The Pew Charitable Trusts

The Pew Charitable Trusts, an independent nonprofit organization, is the sole beneficiary of seven individual charitable funds established between 1948 and 1979 by two sons and two daughters of Sun Oil Company founder Joseph N. Pew and his wife, Mary Anderson Pew. In 2004, the Pew Trusts changed from a foundation into a nonprofit organization. It can now raise funds freely and devote up to 20% of its budget to lobbying the public sector. Pew considers itself a major force in educating the public and policy makers about the causes, consequences and solutions to environmental problems. They are promoting conservation policies in the United States and internationally.