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Environmental Defense Fund

Engaged Employer

Passionate People, Interesting Work, Some Growing Pains - Anonymous employee Environmental Defense Fund Employee Review

4.0
Mar 4, 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-Well-established NGO that does not have to be struggling for sources of financing, which allows flexibility in the scope of work done. -Higher level program staff is full of accomplished individuals who are experts in their field, and yet nonetheless remain more or less accessible to their junior staff. -Relatively flat structure when it comes to information sharing and work assigned to junior staff, which allows one to build a good work portfolio and learn about what the organization is doing across all levels. -Good work-life balance for the most part: Most people work 9 to a little past 5, others are working evenings and weekends but this depends on the team.

Cons

-Due to its size and ambiguity as to hierarchy when it comes to certain programs, decision-making is complicated and sometimes based on consensus, which slows EDF down to the point of being reactive rather than proactive at times. -Sometimes management is based in a different office from where one is working, which can be a source of mis-communication and slow down as people are in these cases accessible only by phone or email. -Managers in programs are more program area specialists than managers, which may lead to management inefficiencies.

Explore other reviews about Environmental Defense Fund

5.0
Jun 13, 2026
Anonymous intern
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Professional development seminars, lots of contact with supervisors, nice office space, flexible hybrid schedule

Cons

Difficult to get return offer post-internship

3.0
Jun 1, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

A community of mission-driven staff who truly care about the planet and the causes that EDF advances. Extremely smart and kind staff. Incredible benefits, including a significant amount of company days off (summer Fridays, org shut-down for one week at the end of August, days off include Veteran's Day and Juneteenth); very generous benefits.

Cons

Out-of-touch top leadership, especially Executive Director, who pretends to be authentic and caring but isn't at all.

2
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