Climate Change

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Philanthropic giving related to climate change has been steadily increasing for a decade and has surged in the last few years with substantial pledges from billionaires and large foundations. But it still falls short of the enormous and urgent need. Considering the stakes and the narrowing window of time in which to stave off or prepare for climate-related catastrophe, there is an immediate and ongoing need for more resources to fund groups working to mitigate climate change and adapt to its impacts. For donors of all sizes, there are abundant opportunities to give to nonprofits engaged in advocacy, grassroots movements, research and development, climate justice work, climate journalism, disaster aid, climate resilience and more. 

Strategies for Impact

Nonprofits are engaged in a range of efforts to address climate change. All this work is important and could benefit from greater donor support. Below, we discuss several areas where donors might focus their funding and spotlight several organizations in each that represent the kind of nonprofits that donors might consider supporting.   

  • Fund advocacy. There are myriad organizations engaged in advocacy around climate change, including those pushing for policies to reduce emissions, for creating green jobs, for divestment from fossil fuels, for transformative systems change, for creating a sustainable future, and many other overlapping and pressing concerns. A few leading organizations to know about include 350.org, which advocates for a fast and just transition to renewable energy, the Climate Reality Project, the Environmental Defense Fund and the Indigenous Environmental Network. You can also fund the fight against climate change denialism and increase public action and support for solutions by funding climate journalism (e.g., the nonprofit environmental magazines Grist and Orion), documentaries, and other media and public education efforts.  

  • Move resources to grassroots movements. A critical means of advocating for systemic change is grassroots movement building. Movements opposing fossil fuel infrastructure, protecting land and wildlife and demanding greater public investment in renewables are driving the change that’s needed while clarifying what a just, equitable transition can be. A good way to fund grassroots movements is to give through intermediaries that know the movements and support effective groups. Intermediaries that can combine your donations with many others and move your funds to the grassroots include CLIMA, The Solutions Project, Building Equity and Alignment for Environmental Justice and Global Greengrants. You can also give directly to movement organizations such as the youth-led Sunrise Movement.  

  • Back BIPOC-led organizations working in frontline communities. Climate change is already disproportionately impacting BIPOC communities, poor people and people of the Global South, while wealthy nations and people are disproportionately responsible for the climate crisis. A climate justice approach acknowledges this and seeks solutions that will create a just and sustainable future. Climate-justice-focused funders prioritize giving to BIPOC-led organizations working in impacted communities in underresourced and critical regions, from the U.S. South to the Global South. Currently, BIPOC-led, front-line groups receive only a sliver of climate-related philanthropy. Funders can change this by moving resources to groups such as the Hive Fund for Climate and Gender Justice, which can regrant your funds to support climate response in the U.S. South led by Black, Indigenous and other women of color; the Liberated Paths grantmaking fund; the Indigenous-led NDN Collective; or the Community Land Rights and Conservation Initiative.  

  • Support hard-hit places. The climate crisis is global, and that means nonprofits everywhere are working on it. But philanthropic giving is unbalanced, with some of the regions already most impacted by climate change still underresourced by philanthropy. Whether you want to give globally or focus on particular places, there is need everywhere. U.S.-based intermediaries like Global Greengrants can help move your money to effective organizations in critical regions internationally. Locally, many community foundations have rapid-response funds to help local communities in the wake of climate disasters. Regional groups such as the Miami Climate Alliance or the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice focus on impacted yet underfunded regions in the United States.  

  • Give for climate adaptation and resilience. Societies are going to need to adapt to survive climate change. Organizations working on adaptation and resilience are underfunded compared to other fronts of the climate fight, which means opportunities for donors to make a big difference. The Climate Justice Resilience Fund, for example, supports women, youth and Indigenous peoples to create and share climate resilience solutions.  

  • Examine technology innovations. Some funders have supported still-nascent and controversial technological climate efforts, though most of these fields remain small. Harvard’s Solar Geoengineering Research Program has long been a top grantee on efforts that aim to cool the planet by reflecting sunlight, while the nonprofit SilverLining recently emerged as a significant regrantor. Carbon dioxide removal technologies are another emerging area, with $25 million in grants, according to ClimateWorks, which runs a CDR fund. Research and technology development has drawn grantmakers like the Pritzker Innovation Fund.

Insights and Advice 

In considering which impact strategies to support, donors should take into account their personal interests and outlook to find the best fit. Keep an eye out for emerging opportunities to give with maximum impact. Here, we offer a few insights and suggestions:

  • Align your investments with your values. If you’re not already engaged in impact investing, climate change is a powerful reason to start. Environmental groups are organizing campaigns to get institutions and individuals to divest from fossil fuels. Beyond that, you can proactively invest in renewable energies and other technologies for climate crisis mitigation and resilience. Funder affinity groups and intermediaries are great resources for information as well as investment management and opportunities, for instance, Confluence Philanthropy, Mission Investors Exchange and Prime Coalition.   

  • Give sooner rather than later. Climate change is an existential challenge that demands maximum resources now to head off disaster. On this issue, even more than most, funders can increase their impact by moving more money now and giving exceptional donations to those taking bold action for transformative and urgently needed change.  

For Donors Getting Started

Donors who are new to this space should take the time to learn about the landscape.

A good place to start is by reading IP’s State of American Philanthropy brief “Giving for Climate Change and Clean Energy.” In addition, peruse recent articles that IP has published about what’s happening in this area of philanthropy. Some of the funding intermediaries mentioned above also offer reports and articles to help donors understand the giving landscape. Another helpful resource is the Climate Justice Funders Guide created by Candid. 

To find more local and national nonprofits working in this area that are well-respected, Charity Navigator is a reputable place to search for worthy organizations around the country.

But the best way to get started giving for the climate is to make some initial gifts, learn from the groups you’re supporting, and connect early with a funding intermediary that can help you learn more about this giving area and increase your giving in a thoughtful way.

Have suggestions for improving this brief? Please email us at editor@insidephilanthropy.com.