Endangered Planet Foundation

The Endangered Planet Foundation (EPF) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on raising public awareness of environmental and related humanitarian issues. Its work combines conservation advocacy with visual art, documentary film, public programming, community events, and support for partner initiatives. Rather than operating primarily as a conventional membership or direct-service conservation group, EPF has used cultural venues and public-facing events to make environmental subjects more accessible to broad audiences. The foundation was established by Charles Michael Murray, a graphic designer and commercial photographer, as the philanthropic arm of the Endangered Planet Gallery in Laguna Beach, California. The gallery opened in 2005 and provided a natural setting for EPF's activities, linking environmental education with photography, design, murals, exhibitions, film screenings, and public discussion. The precise founding year of the foundation is not specified in the available reference material, but its institutional identity is closely associated with the gallery and its Laguna Beach base. EPF's early fundraising and awareness work included public screenings of the environmental documentaries The 11th Hour and One: The Movie. It also co-produced a Laguna Beach town hall called "Laguna Beach – Earth Trustee," a program centered on environmental stewardship and featuring a panel led by Earth Day founder John McConnell. Related civic activity included support for a Laguna Beach proclamation recognizing the alignment of Earth Day with the vernal equinox. A major part of the foundation's public profile came from its One Earth | One Dream EcoFest programs, held in 2008 and 2009. These events brought together green businesses and exhibitors, environmental films, ecological design and art, and symposium programming. The events attracted thousands of participants and addressed topics including sustainable living, food and farming, environmental effects on women and children, eco-business, and reducing dependence on fossil fuels in transportation. Speakers and contributors included environmental photographer Chris Jordan, former United Nations ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury, Wayne Nastri of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and artist Wyland. The organization has also supported projects beyond conventional environmental education. Its activities included assistance for Habitat for Humanity of Orange County and promotion or co-funding of Sailors Without Borders, which delivered aid such as solar panels and essential goods to communities affected by the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Through a collaboration known as the Environmental Mile, EPF connected environmental themes with the international Art Miles Mural Project, using large-scale collaborative art as an educational and advocacy medium. EPF and One Earth | One Dream later supported Laguna Beach Earth Day & Kelp Fest in 2012. The foundation's activities continued to include public talks and partnerships. In August 2024, Endangered Planet, working with the Art Miles Mural Project, hosted a Laguna Beach talk by Angelina Usanova, identified in the source material as Miss Eco International 2024. The program addressed environmental degradation and possible responses. Available material does not provide detailed information about EPF's budget, staff, grantmaking volume, current board composition, or legal filings. The organization is best understood as a conservation-awareness and environmental-culture nonprofit whose approach emphasizes public engagement, partnerships, and the use of art and media to communicate ecological concerns.

The Endangered Planet Foundation developed as the philanthropic arm of the Endangered Planet Gallery, an environmental art space opened by graphic designer and commercial photographer Charles Michael Murray in Laguna Beach, California, in 2005. The foundation's exact incorporation date is not stated in the available sources. Its model brought together environmental advocacy, cultural programming, and community engagement rather than limiting its work to scientific research or land conservation. Early EPF activities used film and public dialogue to build awareness. The foundation organized screenings of The 11th Hour and One: The Movie, both presented as vehicles for environmental education and fundraising. It also co-produced the Laguna Beach – Earth Trustee town hall, a community discussion led by Earth Day founder John McConnell. The program was accompanied by civic recognition of Earth Day's relationship to the vernal equinox through a Laguna Beach proclamation. EPF's most visible event initiative was One Earth | One Dream EcoFest. The foundation sponsored and organized EcoFests in 2008 and 2009, with support that included grants from the City of Laguna Beach. The events drew thousands of attendees and combined green exhibitors, environmental films, ecological art and design displays, and educational symposiums. Their subject matter ranged from women's and children's environmental health to food systems, farming, sustainable lifestyles, environmentally oriented business, and reductions in fossil-fuel use by automobiles. Speakers named in connection with the programs included photographer and National Geographic Eco-Ambassador Chris Jordan, former United Nations ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury, Wayne Nastri of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and artist Wyland. The foundation also pursued projects at the intersection of environmental and humanitarian work. It supported Habitat for Humanity of Orange County and promoted or co-funded Sailors Without Borders' relief activities following the 2010 Haiti earthquake. That partnership involved transporting practical aid, including solar panels and other needed goods, to affected communities. EPF's Environmental Mile collaboration with the Art Miles Mural Project extended its arts-based approach internationally, using mural work and touring exhibitions to connect environmental education with collective artistic production. In 2012, EPF and One Earth | One Dream supported Laguna Beach Earth Day & Kelp Fest. The event connected local environmental culture with marine and coastal concerns. The organization later continued to work with the Art Miles Mural Project. On August 4, 2024, the two organizations presented a Laguna Beach talk by Angelina Usanova, described in the available source as Miss Eco International 2024, addressing environmental degradation and possible remedies. Publicly documented board and advisory participants have included John McConnell, Joanne Tawfilis, attorney Jonathan R. Ellowitz, and environmental author Chris Prelitz. The available reference material does not establish which of these individuals remain involved, nor does it provide a full current staff or governance roster. It also does not provide reliable financial figures, a detailed grant portfolio, or a confirmed current operating footprint. EPF's documented identity is therefore centered on environmental communication: it uses nonprofit partnerships, public events, film, exhibitions, and art to encourage ecological awareness and action.

• 2024

  Environmental degradation public talk

  [1]Endangered Planet Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  EPF and the Art Miles Mural Project hosted an environmental talk by Angelina Usanova in Laguna Beach.

• 2012

  Earth Day & Kelp Fest support

  [1]Endangered Planet Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  EPF and One Earth | One Dream supported Laguna Beach Earth Day & Kelp Fest.

• 2010

  Haiti relief support

  [1]Endangered Planet Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  EPF promoted or co-funded Sailors Without Borders' delivery of relief supplies and solar equipment after the Haiti earthquake.

• 2009

  Second One Earth | One Dream EcoFest

  [1]Endangered Planet Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  A second EcoFest continued the foundation's large-scale public environmental education program in Laguna Beach.

• 2008

  First One Earth | One Dream EcoFest

  [1]Endangered Planet Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  EPF sponsored and organized an EcoFest featuring environmental exhibitors, films, art, design, and public symposiums.

• 2005

  Endangered Planet Gallery opens

  [1]Endangered Planet Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Charles Michael Murray opened the Endangered Planet Gallery in Laguna Beach, establishing the institutional setting from which the foundation's philanthropic and environmental-awareness work emerged.

Environmental awareness and conservation advocacy through art, media, public events, and cross-sector partnerships.

• Environmental festival · 2008

  One Earth | One Dream EcoFest

  A public environmental festival sponsored and organized by EPF in 2008 and 2009. The program brought together green exhibitors, environmental films, eco-oriented art and design, and symposiums. Topics included sustainable living, food and farming, environmental health, eco-business, and reducing automotive fossil-fuel use. The events were designed as public education and community engagement rather than as a commercial product.

• Environmental art collaboration

  Environmental Mile

  An arts-and-environment collaboration connecting EPF with the Art Miles Mural Project. The project used large-scale mural production and international touring to communicate environmental themes and encourage participation through visual culture. The available sources identify it as an internationally touring initiative but do not provide a complete schedule or list of venues.

• Environmental education

  Environmental film screenings

  EPF organized public screenings of The 11th Hour and One: The Movie as early fundraising and awareness activities. These screenings used documentary storytelling to introduce environmental issues to local audiences and connect media presentation with the foundation's conservation-education mission.

• 2024Environmental degradation talk

  Laguna Beach, California

  In collaboration with the Art Miles Mural Project, Endangered Planet presented a talk by Angelina Usanova on environmental degradation and possible solutions.

  Source
• 2012Laguna Beach Earth Day & Kelp Fest

  Laguna Beach, California

  EPF and One Earth | One Dream provided support and sponsorship for a local Earth Day and kelp-focused environmental event.

  Outcome. The partnership connected the foundation's environmental-awareness work with local coastal and marine concerns.

  Source
• 2010Sailors Without Borders Haiti relief support

  Haiti · United States

  EPF promoted or co-funded a partner effort to bring solar panels and essential goods to people affected by the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

  Outcome. The activity extended EPF's environmental and humanitarian partnership work beyond public awareness events.

  Source
• 2009One Earth | One Dream EcoFest

  Laguna Beach, California

  EPF repeated the EcoFest program with discussions addressing environmental health, sustainable consumption, farming, eco-business, and transportation emissions.

  Outcome. The second event extended the foundation's public education and community-partnership model.

  Source
• 2008One Earth | One Dream EcoFest

  Laguna Beach, California

  EPF launched a public eco-festival format combining environmental exhibitions, films, art, design, and expert-led discussions.

  Outcome. The event drew thousands of participants and broadened local environmental programming.

  Source

• 2012

  Support locally rooted coastal environmental programmingStrategy

  Background

  EPF's Laguna Beach activities provided an opportunity to connect broad environmental advocacy with local coastal issues.

  Action taken

  EPF and One Earth | One Dream supported Laguna Beach Earth Day & Kelp Fest.

  Aftermath

  The partnership linked Earth Day programming with public attention to kelp and marine ecosystems.

  Source

• 2010

  Extend environmental work into humanitarian reliefStrategy

  Background

  The Haiti earthquake created urgent humanitarian needs, including access to basic supplies and energy equipment.

  Action taken

  EPF promoted or co-funded Sailors Without Borders' relief mission, including support for transporting solar panels and other goods.

  Aftermath

  The initiative demonstrated a broader interpretation of the foundation's environmental and humanitarian mission.

  Source

• 2008

  Adopt a festival-led public education strategyStrategy

  Background

  EPF sought to raise environmental awareness by combining cultural programming with public discussion and community participation.

  Action taken

  The foundation sponsored and organized One Earth | One Dream EcoFest, bringing together exhibitors, films, art, design, and expert symposiums.

  Aftermath

  The event attracted thousands of participants and was followed by a second EcoFest in 2009.

  Source

1. 1Endangered Planet Foundationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Endangered Planet Foundation official websiteendangeredplanetfoundation.org