The Energy Foundation’s mission is to secure a clean and equitable energy future to tackle the climate crisis.
Internally on staff development, culture shift, and on ensuring policies are equitable to ensure that EF's staff is diverse, multicultural, and thriving.
Externally on integrating an equity-oriented strategy in our programs, planning process and approach to partnering, and to increase equity-focused grant-making.
Creating a clean energy future that works for everyone requires we prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as values that inform and drive our work. It is the right thing to do. For example frontline, BIPOC, EJ communities are already disproportionately impacted by pollution and climate change. Their communities are hit first and worst by climate change’s impact.
Also, it is the smart thing to do. For example not only does diversity lead to better decision-making and more effective strategies, but racial inequality and other forms of inequalities are intertwined with our climate crisis. If we are to succeed at solving any of them, we must address all of them.
Our Energy Foundation Funders Portal, established in 2020 as a response to COVID; membership in a variety of funder affinity groups including Hispanics in Philanthropy, TFN, Mosaic, Association of Black Foundation Executives, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy, and Native Americans in Philanthropy; our management of two pooled funds: the Equitable Building Electrification Fund for Frontline Communities and the Affordable, Equitable, Emissions-free Transportation Fund; our historical leadership role in the Energy Efficiency for All (EEFA) coalition.