Leadership Transition

Dear EarthCorps community,

I have the utmost gratitude and respect for our extended EarthCorps community, and so it is with mixed emotions that I share with you my decision to leave EarthCorps in June, after 22 years as executive director. It is not a decision I take lightly, but I am convinced that the timing is right, both for myself and for EarthCorps. EarthCorps is stronger than ever, and I am proud of all that our talented staff—supported by our dedicated board and community—have accomplished over the years. And just as EarthCorps has so much more to accomplish, I am excited for my next adventure.

I’ve always believed that change creates opportunity. Over the past few years, and in 2020 in particular, we have seen, in stark relief, some of the challenges we need to overcome as a society—racial injustice, climate change, and political fracturing. EarthCorps has always strived to bring together people of different ages, cultures, walks of life, and political views to restore the Earth. We have thrived because we embrace change and seek constant improvement. I believe that my departure this year will allow a new leader to accelerate change as we nurture the next generation of environmental leaders our world so desperately needs.

EarthCorps has accomplished so much over the past 22 years: training more than 1,000 young environmental leaders who now work across the U.S. and around the world, leading over 200,000 volunteers in caring for the places we love, planting 1.5 million native trees and plants, stewarding more than 10,000 acres of land, building hundreds of miles of trails, and inspiring countless people to care for our environment. We have merged with five other environmental nonprofits that are now part of EarthCorps, and our annual budget has grown fivefold. Our innovations in restoration endowments, including a $6 million Commencement Bay Stewardship Fund, and green job creation have become national models of long-term, large-scale environmental stewardship.

I will remain forever grateful for the opportunity to serve EarthCorps as its leader. I look forward to supporting a smooth transition and assisting EarthCorps in new ways. I intend to stay involved and to stay in touch with the many wonderful staff, board, alumni, partners, donors, and volunteers who continue to be vital to both EarthCorps’ success and the future of the planet.

Thank you for your support and friendship over the years.

With sincere gratitude,

Steve Dubiel