Founder · ACC
100k+
Members across 50 states
American Conservation Coalition, the largest right-of-center environmental org in the U.S.
BENJI BACKER
Founder of Nature Is Nonpartisan
Building the next generation of America's environmental and conservation movement. Best-selling author, outdoorsman, and recognized as a TIME 100 and NYTimes Changemaker.
WhoisBenjiBacker?
Next generation’s visionary conservation leader.
Career & Advocacy
As Founder and CEO of Nature Is Nonpartisan and United By Nature, Benji Backer is rebuilding America’s environmental movement and aiming to bring millions of new voices into it. He believes the path to real, lasting progress will be powered by innovative grassroots engagement, unified support, and depolarizing partisan politics. His movement is dedicated to reigniting a unifying, cross-partisan effort that delivers the greatest environmental achievements in history — while benefiting all of America.
He also founded the American Conservation Coalition (ACC) during his freshman year of college.
Benji is one of the leading environmental voices in the country and serves on multiple boards and commissions, America’s Rural Future, the Brookings Institution, and AEI Commission on U.S. Rural Prosperity.
Author & Recognition
A best-selling author of The Conservative Environmentalist: Common Sense Solutions for a Sustainable Future, Benji has been named a NYTimes Changemaker. He has also been honored on the TIME 100 Climate list, and awarded the Fortune 40 Under 40, Forbes 30 Under 30, GreenBiz 30 Under 30, and Grist 50.
Background
Benji proudly grew up in Wisconsin, where he fell in love with the state’s natural beauty and its sports teams. Above all, Backer is an avid hiker & skier who spends most of his free time in the mountains out West. He’s a proud graduate of the University of Washington and currently resides in Arizona with his wife, Zayna.
Nature Is Nonpartisan
47 states
Chapters and growing
Public-lands campaigns, cross-sector coalitions, and on-the-ground organizing.
On stage
120+
Keynotes since 2018
Aspen Ideas, COP, Presidential Libraries, Congress, 75+ universities, and more.
Recognition
#1 Amazon
Best-selling author
Forbes 30 Under 30 · NYT Changemaker · Grist 50 · Newsweek 50 future shapers.
Themovement
Two campaigns turning common ground into common cause.
NatureisNonpartisan
Founded by Benji in 2024, Nature Is Nonpartisan is a movement to redefine the environment as a shared issue once and for all, bringing together communities from every part of the political spectrum.
Read the manifesto →
UnitedByNature
Bringing Americans back together around the outdoors, turning small actions into lasting change. A quiet majority organizing around common-sense conservation instead of political division.
See the campaigns →
Support the movement
Wearit.Fundit.
100% of net proceeds go directly to coalition projects on the ground. Printed in the US, in small batches.
BenjiBackerinthepress
Press coverage and interviews on the movement to make conservation nonpartisan.
As featured in
- POLITICO
- Outside
- Grist
- POLITICO
- Outside
- Grist
Speakingengagements
Benji speaks on environmental innovation, collaboration, and bridging political divides to create lasting change at universities, conferences, town halls, and boardrooms.
