Community Environmental Advocates Foundation (CEA Foundation) was formed as a conceptual unification of three local advocacy groups: Rural Quality Coalition (RQC), Citizens Looking At Impacts of Mining (CLAIM-GV), and Citizens Advocating Responsible Development (CARD).

The RQC has often taken positions on development projects and planning issues, as well as promoting more progressive political candidates. Recent work has helped shape more positive outcomes on Loma Rica.

CLAIM was formed to address the impacts of the proposed Idaho-Maryland Mine / Ceramics factory, and ultimately worked to defeat the project due to its environmental impacts. CLAIM also addressed other local mining projects.

More recently, CARD was an ad-hoc group formed to address an expansive zoning text amendment in the Whispering Pines Special Development District. CARD challenged the amendment legally and was successful in getting the City of Grass Valley to reverse its action.

Our mission is to perform research, education, and advocacy to promote public policy and actions resulting in responsible land use and environmental protection in Nevada County and the Sierra Nevada region.