Addressing the climate crisis can no longer be the work of the few foundations and donors who fund climate work. Instead, we need an “all-of-philanthropy” level of engagement, expertise, and resources.

That’s the conclusion we drew from our research during the summer of 2021, when a team from FSG, supported by a grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, sought to answer the question, “How might more foundations effectively begin to support front-line actors addressing the climate crisis?”

During the research process, 45 organizations contributed their thoughts, experiences, and insights. Interviewees included private foundations, nonprofit organizations, grassroots groups, philanthropy-supporting organizations, and others.

In our report, Time to Act: How Philanthropy Must Address the Climate Crisis, we offer five recommendations for funders, especially those who may not have previously engaged in climate-related grantmaking or investments:

  1. Learn about climate and climate justice: Investigate how the climate crisis affects the issues, populations, and places aligned with your mission and actively listen to front-line communities.
  2. Reckon with and change internal practices: Reflect internally to understand how biases, assumptions, policies, practices, and cultural norms may inhibit the impact you seek or cause harm.
  3. Build political and economic power in front-line communities: Support grassroots efforts with attention to political and economic power-building, so front-line communities in the Global North and Global South lead, control, and benefit from the necessary economic transition.
  4. Expand the funder toolbox: Use convenings, advocacy, narrative change, and relationships to shift public perception, influence policy, and engage peer funders in climate action.
  5. Utilize foundation investment and operations as levers for change: Align investments practices with climate goals and operations with sustainable practices and support grantees to do the same.

To illustrate the many ways to be a climate funder, the report highlights the journeys and experiences of a range of U.S.-based private foundations—including community foundations; large, multi-issue foundations; and family foundations.

Read the full article about climate funders by Talia Alongi and Laura Tilghman at FSG.