volunteer
We go further when we work together
As a CCL volunteer, you can join one of our 350+ local chapters, participate in virtual Action Teams, or use our action tools to make a difference on your own.
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Volunteer with CCL
Fill out the form to be connected to the chapter closest to you and get access to all our Action Teams.
By clicking Join CCL, you verify that you are 13 years of age or older and agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.
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Volunteer with a virtual Action Team
CCL’s Action Teams are teams organized based on our volunteers’ identities or interests. (Think teams for high schoolers, for people who enjoy outdoor sports, for anyone who’s really into nuclear energy, and so on.) Our Action Teams meet virtually, so you can join and participate from anywhere in the country.
Volunteer on your own
You can also help make a difference without joining anything at all. No chapter, no Action Team — just jumping right in. You can write to Congress or start to build your advocacy skills today.
See what’s happening in your state
CCL is active in all 50 states. Head to your State Hub to see the chapters near you, meet your State Coordinators, and read recent local stories about CCL’s work in your area.
Find your fit at CCL
Not sure where to start? Answer six questions — about three minutes — to get a personalized recommendation of how to get involved as a CCL volunteer.
What do CCL volunteers do?
CCL volunteers bring our mission to life with creative efforts in their communities and with their Members of Congress. Most work through a local chapter that meets regularly at a library, community center, on Zoom, or even at a member’s home. Here’s the work volunteers take on:
Lobby Congress
Meet regularly with your Senators, your Representative, and their staff about climate solutions.
Read more Show lessCCL staff guides and trains volunteers to hold lobby meetings in D.C. on Capitol Hill, as part of our annual Conference and Lobby Day, or via Zoom at other times during the year. These meetings show Members of Congress that their constituents support climate action and help build their conviction to act.
Media relations
Write and speak about climate solutions in your local newspaper and to local journalist
Read more Show lessCongress pays attention to the local media conversation — so we make sure climate shows up there. Through thousands of letters to the editor, op-eds, and other media hits every year, we educate our communities and signal to Members of Congress that climate is a top constituent priority.
Grassroots outreach
Talk about climate solutions to your community through local events and presentations.
Read more Show lessTo act on any policy idea, Congress needs to see support from the community. Our volunteers work to build that community support for climate solutions by hosting activities like climate talks, movie screenings, hikes, panel discussions and more. You can always find CCLers staffing informational tables at local farmer’s markets and community events.
Grasstops engagement
Educate and engage your local leaders so they can speak up in support of climate solutions.
Read more Show lessCCL volunteers reach out to mayors, city council members, tribal leaders, local business owners, faith leaders, and other local leaders, activating them to contact Congress about climate solutions. Their voices can be especially powerful and signal to a Member of Congress that it’s politically safe to act on climate.
Chapter development
Organize your local CCL chapter to keep volunteers active, inspired, and effective.
Read more Show lessStrong chapters across the country are vital to this work. Each CCL chapter has a Group Leader or a team of co-leaders, and many chapters also have a Welcome Team. These folks help organize regular chapter meetings, outings, and social activities, and they help new volunteers get started with CCL. The relationships we build with each other make this meaningful work even more enjoyable!
Current Action
One action you can take today
You don’t have to join a CCL chapter or Action Team to make a difference. You can take one of our current actions right here, right now.
Grassroots volunteer stories
Celebrating clean power and community outreach on Sun Day
Many CCL chapters conducted outreach on Sun Day, a nationwide day of action celebrating and educating people about the power of clean energy.
Read more
Reflections on Community at CCL’s 4th Annual Inclusion Conference
CCL Inclusion Fellow Phalika Oum reflects on CCL's 4th annual virtual Inclusion Conference, “Rooted in Care, Growing in Community."
Read more
Part social, part productive: CCL summer get-togethers
CCL volunteers found connection and camaraderie at social events this summer, from chapter picnics to postcard writing parties.
Read moreFrequently asked questions
What does it mean to “join” CCL?
Joining means supporting our work however is right for you. There’s no membership fee, and you decide how involved to be. You might get active in your local chapter and meet with your lawmakers about climate solutions, or you might just keep an eye on our emails to stay informed and take action when you can.
Does it cost anything to join?
Nope! Joining is completely free. We’re grateful for donations, but giving is not a requirement.
Do I need to know about climate change or policy?
Not at all. Many volunteers start out knowing very little about climate policy. We’ll make sure you learn everything you need as you go.
How much time does it take?
That’s entirely up to you. Some volunteers come to one meeting a month, others lead chapters or take on bigger roles, and some just take quick actions when they can fit them in. You choose your level of involvement and can change it anytime.
Do I have to talk to my members of Congress?
You certainly don’t have to, but it’s one of the empowering, unique parts of our work. CCL staff creates action tools with template messages you can send, and we also offer thorough trainings to support you before lobby meetings with congressional offices. We support you every step of the way.
I want to help, but I’m not comfortable with the typical CCL activities. Are there other ways to contribute?
Yes! There are many ways to get involved. The Group Leader of your local chapter is a great place to start. You can have a conversation with them, share your strengths and interests, and they’ll help you plug in however feels best to you.
Is CCL really nonpartisan?
Yes. We work with elected officials from every party, and our volunteers come from across the political spectrum. Our focus is common ground and lasting relationships, not partisan politics.
What if there’s no chapter near me?
No problem! If there’s no active chapter in your area, we’ll connect you with other CCL volunteers in your state, and you can always check out our Current Actions to get involved on your own. (And if you think you might want to start a chapter near you, we can help you with that, too.)
What’s the difference between a chapter and an action team?
A local chapter is organized around a geographic area, like your city or town, where volunteers meet in person and build relationships with their representatives and community.
An action team is organized around a shared focus instead, like Carbon Pricing, Outdoor Recreation, Right of Center, Faith, Youth, People of the Global Majority, and more. Most of our action teams work nationally and meet online.
Are you ready to solve climate change?
Volunteers like you are working together for national climate action. Join today to be one of them!