These yearly goals are determined in response to member's interests as they are expressed to the National Board. The national Sierra Club is guided by a 15-member, unpaid Board of Directors. It is a grassroots organization with over 564,000 members in 61 chapters and 406 groups nationwide. Fifteen chapters are located in California, totaling about 100,000 members. The chapters are volunteer-run, though some of the larger chapters may have a small paid staff.
Chapters are autonomous in their activities.
The Sierra Club has 10 regional field offices throughout the United States, each staffed by a field representative. The field representatives are the experienced lobbyists who are responsible for raising memberships and for keeping track of regional issues. In California there are regional offices in Oakland and Sacramento, and twelve chapter offices. For issues of local concern, chapter offices should be contacted. Sierra Club Property Management, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Sierra Club, and a general partner of National headquarters Associates.