How Can I Get Involved with Vermont Conservation Voters?
Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) offers three main ways to get involved: donating, joining its movement as an activist or volunteer, and following its accountability work through news, endorsements, and the Democracy Dispatch podcast. The right path depends on whether you want to give money, give time, or simply stay informed. VCV's stated mission is to elect pro-democracy and environmentally-friendly candidates and then hold elected officials accountable for decisions affecting air, water, wildlife, land, communities, and democracy.
Donate to Support the Work
The homepage lists "Make a Donation" as a primary call to action. Donations support VCV's core activities:
- Endorsements — backing candidates who vote for the environment
- Advocacy — campaigning for strong environmental laws
- Accountability — tracking, scoring, and holding lawmakers accountable
The site does not publish pricing tiers, membership levels, or payment platform details, so check the donation page directly for current options and any processing requirements.
Join the Movement as an Activist
"Join the Movement" is the second main call to action on the homepage. VCV reports activist engagements this biennium as a tracked metric, which signals that volunteer participation is a real part of its operation rather than a formality.
One concrete example of activist activity from the site: VCV partnered with VPIRG for a Fall Canvass Tour. Canvassing typically means going door-to-door or making calls to talk with voters about endorsed candidates and environmental priorities. If you want hands-on involvement, this kind of canvass work is the most direct route.
To start, use the "Join the Movement" link on the homepage and watch the Latest News & Updates section for canvass announcements and other volunteer opportunities.
Follow the Accountability and Advocacy Work
If you want to understand what VCV is doing before committing time or money, these resources let you track its work:
| Resource | What it covers | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Common Agenda | Legislative priorities identified with major environmental groups | Annual |
| Environmental Scorecard | Lawmaker votes on priority issues | Periodic |
| Democracy Dispatch podcast | Vermont State House updates, legislator interviews, policy deep dives | Weekly during the legislative session |
| Latest News & Updates | Endorsements, canvass tours, primary results | Ongoing |
The Environmental Scorecard is the key accountability tool: VCV tracks how lawmakers vote on the priorities in its Common Agenda, then scores them. The Democracy Dispatch podcast runs every Monday during the Vermont Legislative Session, hosted by Justin Marsh with team members and guests, covering everything from the week before and what to expect next.
Stay Current on Endorsements and Elections
VCV announces endorsements and election results through its news section. Recent examples from the site include:
- Endorsement of a full slate of statewide candidates, including Amanda Janoo for Governor, Molly Gray for Lieutenant Governor, Charity Clark for Attorney General, and Mike Pieciak (the listing is cut off in the source).
- 2026 Primary Results, which VCV describes as showing strong support for climate and democracy champions.
- 2024 endorsed candidates elected — a percentage VCV tracks as a measure of its electoral effectiveness.
If your goal is to vote in line with VCV's priorities, the endorsement announcements are the page to watch each election cycle.
Listen to the Podcast
Democracy Dispatch is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, and Podchaser. New episodes launch every Monday during the Vermont Legislative Session. A recent episode, "2026 Session Shakedown," covered the year's major environmental priorities — climate action, housing, clean water, transportation — plus debates over Act 181 and what advocates will watch next year. Past episodes are archived on the site.
Which Path Fits You?
- Want to give money? Use the donation link on the homepage.
- Want to give time? Use "Join the Movement" and watch for canvass announcements like the VPIRG Fall Canvass Tour.
- Want to stay informed? Read the Environmental Scorecard, follow the news section, and subscribe to Democracy Dispatch on your preferred podcast platform.
- Want to vote aligned with VCV? Check the endorsement announcements before each election.
All of these routes start from the same place: the VCV homepage, where the donation and movement links, news updates, and podcast player are all featured.