San Francisco, CA – May 6, 2003 – Over 375 people attended The Natural Step’s fundraiser luncheon in downtown San Francisco today. The event served to educate newcomers, re-engage donors, and raise over $50,000 for The Natural Step’s core program activities.

Emceed by development director Ann Grodnik and featuring a keynote presentation by executive director Catherine Gray, the one-hour lunch event provided guests with a succinct and powerful presentation on The Natural Step’s environmental and social sustainability work, and an opportunity to support it. In addition, the program offered details on the organization’s sustainable design project and highlighted advisory service activities being carried out in partnership with McDonald’s.

According to guest Sam Burbank, producer for National Geographic, Inc, “The Natural Step’s luncheon was incredibly inspiring and well-executed, full of useful information and a lot of fun. I was surprised at how much was accomplished in an hour.”

Guest speakers included Myron Wick, board member of The Natural Step, Tim Brown, CEO of IDEO, Kimberly Easson, business affairs director of TransFair USA, Ted Smith, executive director of Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition and Rev. William Sloane Coffin, former chaplain of Yale University and reverend emeritus of Riverside Church. Each speaker offered his or her own perspective on the work of The Natural Step and deepened guests’ understanding of how the organization fits into the ecosystem of groups working on sustainability.

As a non-profit organization, The Natural Step depends on charitable contributions from individuals, foundations, government agencies, and companies to sustain its operations. In 2002, The Natural Step raised 47% its total income from foundation grants, 33% from individual donors, 2% from corporate contributions and 20% from earned income. As the organization continues to actively diversify its revenue streams, ongoing support from individuals becomes even more critical. This annual event is The Natural Step’s opportunity to raise awareness and garner support from local activists and philanthropists.

The event was made possibly by underwriting support from IDEO, Nike, Inc, Starbucks Coffee Company, Portfolio 21, and Bank of America.

For more information, contact:

Jill Rosenblum
Director of Communications and Outreach
jrosenblum@naturalstep.org
415-318-8170 *320

About The Natural Step
Since 1989, The Natural Step has been guiding companies and governments onto an ecologically, socially, and economically sustainable path. An international advisory and research organization, The Natural Step works with some of the largest resource users on the planet to create new models of sustainable enterprise and tools designed to accelerate global sustainability.

For more information: www.naturalstep.org