Funding Partnerships
Justice-focused work is very complicated. The universe of philanthropic institutions working on decarbonization and environmental justice is very small. Dominant philanthropic orientation and practices have not resourced frontline communities and leaders to lead the way on decarbonization strategies.
Philanthropic approaches to reducing emissions from the built environment have largely ignored a big lever, and that is relationships with, and leadership from, community groups. Collectrify is designed to avoid imposing an agenda on community priorities, and to instead respond to the self-determined priorities elevated by community practitioners and justice leaders. New philanthropic models are needed to solve systemic challenges. Collectrify leads with a core intent of trusting in what frontline partners will focus on now to achieve effective community-based decarbonization strategies over the long-term.
Collectrify supports community-based leaders of climate action, energy transitions, and safe, resilient housing. Collectrify is leading by example in how philanthropy can show up in partnership with, and in service to, the community.
We are grateful for the leadership from Collectrify’s founding philanthropic partners - the Kresge Foundation, the Heising-Simons Foundation, and the Summit Foundation - for thought partnership and collaboration on the development of Collectrify and our Learning Community Collaboratory.
Our Funding Approach
Our funding approach leverages strategic investments to support and elevate leadership from limited-wealth communities in the building electrification movement while addressing interconnected social and climate justice priorities.
-
Build on success. We fund diverse, community-driven solutions that advance building decarbonization—from clean energy jobs and workforce development to leadership and policy innovation to neighborhood-scale energy efficiency and electrification retrofits.
-
Prioritize community leadership. Our grantmaking targets environmental justice communities, ensuring no one is left behind in the transition to equitable electrification.
-
Grow the movement. We align with social and racial justice efforts, connecting with frontline movements for safe affordable housing, tenant rights, and bold climate action.
Purpose of Funding
Our funding model is designed to support innovative projects that not only decarbonize housing but also provide resources that empower communities to lead their own solutions. By addressing these critical areas simultaneously, we ensure that the transition to renewable energy addresses systemic inequities and centers the leadership of our most vulnerable community members while advancing broader climate goals.
Racial, economic & environmental justice
We empower frontline organizations in low-income communities and communities of color to lead the building electrification movement. We resource the self-determination and leadership development within communities so they can meaningfully shape the policies and solutions that impact them most.
Safe & healthy housing
We improve the health and safety of people’s homes through our focus on building decarbonization. The combustion of fossil fuels for heating, cooling, and cooking emits pollutants that can pose significant health risks and exacerbate existing health issues. These risks are particularly severe in limited-wealth and environmental justice communities, which often already experience substandard housing and additional environmental hazards.
Climate action & community resilience
We accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to electricity in the hardest-hit communities that face the greatest barriers to implementation. The climate crisis, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, is a defining issue of our time. To meaningfully address this crisis, we must transition off of fossil fuels and electrify all residential buildings with clean, renewable electricity. By focusing our resources on these three interconnected focus areas, we are actively centering frontline and limited-wealth communities in building decarbonization efforts, closing the implementation gap and securing equitable benefits for all.