Former head of the Sierra Club faced allegations of harassment
Sierra Club Fires Executive Director Ben Jealous After Years of Infighting
The Sierra Club, one of the nation's oldest and most prominent environmental advocacy groups, has terminated the contract of its Executive Director, Ben Jealous, effective August 10, 2025. The decision was made on July 10, and Jealous was informed in writing on the same day.
The board's decision followed years of infighting between Jealous and the group's employees. Reports suggest that a sexual harassment complaint was made against Jealous earlier this year, alleging misconduct in the workplace. However, the details of the complaint have not been publicly disclosed.
Jealous has since begun the process under his contract to fight the decision to terminate him. In a statement, he claimed he faced discrimination and a "campaign against" him. Civil rights leader Al Sharpton warned of "serious racial implications" in Jealous' firing.
The Sierra Club has remained tight-lipped about the matter, declining to comment on the complaint or on whether it played a role in Jealous' termination. The acting Executive Director, Loren Blackford, and Patrick Murphy, president of the Sierra Club's board, have been meeting with groups of staff to address questions and concerns regarding the changes taking place at the organisation.
The board is slated to meet next week from Sept. 11 to 13 to chart the organisation's leadership transition. They are eager to hear the vision and needs for the future of the organisation's work, as well as addressing questions and concerns regarding the changes taking place at the Sierra Club.
Before his firing, Jealous oversaw several rounds of layoffs and extensive turnover in the organisation's leadership ranks. Of the 23 Sierra Club leaders included in the group's 2023 tax filing, at least 14 of them have left the organisation.
The board's Aug. 11 vote ratified its prior unanimous vote on July 10 to fire Jealous, stating that the termination was a unanimous decision by the organisation's board "for cause" following an extensive evaluation of his conduct. The name of the person who filed a complaint against Jealous for sexual harassment in spring 2025 is not disclosed in the available sources.
As the Sierra Club moves forward, it remains to be seen how the leadership transition will unfold and what impact it will have on the organisation's work and mission.
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