Nature Conservancy Does Damage Control

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Responding to an in-depth Washington Post expose, The Nature Conservancy has hired Edelman PR Worldwide for damage control. The Post's multi-part article portrayed the environmental non-profit, which has $3 billion in assets, as a willing dealmaker for the benefit of its corporate supporters and trustees. According to O'Dwyer's PR Daily, the Arlington, Va.-based group is desperate to avoid Congressional inquiry into its activities. The Nature Conservancy's PR strategy includes "Capitol Hill visits, calls to donors, third-party letters to newspapers, full-page advertisements and attempts to pacify charitable foundations, according to TNC documents obtained by the Post." The group criticized the Post's series for "focusing on a narrow set of isolated problems" that do not "present an honest or comprehensive picture of the work of The Conservancy."