The Fund for Public Interest Research is a national nonprofit organization working to increase the visibility, membership and political power of the nationís leading environmental and progressive groups. Leadership of the state PIRGs started the Fund in 1982 to develop campaigns and technologies to engage the public in public interest advocacy efforts. Through our fundraising and non-fundraising canvasses, we've raised over $350 million and gathered over 20 million petition signatures over the past 20 years.