Chesapeake Bay Trust, Baltimore

The Chesapeake Bay Trust is dedicated to the welfare of the Chesapeake and its tributaries. Its grant programs, community initiatives, and restoration projects aim to tackle the problems that threaten the natural environment. On any given day, the trust could be sponsoring a cleanup project of local rivers, the planting of trees to revitalize neighborhoods, or the education of schoolchildren about storm drains and the environment. In 2011, more than 40,200 people volunteered to clean up the bay and local rivers, and trust grants helped remove 580 tons of trash from the waterways. By involving volunteer citizens in the cleanup process, the trust simultaneously raises awareness about the necessity to protect the local environment, and produces more significant results with its cleanup efforts. The organization’s mission and record of accountability have been recognized with nine consecutive years of four-star ratings from Charity Navigator, which places it in the top 1% of charities across the country.