Jobs for the Environment — NYPIRG’s Canvass

Make a difference in New York: APPLY NOW to join NYPIRG’s campaign to hold corporate polluters accountable!

Ready to make a difference? Fill out our online form to apply to join NYPIRG’s campaign to protect the environment, fight climate change, and defend democracy. Working with NYPIRG’s canvass, you will be part of a grassroots movement that has empowered thousands of activists — like you — to create real change.

About

About NYPIRG

The New York Public Interest Research Group Fund is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that advances important public interest issues through sophisticated grassroots organizing and advocacy, public education, and media exposure. Since 1976, NYPIRG has played a key role in fighting for more than 150 laws and executive orders that protect the environment and public health, safeguard consumers, improve public transportation, and foster open, responsive government.

About the Job

NYPIRG’s year-round canvass operates out of our main office in New York City from September through August. Our summer canvass operates out of regional field offices in Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, Long Island, New Paltz, New York City, and Rochester. The canvass operation runs Monday through Friday. As a canvasser, you will be walking door to door, talking with New Yorkers about our environmental campaigns and getting them involved, fundraising, and building our membership base. We also hold a staff-wide retreat during the summer to meet fellow canvassers and enjoy some of the more scenic parts of New York State!

Canvassers earn $17.25 per hour in New York City and Long Island, and $16.25 in all other offices, with additional bonuses and ample opportunities for advancement. Being a part of the NYPIRG canvass increases your knowledge of environmental and social issues and gives you concrete skills and experience for careers in the nonprofit, environmental, and advocacy fields. Qualified candidates...

  • Are energetic and ready to help grow a movement and stop climate change.
  • Have good communication skills.
  • Foster a strong concern for environmental and social justice issues.
  • Are dedicated and hardworking — no prior canvassing experience is required!

New York State has a history of setting national precedents when it comes to climate and environmental policies. At a time when advocating for the public interest is of the utmost importance, New York must continue to lead the way with bold policy. Grassroots organizations like NYPIRG work tirelessly to ensure that this happens. Just this past year, we passed the Climate Change Superfund Act — by far the most progressive statewide climate policy in the country — forcing fossil fuel polluters to pay for the damage that they have caused.

Staff Profile

Samid
Canvasser, New York City

“I like working for NYPIRG because I know my hard work creates a positive impact. It’s not just about fundraising or collecting signatures — it’s about fostering a community of people who actually care about the environment and public health. I know I am passionate about working for the environment because I come from a country where the climate crisis has always been taking a toll, and NYPIRG provides me the platform to work on this issue. Every day I canvass, I have a new experience. Every day I learn, and every day I remind myself I am devoting my time to something that transcends borders and sparks change!”

Commentary: A fix for gambling, emissions and AI's ills  (The Daily Gazette, April 12, 2026)
NY elections officials have sued nearly 300 campaigns as enforcement increases  (Times Union, April 9, 2026)
Shrestha, health advocates push for universal health care  (Daily Freeman, April 9, 2026)
Beyond Plastic's Judith Enck continues battle against plastic usage  (Times Union, April 9, 2026)
Stony Brook Students Rally for SUNY Funding  (The South Shore Press, April 7, 2026)
Buffalo Common Council Member Leah Halton-Pope likely to replace Assembly Member Crystal Peoples-Stokes  (City & State, April 7, 2026)
Hochul’s climate act delay meets opposition  (Riverhead Local, April 5 2026)
We deserve bold climate action, not backtracking  (Cortland Standard, April 4, 2026)
Governor Hochul and New York’s late budget  (WAMC, April 3, 2026)
Does a late state budget really matter? This Albany watchdog says yes  (Spectrum News, April 3, 2026)
Climate activists rally against Hochul plan  (Massapequa Herald, April 2, 2026)
Republicans Seek Protections for Oil Giants Against Climate Lawsuits  (The New York Times, April 2, 2026)
'Gaslighting governor' - Hundreds protest Hochul climate law proposal  (LoHud.com, March 26, 2026)
NYC Conflicts of Interest Board declines to clarify electioneering rules  (City Limits, March 26, 2026)
Senator Shelley Mayer, Assemblymember Chris Burdick, Colleagues, and Advocates Urge the Final State Budget Include Critical Funding for SUNY and CUNY Capital Needs  (Yonkers Times, March 25, 2026)
Legislators say SUNY, CUNY face $7B maintenance backlog  (ABC News 10, March 24, 2026 )
Hochul Unveils 11th-Hour Push to Defang New York’s Climate Law  (City Limits, March 23, 2026)
Long Island climate activists rally against Hochul plans to revise climate protections  (LI Herald, March 22, 2026)
Hochul Unveils Eleventh-Hour Push to Defang New York’s Climate Law  (New York Focus, March 20, 2026)
Hochul says NY can’t meet its own climate targets, so she wants to change them  (Syracuse.com, March 20, 2026)
News Archive
Release: NYPIRG Reacts to Governor Hochul’s Proposal to Secretly Negotiate Rolling Back the Nation’s Leading Energy Affordability Climate Law During the Budget Process
Release: New York Shortchanges Independent Colleges by Tens of Millions of Dollars: NYPIRG Urges Lawmakers to Boost Aid as Part of Final Budget
Release: As the Largest Oil Companies Continue to Reap Massive Profits, NYPIRG Urges Repeal of $350 Million in Annual Fossil Fuel Subsidies to Help Address New York’s Affordability Crisis
Advocates and Legislators in Syracuse Urge Lawmakers to Protect Historic NY Climate Law
Environmental Groups and Government Watchdogs in Buffalo Urge Lawmakers to “Say No” to the Hochul Administration’s Effort to Gut Climate Law in Budget Negotiations
Climate and community groups join with lawmakers to “Say No” to the Hochul administration’s effort to gut climate law in budget negotiations
Release: As Energy Bills Skyrocket, Sen. Harckham and Advocates Debunk Gov. Hochul's Manufactured Crisis and Faulty Math
NYPIRG and over 300 groups today called on New York lawmakers to include modernization of the state returnable container law (aka “The Bottle Bill”) in the final budget plan.
NYPIRG Statement on the U.S. House of Representatives Passage of the Save America Act
Over 100 organizations, statewide, express collective opposition to alarming trends in New York’s energy policies
NYPIRG applauds U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s recent public statement and submitted amicus brief challenging the efforts by the oil industry and its allies to overturn New York’s Climate Superfund law.
Straphangers Campaign Releases Best & Worst Moments in NYC Transit List for 2025
On the two-year anniversary of New York’s “Solid Waste Management Plan,” a broad coalition of over 300 groups today called on Governor Kathy Hochul to include modernization of the state returnable container law (aka “The Bottle Bill”) in her executive budget plan, scheduled to be released next month. The groups say it makes sense for the bill to be in the budget since it would both increase revenue for the state and track one of the recommendations of the state’s “Solid Waste Management Plan.”
VICTORY! NYPIRG’s Statement on Governor Hochul Signing the Bill to End the “100-Foot Rule”
NEWS RELEASE: NYPIRG’s Statement on the House Passage of the SPEED Act (H.R. 4776)
A coalition of community and environmental organizations today released emission data on the air pollution impacts of the use of gas-powered lawn equipment like leaf blowers. State lawmakers, NYPIRG, Environment America and the Clean Quiet Alliance released county-by-county data showing how much climate pollution is created by gas-powered lawn mowers, weed whackers, leaf blowers, chainsaws and other garden equipment. The groups also released information on the dozens of New York localities that have placed restrictions or bans on the use of some gas-powered lawn equipment. Over 100 organizations urged Governor Hochul to act to establish an incentive program to help local governments and landscaping companies shift from gas to battery powered lawn equipment.
NYPIRG’s Statement on Governor Hochul's Delay of the All Electric Buildings Act
NYPIRG NEWS RELEASE: 2025 “Trouble in Toyland” Toy Safety Report Release
NYPIRG Releases PIRG's 40th Annual Trouble In Toyland Report
Bill McKibben, Advocates, Legislators Report $1.2 Trillion in Profits for Big Oil Companies from 2021-2025 Year-to-Date, Call on Governor Hochul to Stop Climate Polluter Handouts in her Executive Budget.
As the Largest Oil Companies Continue to Reap Massive Profits, Bill McKibben Joins Lawmakers and NY Advocates Arguing for Repeal of $350 Million in Annual Fossil Fuel Subsidies to Help Address New York’s Affordability Crisis
Reports & Features Archive