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New Member Interest Meeting

Join our upcoming Membership Meeting to learn about our membership structure, application process, and new Member Portal. Feb 24, 2026 at 11:00 AM PT

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Moving Forward Network (MFN) is a growing network of environmental justice leaders, nonprofit allies, researchers, and individuals working toward a zero-emissions freight system and environmental justice for all. Our network brings together 50+ member organizations across 20+ U.S. cities, representing over 2 million people from communities most impacted by the global goods movement system.

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Membership Overview

Our updated MFN membership structure is designed to meet the needs of current and future members while maintaining MFN’s core commitment to centering frontline and fenceline leadership. This document outlines what it means to be part of MFN, and the benefits and responsibilities of each membership category.

Member Responsibilities

All members reaffirm their commitment annually by attending at least one Quarterly Membership Meeting and demonstrating good-faith collaboration across the Network. Members are expected to contribute time, resources, and best practices to advance shared campaigns and uphold the Jemez Principles and Environmental Justice Principles.

Member Process

A member-elected Membership Committee (launching in 2026) will review and recommend new member applications in collaboration with the Project Advisory Board and MFN staff.

Types of Membership

MFN is open to organizations and individuals aligned with MFN’s mission, values, and principles. This includes:

Frontline / Fenceline Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)

Place-based environmental justice organizations and coalitions that are accountable to their local communities directly impacted by pollution and the goods movement system.

Non-Government Organizations / Nonprofits:

Legal, data, policy, or advocacy organizations that can contribute technical or strategic support to frontline and fenceline leadership.

Research Institutions

Research centers and institutions with technical expertise to support the work of community-based members.

Individuals

Movement elders, students, researchers, scientists, lawyers, data analysts, and others who contribute time, expertise, or support to advance MFN’s goals and campaigns.

Member Benefits and Responsibilities

All Members

All MFN members share a set of core benefits and a set of shared responsibilities with additional benefits and responsibilities based on membership type.

Core Benefits

All MFN members receive the following baseline benefits, with additional benefits available based on membership type:

Support in engaging on local, state, and federal advocacy campaigns to demand zero emissions in freight

Quarterly newsletter and relevant campaign and programmatic communications

Access to MFN member portal resources:

  • Digital communications toolkits
  • Policy primers & factsheets
  • Reports
  • Public letters & comments
  • Digital assets (photographs, videos, infographics)

Shared Responsibilities

All MFN members commit to the following responsibilities, with additional responsibilities based on membership type:

Attend at least one MFN Quarterly Membership meeting per year

Annually commit to MFN mission, vision, and goals each year through the Membership Renewal form

Demonstrate good faith collaboration with other members and MFN staff and consistent communication with network to ensure trusting relationships

Demonstrate contributions (time, resources, best practices, etc.) to Network campaign activities to advance goals

Commit to the Jemez Principles and the Environmental Justice Principles.

Additional benefits and responsibilities by member type:

Frontline/Fenceline CBOs

Benefits:

Frontline/Fenceline CBO members receive all the benefits listed under “All Members,” plus:

  • Eligibility to apply for subgrants to support local capacity building
  • Sponsored access to the MFN Convening and other travel opportunities (up to 3 trips per year for each organization, with up to 2 staff representatives per trip)
  • Access to resources (custom factsheets and primers, engagement tools, digital security guidance, social media toolkits, translation services, etc.)

Responsibilities:

Frontline/Fenceline CBO members commit to the shared MFN member responsibilities and:

  • Engage with local, regional, state, national, and international partners in good faith and practice transparency and collaboration
  • Leverage the collective power or resources provided through the Network to grow impact on active campaigns
  • Attend convenings and other Network meetings at least once a year
  • Participate in at least one of the MFN workgroups
NGOs/Nonprofit Organizations

Benefits:

NGO/Nonprofit Organizational members receive all the benefits listed under “All Members,” plus:

  • Opportunities to advance social, and racial equity and justice outcomes through campaigns with grassroots organizations and larger network
  • Opportunities for relationship building and connections with existing membership, including place-based CBOs and coalitions

Responsibilities:

NGO/Nonprofit Organizational members commit to the shared MFN member responsibilities and:

  • Contribute to the growth of capacity and leadership development of frontline members through technical assistance, knowledge sharing (via policy primers, 101 presentations, and campaign-specific guidance and support, and/or annual contributions to the MFN regranting funds
  • NGO members are encouraged to make annual contributions to support MFN regranting funds and other programmatic offerings to the network
  • Participate in at least one of the MFN workgroups
    Research/Academic Institutions

    Benefits:

    Research/Academic Institutional members receive all the benefits listed under “All Members,” plus:

    • Grounded social, and racial equity and justice credibility through connections to grassroots organizations and larger network
    • Opportunities for community participatory-based research and collaborations with existing membership

    Responsibilities:

    Research/Academic Institutional members commit to the shared MFN member responsibilities and:

    • Center frontline and fenceline experience, expertise, and strategy development leadership in their research initiatives
    • Opportunities for community participatory-based research and collaborations with existing membership
        Individuals

        Benefits:

        Individual members receive all the benefits listed under “All Members.”

        Responsibilities:

        Individual members commit to the shared MFN member responsibilities and:

        • Provide consultation to campaign and strategy development through Work Group participation and staff communication
        • Support MFN publicly as a cheerleader within professional and personal networks
        • Offer time and guidance to troubleshoot strategies and tactics (with MFN staff and members)
        • Leverage personal and professional relationships and networks to advance MFN’s mission and vision
        • Respond to MFN calls to action

              Recurring MFN Member Meetings

              Quarterly Member Meetings

              • Quarterly meetings (four times a year) 
              • Confirms new MFN membership during open membership cycles (every other year)

              Work Groups

              • Zero Emissions in Freight (ZEF) 
              • Technical Group (Tech Team)
              • Global Frontlines (in 2026)

              MFN Gatherings

              • Occur every other year 
              • Member-wide relationship building, reflection, celebration and visioning

              MFN Membership FAQ

              Who is eligible to join the MFN membership?

              • Frontline and fenceline place-based environmental justice (EJ) organizations 
              • Environmental nonprofit organizations 
              • Organized labor organizations 
              • Research centers and institutions 
              • Movement elders, students, researchers, scientists, lawyers, data analysts, and other individuals who contribute time, expertise, or support to advance MFN’s goals and campaigns.

               

              How can I become an MFN member?

              Prospective members should:

              • Engage with an MFN member or staff member to learn more about the network’s membership benefits, principles and commitments 
              • Collect a letter of support from an existing MFN member 
              • Submit a completed membership application and letter of support (applications are made available in later January during open cycles)

               

              Is there a membership fee?

              There is no membership fee.

                How long does it take to become a member?

                Once an application and letter of support are submitted, applicants can expect the review and voting process to take approximately three months.

                  How often are new members accepted into the MFN membership?

                  New member applications open every other year (not annually). 

                  This timing allows MFN to confirm active membership ahead of our member gatherings and plan for participation, representation, and engagement.

                    Are there different benefits between the membership types?

                    Yes. MFN’s membership structure intentionally centers and prioritizes benefits for frontline and fenceline environmental justice organizations.

                      Who has access to the MFN Member Portal?

                      All MFN members—organizational or individual—have access to the MFN Member Portal.

                      Organizational members may have up to five (5) users per organization.

                        How do members stay in good standing?

                        Members are expected to participate in at least one quarterly membership meeting per year to affirm their ongoing membership commitment.

                        Questions about membership?

                        Reach out to MFN staff to learn more about upcoming application cycles and engagement opportunities.