The Just Returns Project
clean investments · real climate impact
Overview
Human-caused climate change remains the defining crisis of our time, and the call for bold philanthropic action for climate is now more urgent than ever. We know that the most impacted communities are building Just Transitions to Regenerative Economies–now. We know they have replicable and scalable solutions, grounded in justice and sustainability, ready to meet the climate crisis–now. We know their solutions cool the planet, build resilience, and are ready for investment–now. So why has philanthropy not caught up?
Climate Justice Alliance (CJA), together with our partners National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) and the Tishman Environment and Design Center at The New School (TEDC), launched the Just Returns Project, a multi-tiered research process to answer that question and provide clear, actionable pathways for philanthropy to move the needle in this crisis decade.
Learn more about the project at New York Climate Week on September 26, 2024: RSVP here to attend, watch the livestream, or receive the recording.
Read the Just Returns Project
The Just Returns Project is a multi-tiered research process to answer that question and provide clear, actionable pathways for philanthropy to move the needle in this crisis decade.
September 2024: Put Your Money Where Your Mission Is: How to Make Your Investments Climate-Justice Aligned
This research brief, the first in the Just Returns series, is a snapshot of our investment alignment research prepared by NCRP. It focuses on 50 highly influential climate and environment funders in the United States and their stated missions, programs, and investments. What we found is not great–not for environmental and climate justice groups, not for philanthropy, and certainly not for our shared future on Earth. For starters, we found from the perspective of accounting alone that most foundations’ investments practices undermine their grantmaking power and the ability of their grantees to make real and lasting change. They get less bang for their buck – all because of the ways they invest and lock up their endowments.
Put Your Money Where Your Mission Is: How to Make Your Grantmaking Practices Climate-Justice Aligned
(expected Spring 2025)
Voicing the Power of Grassroots Climate Solutions: Perspectives on the Impact & Scale of Community-Led Action
(expected Late Fall/Winter 2025)
Learn More about Reinvest in Our Power and ways the Climate Justice Alliance is building the regenerative economy.
