Sierra Club Terminates Executive Director Ben Jealous 'For Cause'
August 13th, 2025 6:32 PM
By: Newsworthy Staff
The Sierra Club's board unanimously voted to remove Executive Director Ben Jealous for cause, following an extensive evaluation of his conduct, marking a significant leadership change within the prominent environmental nonprofit.

The Sierra Club, a leading environmental nonprofit, has made a decisive move by terminating its Executive Director, Ben Jealous, 'for cause' after a unanimous board vote. This decision comes after Jealous was placed on leave last month due to a 'personnel matter,' details of which were not disclosed. The board's action underscores a commitment to upholding the organization's values and ensuring accountability at all levels, as stated by board President Patrick Murphy in an email to staff.
Jealous, who previously ran as the Democratic nominee for Maryland governor, has contested the termination, initiating a process under his contract to challenge the board's decision. He described the board's approach as adversarial and unsupported by the facts. This development raises questions about leadership and governance within the Sierra Club, an organization at the forefront of environmental advocacy. The situation also highlights the challenges nonprofits face in balancing internal accountability with their public missions.
For more details on this story, visit https://citybiz.com. The termination of Jealous marks a pivotal moment for the Sierra Club as it navigates the implications of this leadership change on its operations and public image.
Source Statement
This news article relied primarily on a press release disributed by citybiz. You can read the source press release here,
