 (Life Below Water), or 15 (Life on Land)? We look for specific programs or initiatives as evidence. If no alignment is found, the organization is not included.
2. Category Fit
This is the most important criterion after mission fit. Which nomination categories does the organization fit? For each category assigned, we identify the specific engagement pathway that earns it. Engagement pathways are often buried in subpages or event calendars — we look beyond the homepage.
3. Local Relevance
Does the organization operate in specific geographies? Does it have local chapters, region-specific programs, or location-based matching? Organizations with local presence are strongly preferred because Terramedic matches users to organizations by location.
4. Transparency
Does the organization clearly describe its programs, name its leadership, and provide financial disclosures? We look for annual reports, tax filings (990s for US nonprofits), audited statements, and third-party ratings from services like Charity Navigator.
5. Legitimacy
Is the organization legally registered (e.g., 501(c)(3), registered charity, NGO)? How long has it been operating? Are there third-party references such as news coverage, Charity Navigator ratings, GuideStar/Candid profiles, or partner mentions?
6. Evidence Score
How strong is the evidence that this organization delivers real environmental outcomes? Each organization receives a score from 0 to 5 using the rubric below.
Evidence Scoring Rubric
The evidence score reflects the strength and quality of available evidence for an organization's environmental impact.
| Score | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No evidence | No evidence of real work. |
| 1 | Minimal | Website exists but little else. |
| 2 | Some evidence | A few programs described, limited external references. |
| 3 | Moderate | Clear programs, some third-party validation. |
| 4 | Strong | Detailed programs, financials, media coverage, clear engagement pathways. |
| 5 | Exceptional | Strong track record, clear local impact, well-documented engagement outcomes. |
Human Review, AI-Assisted
AI assists with initial research — gathering public data, checking third-party ratings, and drafting preliminary evaluations. But humans review and approve every organization before it enters our database.
When a human reviewer disagrees with an AI assessment, they record the reasoning so the process improves over time. This isn't automation replacing judgment — it's technology helping a small team evaluate more organizations without cutting corners.
Our inclusion criteria, evaluation process, and database are public. Organizations can see exactly how they're assessed.
Suggest an Organization
Know an environmental organization that should be in our database? We welcome suggestions from anyone. Every suggestion goes through the same evaluation process described above.