Here are some tips to help you to find the groups you're looking for...

Using fewer search terms will provide more search results, and vice versa.
By default, searches will only return groups that meet ALL of your search criteria, so entering more criteria will return fewer (more targeted) search results. So, to obtain more search results enter fewer search criteria, and to obtain fewer search results enter more search criteria.

For example: Searching for groups located in the state of "Virginia" AND with names containing the word "wildlife" will yield fewer search results than just searching for groups located in "Virgina" regardless of name.

Text-based searches are "literal", meaning they will only return search results that match EXACTLY the way search terms are entered.
Anywhere where you can freely type search terms, searches will only find groups that match exactly the way the search terms are entered--using all the words that are entered AND in the same order in which the words are entered.

For example: Typing "Air and Water" as search terms for a group name search will only return groups with names containing that EXACT phrase, like the "Deleware Air and Water Association" or the "National Council for Air and Water Quality".

Text-based searches are "inclusive", so you can enter just a partial word to find groups whose records include that partial word.
The flip side of the previous tip is that searches will work using only partial words. If you are having difficulty obtaining enough search results, just type part of the word on which you want to search.

For example: Typing "nat" as a search term for a group name search will return groups with the following names: National Wildlife Federation, International Bicycle Fund, Action for Nature, etc.

Searches are case insensitive.
It does not matter whether you type search terms in capitol or lower case letters. The search engine will ignore case when returning search results.

Boolean searching is not yet offered in the online Conservation Directory.
Text-based searches cannot yet be conducted with boolean expressions like AND, OR, and NOT. We plan to offer boolean search capabilities in the future, but for the time being searches are literal. (See above for explanation of "literal" searching.)

What do different search fields cover?
Most of the search fields are self-explanatory; for example, searching on "Group Name" will return groups that include your search terms as part of a group's name, while searching on "Activities" will return groups involved in the activities you've selected. Three of the search fields that are not as straightforward are explained below:

• "Group Name, etc." on the homepage and "Keywords" on the advanced search page will search for your terms in the group's name, general description, activities, activity descriptions, resource titles and resource descriptions.
• "Group Methods" on the advanced search page will search for groups that accomplish their work using the methods you've selected.
• "Zip, City, State, etc." in the Quick Search box will search for groups whose offices are located in either the zip code, city, state, OR country that you enter.

You can quickly refine your searches at the bottom of any search results page.
Your original search queries will appear at the bottom of any search results pages. So, that you can easily refine your most recent search by editing and re-submitting the search directly from the bottom of search results pages.

By default, search results are sorted by most recent update date.
To present the Directory's most up-to-date information first, search results are automatically sorted by most recent update date. You can re-sort search results alphabetically by group name, however, by clicking on the "sort alphabetically" link at the top of any search results page. You can then re-sort again by most recent update date by clicking on the "sort by most recent update" link.

Use the advanced search to search for multiple values in the same search field, AND to search on specific group characteristics.
The quick search located in online Conservation Directory navigation bar is great for simple searches on group name, activities, and location. The advanced search is significantly more powerful, however, as it allows you to a) search simultaneously on multiple values in the same search field (e.g. groups that work on climate change AND energy AND wildlife), and b) search for groups by more specific group characteristics (e.g. budget size, membership size, staff names, etc.).

State and country values will not appear in search dropdown lists if no groups exist in those areas.
So that browsers don't waste their time searching in geographic locations where groups are not currently listed, unlisted state and country values will not appear in search dropdown lists. If you know of a group that exists in a state or country that is not currently listed, we encourage you to please add the group to the Conservation Directory using our add/edit form.

Still can't find a group? They're probably not yet included in the Conservation Directory.
If, despite the tips above, you still can't find an environmental group that you know exists, the group is likely not yet listed in the Conservation Directory. In such cases, we encourage you to please add the group to the Conservation Directory using our add/edit form.