How Do I Start?

Philanthropy has many options for improving health, equity, environmental, and other outcomes while addressing climate change.  Some funders invest directly in this intersectional work, like by supporting fieldwork and movement-building.  Others — focused on a specific issue, place or population — may address the climate, health, and equity implications for those priorities. 

Browse tips below for using this toolkit to learn about the landscape, explore your interests, and find hubs of information and activity that may be most relevant for you.  

Get a sense of the big picture   

• Read the introduction to climate, health, and equity philanthropy on the Overviews page.
• Scan findings of a 2019 survey of funders and nonprofits addressing climate, health, and equity issues from varied angles.  
• Watch a recording of a March 2020 webinar for funders, reporting on that 2019 survey.

Learn what other funders are supporting

• Read funder perspectives on “Why We’re Investing.” 
• Scan the list of Hubs of Funder Collaboration helping funders learn and work together. Read profiles of funder groups for insights about how they and their funder participants are addressing climate, health, and equity issues. 
• Explore the "Who's Doing What" resources, including lists of philanthropic and government funders. 
• Talk to peers in philanthropy.  Ask funder groups sponsoring this toolkit for suggestions of funders with whom to connect. 

 Learn about what nonprofits are doing 

• Read perspectives from nonprofit leaders of hubs of activity about “Why We’re Invested.” 
• Scan the list of Hubs of Nonprofit Collaboration to find groups supporting activity in various areas and regions. 
• Explore the fuller list of Nonprofits Addressing Climate, Health, and Equity. 
• Reach out to nonprofits to learn about their concerns, activities, and strategies.  

Consider what’s at stake and in play    

• For people.  Scan the overview of “Who’s Impacted” and resources by impact focus to learn about populations or communities highly impacted by climate change.  Consider  the threats they’re facing and the problem-solving or solutions they’re pursuing.

• For places.  Check Resources by Geographic Focus.   Look for assessments of how climate change is impacting your communities of focus, what’s incoming, and who will be most adversely impacted.  Talk with funders in your area,  philanthropy-supporting organizations, nonprofit hubs or local contacts about regional concerns and strategies. If you find gaps in information about regional threats, vulnerabilities, preparedness, and resilience strategies, that may be one potential starting point for grantmaking.  

• For issues.  See Resources by Issue Focus.  Talk with funders, staff of philanthropy-supporting organizations, and/or nonprofits sharing your issue interests about how they’re addressing climate, health, and equity concerns.  Be curious about active or potential alliances and multi-solving between your issue interests and others affected by climate change. 

• For advancing equity.  In exploring your climate, health, and equity interests, look for analysis that includes a racial lens in highlighting problems, options, capacities, or strategies.  Ask yourself and others:  who’s being most impacted?  What roles are they playing in problem-solving and solution strategies? Notice where analyses or dialogues are not yet considering impacts of racism, including impacted groups, or seeking out opportunities to advance racial equity.   Reach out to any of the toolkit partners if your foundation could use support in addressing racism and advancing racial equity.