Climate Change Philanthropy News
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Trump Calls Climate Change the “Greatest Con Job Ever.” What Paths Are Open to Philanthropy?
In the face of Trump’s actions, climate funders and philanthropy-supporting organizations are taking steps to adapt.
A Mixed Picture for Climate Philanthropy Following Climate Week NYC
There were sparse pickings this year in terms of pledges and commitments, but several new reports shed light on how climate giving is evolving – for better or worse.
There’s More Funding Than Ever Going Toward This Search for Climate Breakthroughs
The Climate Breakthrough Award celebrates its 10-year anniversary with its biggest group of winners yet. What makes this funding stand out?
Will Philanthropy Get a Cut of the $3.3 Billion Murdoch Succession Deal?
Here’s a look at what James Murdoch, Liz Murdoch and Prue Murdoch MacLeod’s giving histories tell us about what they might fund with their shares of the payout.
Here’s Why Open Philanthropy Is Doubling Down on Abundance
Open Philanthropy’s Matt Clancy discusses what the Abundance and Growth Fund is looking for in applicants and where it’s potentially heading next.
Meet a New Billion-Dollar Fund from a Billionaire Crypto-Science Power Couple
With a distinctive funding process and asset base, the Navigation Fund offers one more glimpse at where the giving of the rising mega-rich may be headed. Also, it’s looking into sentient AI.
The Sierra Club Fired Its Leader Ben Jealous. Is There a Lesson for Philanthropy?
It’s one of the highest-profile leadership shake-ups among big green nonprofits in recent years. Michael Kavate weighs in on what we might take away from the situation — and what’s less certain.
The Time Traveler’s Guide to Philanthropy: Funding the Future, Backward
Are funders thinking about progress the wrong way around? Savanna Ferguson of Climate Breakthrough wants to reorient philanthropy’s perspective.
Could the Most Cost-Effective Climate Mitigation Strategy Be Funding Communities?
Donors take note: This new report estimates the philanthropic cost per ton of emissions averted by traditionally hard-to-measure community efforts. The numbers are startlingly low.
Meet the Head of the New Ballmer Outfit Set to “Become the World’s Largest Climate Funder”
Tom Steinbach is a master billionaire whisperer who has spent his career at the summit of climate philanthropy. How will he direct Rainier Climate’s billions?
Nine Things to Know About Bezos Earth Fund’s New Leader Tom Taylor
The former Amazon senior vice president is tasked with spending the fund’s remaining $6.7 billion over the next five and a half years.
It’s Time to Move Beyond Boom and Bust Cycles of Support for Local Climate Action
Jenna Tatum of the Building Electrification Institute discusses why it’s counterproductive for funders to only amp up support for city-based climate work when progress doesn’t seem possible in Washington.
What’s Up in Climate Philanthropy? Seven Themes After Six Months of Trump
Most climate philanthropies want to be mice rather than lions, billionaires now like climate justice as much as day-old caviar, and other lessons from months of reading the sector’s tea leaves.
No USAID, No U.S. Climate Leadership: How International Regrantors Are Responding
With USAID basically gone and the U.S. government going backward on climate, how are climate intermediaries who fund abroad taking action?
Can Working Together Triple U.S. Climate Funding? New Group for Advisors Aims High
The Climate Philanthropy Catalyst Coalition is bringing together top consultants, billionaire funders and support organizations to talk about how to convince donors to fund climate action.
Climate Regrantors Speak Up: How They’re Responding to Trump
We heard from several climate funds and a fiscal sponsor on new strategies, funding trends and what’s needed amid Trump administration rollbacks.
Now Is Not the Time for Climate Philanthropy to Retreat from Washington
Rayan Semery-Palumbo makes a case that even as Trump’s second term disrupts climate action, funding long-term right-of-center organizing to expand the climate coalition is still a smart play.
5 Things to Know About Kathy Reich, the Incoming Leader of Sam Walton’s Foundation
The founding director of Ford’s BUILD initiative will be the executive director of Sam Walton’s Catena Foundation. Here are a few things to know about Reich and the low-profile $575 million grantmaker she’ll be leading.
Trump May Celebrate Earth Day by Revoking Climate Groups’ Tax-Exempt Status
In a ramp-up of the administration’s attacks on civil society, this week might see a broadside of executive orders targeting green nonprofits — and possibly, major funders.
Philanthropy Helped These Climate Groups Win Funding. Trump Is Trying To Take It Back
The administration wants to claw back billions awarded to climate finance groups via the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Now, philanthropy is helping them stay afloat.
Climate Philanthropy Is Responding to Trump, but Not Publicly — at Least for Now
Michael Kavate surveys the climate funding landscape as it adapts to Trump 2.0, finding few leaders willing to speak publicly about their plans.
Bill Gates Overhauls His Climate Giving in Apparent Trump-Era Retooling
A drawdown of Breakthrough Energy Foundation’s grantmaking and advocacy work took grantees in climate tech and policy by surprise.
New CZI Climate Chief Doubts She Could Spend $1 Billion
Climate organizations reeling from cuts should not expect a big commitment from the Facebook cofounder and physician right now. What should they expect?
Has the Trump Effect Hit Climate Philanthropy?
The end of the Bezos Earth Fund’s relationship with the world’s top voluntary climate standards body has provoked deeper rumblings about billionaire donors’ commitment to the cause.
What Will Climate Philanthropy Look Like Under Trump? Experts Weigh In
The Trump administration is a massive roadblock to climate progress, but advocates still see many opportunities for effective climate giving.
Green 990s: What Are Four Major Donor Couples Funding?
In 2023, a number of big green funders significantly raised their spend. Michael Kavate reviews the foundation 990s of four major donor couples to see where the money’s going.
Green Megafunders Waverley, Sequoia, Freedom Together Up Their Spending
Several of the biggest environmental funders in the country increased their spending in 2023. Newly released tax filings offer a raw view of the groups favored by these generally private grantmakers.
The Just Transition Fund Backs Tribal Nations Hit Hard by Coal Closures
In the face of chronic underinvestment, the fund is providing technical support to help the Navajo and Hopi access federal funding to transition their economies and expand clean energy programs.
Larry Page Steps Out of Philanthropy’s Shadows as a Climate Donor
Long secretive about their giving, the Google cofounder and his wife have revealed that millions of their foundation’s grant dollars went to climate causes in 2023. It’s a small step though: 77% still went into a black box.
The Environmental Movement and Its Funders Must Break Out of Their Echo Chamber
In this guest piece, climate activists Isabela Valencia and Grace Gibson-Snyder call on green funders to engage with the center-right.
