Grassroots-Led Fund Prioritizes Climate Justice

The Grassroots-Led Fund for Frontline Power, a philanthropic initiative led by women and people of color, is revolutionizing climate funding by centering the needs of community organizations. It aims to ensure that resources are directed to those working on community solutions. The Grassroots-Led Fund, established in 2021, focuses on environmental justice organizations and empowers local leaders to make grant decisions. In its first round of grants, the Grassroots-Led Fund awarded over $5 million to 48 organizations, with a priority given to those with smaller budgets and fewer employees. The Red Willow Center, dedicated to reclaiming agricultural traditions, received a significant grant that will support general operating expenses and fair wages for employees.

This fund is part of a larger movement in climate philanthropy, challenging traditional top-down approaches and embracing solidarity philanthropy. By emphasizing grassroots and community-led initiatives, particularly those led by women of color, the fund aims to address the impacts of climate change from an intersectional perspective. However, despite the pressing need for funding, philanthropic dollars are still insufficient to meet the scale of demand in the fight against climate change.
Re-reported from the article originally published in The 19th News