Just found this on another website re: Environment California:
""This is something you must all know: Environment California IS the same organization as "The Fund for the Public Interest" (formerly known as The Fund for Public Interest Research).
While Sierra Club and HRC are separate organizations from The Fund, the scam groups such as Environment California, CalPirg, along with dozens of other State Environment and PIRG groups, all fall under The Fund umbrella. That means that donors are getting scammed at more than one angle. Their name isn't even going on the donor list of a legitimate organization. Environment California doesn't spend a dime on the issues and has only one lobbyist registered with the State of California, Dan Jacobson, whose job it is to make appointments with wealthy donors in their homes so he can convince them to put Environment California in their wills or make even larger contributions. The entire organization is a joke and they rely on the one measly photo-op with the governor a year in order to look legitimate.
Doug Phelps is executive director of The Fund for the Public Interest (guilty of numerous labor violations and recently forced to settle a class action lawsuit for $2.5 million for FAILING TO PAY MINIMUM WAGE) and is also the owner and president of Grassroots Inc, another canvassing operation that fundraises for so-called progressive groups. As if that isn't bad enough, Doug also owns Telefund, a telephone canvassing operation that does the same thing.
Everything with Doug Phelps' name attached to it is criminal and fraudulent.
Once you get into their database, there is no way out, it seems. I have asked them many times to remove me from their list and was assured that they will do that. I have emailed them and asked that as well. They still call me several times per week. Not picking up does not work either - they do not seem to give up. And "do not call" list does not apply them, because they are non-profit.
And these people will not do a thing about environment. It is a so-called "social welfare" non-profit organization (501(c)(4)) that spends the money on lobbying. They are not normal charity (which is 501(c)(3)). Donations to them are not tax-deductible.