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Who We Are
Standing for Nature is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to public education and legal advocacy in support of the rights of nature and legal standing for ecosystems.
We work to help people understand why current environmental law so often fails to prevent harm, and why stronger legal tools are needed to protect ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. Our work includes public education, legal analysis, and development of rights-based strategies aimed at advancing stronger legal protection for ecosystems.
Our focus is practical as well as visionary. We support real projects, real public education, and real legal work aimed at building stronger protection for the natural world.
What We Do
Standing for Nature brings together public education, legal advocacy, and project-based work focused on stronger legal protection for ecosystems.
Public Education
We create accessible resources, explainers, and analysis to help people understand the rights of nature, legal standing, and the limits of current environmental law.
Legal Advocacy
We support the development, advancement, and defense of legal strategies that strengthen protection for ecosystems. That includes legal analysis, model legislation, rights-based frameworks, and advocacy tied to active matters and emerging legal theories.
Projects and Partnerships
We develop and support Washington-focused projects involving ecosystem protection, model legislation, coalition work, and public-facing resources connected to ongoing campaigns and legal efforts.
Our Story
Standing for Nature grew out of work that began under the name Rights of Nature Initiative, or RONI. What started as an exploration of whether Washington communities could protect ecosystems through rights-based law soon expanded into public education, legal strategy, and direct involvement in defending one of the most significant rights-of-nature laws passed in Washington.
As the work grew, so did the need for a clearer organizational structure. Standing for Nature now serves as the 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on public education, legal advocacy, and the development of new legal tools and strategies for ecosystems.
Our Structure
Standing for Nature works alongside an affiliated 501(c)(4) organization and a coalition project with distinct roles. The comparison below shows how each part of this broader effort is structured and what kind of work it is set up to support.
501(c)(3) NONPROFIT
Standing for Nature
Standing for Nature is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on:
- Public education
- Legal advocacy
- Development of new legal tools and strategies for ecosystems
Donations to Standing for Nature are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
AFFILIATED 501(c)(4) ORGANIZATION
Standing for Washington
Standing for Washington is the affiliated, separate 501(c)(4) membership organization focused on:
- Advocacy and organizing in Washington state
- Legislative engagement
- Support for citizen initiatives and other public advocacy efforts
Donations and membership contributions are not tax-deductible.
COALITION PROJECT
RONI
RONI, the Rights of Nature Initiative, is a coalition project of Standing for Nature focused on:
- Coalition-building and relationship-building
- Shared learning and movement resources
- Connection among organizations and advocates working to advance rights of nature
RONI is part of Standing for Nature’s broader work, not a separate organization.
Supporters can choose the organization that fits the kind of work they want to fund: Standing for Nature for tax-deductible public education and legal advocacy, or Standing for Washington for political advocacy and organizing. RONI supports coalition relationships and shared learning as a project of Standing for Nature.
Leadership
Standing for Nature is led by people with backgrounds in law, public health, civic engagement, systems work, and community stewardship. Together, they bring a mix of legal strategy, public-interest advocacy, and grounded local commitment to the organization’s work.
Rachel Kurtz-McAlaine
President, Co-Founder, Board Member
Rachel Kurtz-McAlaine is a licensed attorney living on Anderson Island in the south Puget Sound. She graduated from Evergreen in 1997 and the Univ. of Washington School of Law in 2003. Her background includes national drug policy reform, corporate and regulatory cannabis law, federal cannabis policy, and business ownership and consulting in the cannabis and cannabis wellness industries. She now brings that experience in legal strategy, regulation, and systems change to her work as co-founder of Standing for Nature.
Abi Ludwig
Co-Founder, Board Member
Abi Ludwig brings a background in public health research, institutional systems work, and long-standing civic engagement. She spent a decade at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center contributing to public-health research, and later worked at the University of Washington developing and managing institutional IT systems. She was also deeply involved in Seattle civic activism, including advocacy for reform of cannabis laws. Since moving to Olympia, she has continued her commitment to nature education, preservation, and local civic initiatives.
Holly James
Board Member
Holly James is a long-time Everett resident who has been deeply involved in her neighborhood and larger community for many years. She established the native garden in Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park, where she continues to serve as a dedicated steward. She brings a strong sense of local care, habitat stewardship, and place-based commitment to Standing for Nature’s work.
Explore the Work
Learn more about our projects, follow current updates, or support the work.
