Solutions for All: How an Energy Grantmaker Evolved and Went All in on Climate Justice

Solutions for All: How an Energy Grantmaker Evolved and Went All in on Climate Justice

The Solutions Project has drawn attention and accolades as a forward-thinking climate grantmaker. After a shock to its funding base and a period of evaluation, the celebrity-backed organization is entering a new phase.

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Honoring Climate Pioneers: A Prestigious Prize Goes to Scientists Who Broke New Ground

Honoring Climate Pioneers: A Prestigious Prize Goes to Scientists Who Broke New Ground

The Tyler Prize honors environmental scientists. This year’s awardees: a meteorologist who made early climate models and the scientist who came up with the famous “hockey stick” temperature graph—only to be embroiled in “Climategate.”

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With Oceans in Grave Danger, Some Donors See Hope in Tech Solutions

With Oceans in Grave Danger, Some Donors See Hope in Tech Solutions

Salesforce founder Marc Benioff and his wife Lynne are among a growing number of philanthropists focused on ocean health. Like other Silicon Valley givers in this space, they see a role for tech—most recently getting behind an Ocean Solutions Accelerator.

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“We Need to Open the Doors.” A Campus Gift to Boost Diversity Among Environmental Leaders

“We Need to Open the Doors.” A Campus Gift to Boost Diversity Among Environmental Leaders

A $20 million gift seeks to increase accessibility for underrepresented and first-generation students to Duke’s School of the Environment. It comes at a moment when there’s growing acknowledgement that green groups must do more to diversify their ranks in an era of rapid demographic change.

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Following Devastating Hurricanes, These Funders Get Behind Island Climate Resilience

Following Devastating Hurricanes, These Funders Get Behind Island Climate Resilience

Climate change is making storms more destructive, with recent hurricanes among the costliest and deadliest on record—especially in the Caribbean. Some foundations are backing work to help islands prepare for growing impacts. 

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“Long Live Real News.” How an Environmental Reporting Site Funds its Work

“Long Live Real News.” How an Environmental Reporting Site Funds its Work

Even as some wonder about the sustainability of nonprofit news, plenty of money keeps flowing to leading outlets. A good example is InsideClimate News, which recently pulled in a high-profile $1 million grant. Where does the rest of its funding come from?

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Mainstream Greens and Funders Are Still Very White—Are They Risking Their Relevance?

Mainstream Greens and Funders Are Still Very White—Are They Risking Their Relevance?

An initiative advocating for a diverse environmental movement recently gave green NGOs and foundations low scores, yet again. Many funders aren’t even participating in this effort to track diversity data. What’s that about? And what are the larger stakes here?

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Building Resilience: Behind a Gift to Help Communities Bounce Back After a Crisis Hits

Building Resilience: Behind a Gift to Help Communities Bounce Back After a Crisis Hits

With stresses and shocks to U.S. society growing, and government in retreat in many places, a growing range of funders is keen to bolster civil society’s role in promoting resilience. We look at a unique effort along these lines under way in Arizona.

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As Sea Levels Rise, This Community Funder is on the Front Lines

As Sea Levels Rise, This Community Funder is on the Front Lines

While there’s a growing focus by funders on helping communities adapt to climate change, local groups in vulnerable areas still struggle to get attention from major foundations. Players like the Bayou Community Foundation in Louisiana are helping fill the gap.

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The Environment and More: Where a Natural Gas Company in the Northwest Sends its Grants

The Environment and More: Where a Natural Gas Company in the Northwest Sends its Grants

There’s plenty in the philanthropy of energy companies to inspire cynicism. But given the expanding grantmaking of firms like NW Natural, it’s important for nonprofits—including green groups—to pay attention to who’s making grants and how to get in on the action.

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Unlocking Potential: What a Funder is Doing Around Chicago’s Rivers

Unlocking Potential: What a Funder is Doing Around Chicago’s Rivers

In Chicago, some funders and civic leaders see transforming the city’s extensive river system as an opportunity to advance environmental goals while also bringing people together in creative ways. The Chicago Community Trust is a key leader of this work.

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The Doom Effect: In Adapting to Climate Threats, Philanthropy Can Help Reinvent U.S. Politics

The Doom Effect: In Adapting to Climate Threats, Philanthropy Can Help Reinvent U.S. Politics

Coping with sea level rise, forest fires, and droughts will require new kinds of local collective action and governance. Philanthropy is uniquely suited to help lead the way—and is already starting to do exactly that, according to guest contributor Peter Teague.

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How a Podcast and the Funders Behind it Are Shaking up Climate Communication

How a Podcast and the Funders Behind it Are Shaking up Climate Communication

A new show that spotlights women on the frontlines of the climate fight has drawn growing grant support. It’s a case study of how foundations can back experiments in storytelling and elevate the voices of outsiders.

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For a Top Foundation’s Evolving Climate Program, a Growing Focus on China and India

For a Top Foundation’s Evolving Climate Program, a Growing Focus on China and India

MacArthur continues to develop its climate program since it launched in 2015 with a big play to bolster U.S. climate leadership. Lately, the foundation has been focusing a lot on Asia, where greenhouse gas emissions are rising fast.

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Ready for a Fight: Behind a Company’s Long Record of Activist Green Giving

Ready for a Fight: Behind a Company’s Long Record of Activist Green Giving

Patagonia’s announcement that it’s donating $10 million it saved from the GOP’s corporate tax cut is not so surprising given the company’s history of taking political stands and backing grassroots groups. Where do its grants go?

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Water Work: How the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation Protects Fresh Water

Water Work: How the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation Protects Fresh Water

With freshwater under threat across the West, foundations have stepped up work in this area in recent years. The S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, which is spending down by 2020, has been a key player on water issues.

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No One Solution: A Climate Prize Hopes to Plant Many Seeds

No One Solution: A Climate Prize Hopes to Plant Many Seeds

The Keeling Curve Prize is a notable philanthropic competition in that it’s entirely about climate change. It also opts to give small amounts to multiple winners working in many fields instead of betting on one big idea.

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High-Power Niche: How a Tech Billionaire is Backing Energy Research and More

High-Power Niche: How a Tech Billionaire is Backing Energy Research and More

Tom Siebel continues to drill into a critical area neglected by most funders, as his Siebel Energy Institute makes small research grants for energy infrastructure technology. We check in on what it’s been funding lately.

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Deep Dive: Two of America’s Wealthiest Philanthropists Are Teaming Up to Protect the Oceans

Deep Dive: Two of America’s Wealthiest Philanthropists Are Teaming Up to Protect the Oceans

Ray Dalio and Michael Bloomberg are quite different mega-donors, but they have a big overlap in their interest in oceans. We take a look at their approaches, and their new partnership. 

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Children at Risk: Why a Corporate Funder Is Taking on Climate Change

Children at Risk: Why a Corporate Funder Is Taking on Climate Change

Recognizing that climate change threatens progress on the issue it cares about most—children in poverty—the Ikea Foundation has now pledged nearly $800 million to the cause. Where’s the money going?

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