Environmental and Climate Justice Program

To help build a more just and sustainable world, the Foundation has supported a variety of organizing, policy, litigation, and public education groups focused on the existential threat of climate change. Increasingly, and in line with its racial justice lens, the Foundation has focused its renamed Environmental and Climate Justice program on the movement-building work and leadership of BIPOC community-based and led grassroots groups. These frontline communities have suffered the most from climate change and other environmental harms, from pollution spewing fossil fuel and other industrial facilities to the devastation of climate-exacerbated heat waves, droughts, and hurricanes. They have also been the leaders across the country in robustly, comprehensively, and intersectionally fighting for policy change that builds sustainability, as well as racial and economic justice. The systems that create racial environmental disparities are essentially the same as those creating other aspects of white supremacy; the climate and environmental justice battle to dismantle those systems is strategically, narratively, and spiritually aligned with the broader fight against white supremacy. Climate and environmental issues have proven to be effective in galvanizing impacted communities of color to build broad political power. Because people experience and understand national and global environmental issues, including climate change, most palpably and deeply through local manifestations, the Foundation has emphasized efforts that mobilize residents to identify and advocate for community-initiated sustainable advances.

While seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and its devastating effects particularly on frontline low-income and communities of color, the Foundation has chosen not to focus on one or more specific strategies. Instead, we aim to empower justice-seeking grassroots EJ groups to develop their own strategic and policy solutions and approaches. By definition, these movement-building groups are multi-issue, working to create coalitions across a host of issues critical to their members, leaders, and allies, including housing, jobs, livable communities, and civic participation/democracy.

The Foundation funds state and local groups across the country as well as national networks and a small number of policy groups with close collaborative ties with grass roots BIPOC groups. It pays particular attention to New York City and State including an emphasis on public transit equity, the transition from fossil fuel dependency to a just sustainable energy economy, and the air and other pollution that continues to plague low-income communities of color. 

Type & Size of Grants

General operating and project grants considered. Grants average $50,000 over two-years.

Environmental & Climate Justice Program will not fund:

• Land Conservation

• Projects with a focus outside the U.S.

Program Staff

• Mike Pratt