My colleagues and I at The Philanthropic Initiative are working with more and more clients who are interested in funding climate change action. I work with funders who are giving grants in the areas of climate change mitigation and resilience, nature-based solutions to climate change, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy. I was excited to attend the Environmental Grantmakers Association’s (EGA) Fall Retreat in Chicago last month to learn more about these issues. 

One thing is clear – there is still a lot of equity-centered work to be done to address the climate crisis and ensure that everyone has a healthy environment in which to live, work, and play. Funding is needed in places that have historically been underinvested in and disenfranchised, and those working at the frontlines of the climate movement need more support to build power and prevent burn out. This year’s Fall Retreat highlighted specific approaches philanthropy can take to be more effective in addressing climate change through an equity lens. Here are five philanthropic practices that have proven to be successful in funding climate change action: 

  1. Direct funding to grassroots organizations. 
  2. Direct funding to more organizations led by BIPOC. 
  3. Provide unrestricted multi-year grants to organizations for stability and resilience.
  4. Direct funding to historically underfunded geographical areas. 
  5. Work to improve access to government funding.

Read the full article about learnings on climate change and equity by Sophia Hancock at The Philanthropic Initiative.