Adam Albright is a private investor that used his wealth to fund left-of-center environmentalist organizations. He founded and principally funds the environmentalist grantmaking ARIA Foundation and served on the board of directors of the Natural Resources Defense Council, Rocky Mountain Institute, and Rainforest Alliance. According to the Federal Elections Commission, between 2000 and 2012 he donated over $30,000 to left-of-center political committees and candidates. ³

In recent years, ARIA Foundation has made grants to Natural Resources Defense Council, Rocky Mountain Institute, PCI Media Impact, Drug Policy Alliance, Global Fund for Women, Astraea Foundation, Equal Justice Initiative, and Institute for Sustainable Communities, among other left-of-center organizations. ⁴

The ARIA Foundation was criticized for having invested in oil and gas companies such as Chevron, Halliburton, Texaco, Canadian Natural Resources, and Noble Corp Transocean Ltd. ¹⁶

Albright supported both of Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns, donating $4,600 in 2008 and $2,000 in 2012. Albright donated $1,000 Mark Schauer’s (D-MI) campaign for Congress in 2008. In 2010, Albright gave $1,000 to congressional candidate Tommy Sowers (D-MO). Albright aided Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in her first senate bid in 2012 through $2,500 in donations. ¹⁶

1. Individual Contributions from Adam Albright (2000-2012). Information from the Federal Election Commission. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?two_year_transaction_period=2018&contributor_name=adam+albright&min_date=01%2F01%2F2017&max_date=12%2F31%2F2018
2. “Board.” Pcimedia. Accessed April 8, 2019. https://www.pcimedia.org/board.
3. ARIA Foundation, Return of a Private Foundation (IRS Form 990-PF), 2015, Schedule B
4. Data compiled by FoundationSearch.com subscription service, a project of Metasoft Systems, Inc., from forms filed with the IRS. Queries conducted April 16, 2019.
5. Rogers, Jerry. “National Resources Defense Council Members Profit from Fossil Fuel Investments. Does Leo Know?” PJ Media. October 31, 2014. Accessed April 8, 2019. https://pjmedia.com/blog/national-resources-defense-council-members-profit-from-fossil-fuel-investments-does-leo-know/.
6. “Who We Are.” Central Oregon LandWatch. Accessed April 10, 2019. https://www.centraloregonlandwatch.org/who.
7. Casey-Lefkowitz, Susan. “Tar Sands Leave Us Aghast and Committed to Clean Energy Path.” NRDC. June 22, 2010. Accessed April 10, 2019. https://www.nrdc.org/experts/susan-casey-lefkowitz/tar-sands-leave-us-aghast-and-committed-clean-energy-path.
8. “Rocky Mountain Institute 2003-2004 Annual Report.” RMI. Accessed April 10, 2019. http://www.10xe.orwww.10xe.org/Content/Files/AnnualReport03-04.pdf.
9. “Rocky Mountain Institute 2006-2007 Annual Report.” RMI. Accessed April 10, 2019. https://rmi.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/AnnualReport06-07.pdf.
10. “America’s Pledge.” Rocky Mountain Institute. Accessed April 10, 2019. https://www.rmi.org/americas-pledge/.
11. “A Comprehensive Transportation Solution for Massachusetts.” Environmental Entrepreneurs:. January 2, 2009. Accessed April 8, 2019. https://members.e2.org/jsp/controller?docName=petition(NE_alert_transport).
12. Environmental Entrepreneurs. February 14, 2011. Accessed April 8, 2019. https://members.e2.org/jsp/controller?docName=petition(Transportation2011).
13. “Attn: Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0660.” E2. April 10, 2012. Accessed April 8, 2019. https://members.e2.org/jsp/controller?cmd=docprint&docId=28394.
14. “We Are The Rainforest Alliance.” Rainforest Alliance. Accessed April 8, 2019. https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/sites/default/files/2018-02/AR2017.pdf.
15. “About Democracy for America.” Democracy for America. Accessed April 8, 2019. https://www.democracyforamerica.com/about.
16. “Donors | Adam Albright.” Center for Responsive Politics. Accessed April 16, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/search?q=adam albright&type=donors.