How Philanthropy For Climate can propel climate action in community foundations.

Introduction

This 90-minute webinar titled “How Philanthropy For Climate Can Propel Climate Action in Community Foundations” was jointly hosted by Philea and ECFI. Aimed at community foundations across Europe – particularly those yet to sign an existing Climate Commitment but interested in strategically framing their climate action – the event attracted around 30 participants. Attendees primarily represented community foundations and their support organizations, along with other types of organizations. The webinar was facilitated by Kathrin Dombrowski from ECFI and Karalyn Gardner, who manages Philea’s Climate Coalition. Philanthropy For Climate: Background and history In November 2019, 14 UK-based funders publicly committed to tackling climate change, calling on others to join their efforts. This initiative marked the launch of the UK Funder Commitment on Climate Change by the Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF) and the beginning of the Philanthropy For Climate movement.

The concept of a common framework to encourage all foundations – regardless of their primary mission – to integrate a climate perspective into their work quickly gained momentum across Europe. That same year, France and Spain established their national commitments under the leadership of the Coalition Française des Fondations pour le Climat (CffC) and the Asociación Española de Fundaciones (AEF), respectively. In 2020, the European Philanthropy Coalition for Climate (hosted by Philea) was created to advance and support this initiative across the continent.

By 2021, Canada and Italy had launched their national commitments, led by Philanthropic Foundations Canada (PFC) and Assifero. Recognizing the global scale of the climate crisis and the urgent need for action, the movement expanded further with the launch of the International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change during COP26 in Glasgow. This International Commitment was co-created by a WINGS Climate Task Force comprising over 40 foundation networks and philanthropy support organizations from 21 countries worldwide. Additional climate commitments were launched in Brazil and Poland in 2023.

Today, WINGS coordinates a global movement of over 800 signatories, while Philea’s Climate Coalition oversees and supports national commitments and foundation signatories in Europe. Since 2021, ECFI has closely collaborated with both WINGS and Philea to shape and support Philanthropy For Climate. ECFI served as a member of the WINGS Climate Task Force and represents the voice of community foundations on the Advisory Board of Philea’s Climate Coalition.

Community foundations play a vital role in the Philanthropy For Climate movement. There are over 50 community foundations among the 800 signatories worldwide, with most based in Italy, the UK, and Canada

The pillars of the International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change

The climate commitments are designed to provide an easy entry point into climate action for all foundations, regardless of their primary focus areas. Each commitment follows the same pillar structure as the International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change. Foundations are encouraged to view climate action as a crosscutting framework that influences all aspects of their organizational work.

This includes their own operations, the investment of their endowments as well as the work with their grantees and the design of their programmes.

The International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change encompasses the following seven pillars of climate action:

Education and learning We will ensure that our boards, investment committees, staff, volunteers and stakeholders are informed about the systemic causes, impacts and solutions of climate change, and the implications for our work.
Commitment of Resources Recognising the urgency of the situation, we will commit resources to accelerate work that addresses the root causes of climate change or adaptation to its impacts. If our governing document or other factors make it difficult to directly fund such work, we will find other ways to contribute, or consider how such barriers might be overcome.
Integration Within the design and implementation of our programmes, we will seek opportunities to contribute to a fair and lasting transition to a net zero world, and to support adaptation to climate change impacts, especially in the most affected communities.
Endowments and assets We will consider climate change in relation to the source and management of our operational and any endowed funds. We will seek to align our investment strategy and its implementation with a rapid and just transition to a net zero economy.
Operations We will take ambitious action to minimise the climate impact of our own operations, which may include for example travel, buildings and procurement.
Influencing and advocacy We will seek opportunities to work with others, to amplify the voices of frontline communities, and to encourage and support more ambitious action on climate change by our key stakeholders, partners and audiences; these may include businesses, local or national governments, multilateral organisations, donors and funders, individuals or civil society movements.
Transparency. We will collect and publish information annually on the actions we have taken
against the six pillars listed above to share our progress and identify areas for
improvement. We will continue to develop our practice, to collaborate, and to
learn from each other.

Panel discussion: Climate journey of community foundations in the UK and Poland

In a short moderated discussion, two panelists – Rob Williamson OBE DL, CEO of the Community Foundation serving Tyne & Wear and Northumberland (UK), and Zuza Komornicka, Head of Communications at Snow Mountain Community Foundation in Poland – shared their transformative experiences after signing the climate commitments and embarking on their climate action journeys.

Zuza began by recounting the devastation caused by recent floods in her community. This catastrophe not only underscored the urgency of climate action but also propelled her community foundation into organizing an effective crisis response. She credited her participation in the Active Philanthropy Climate & Philanthropy Learning Journey, as part of the ECFI scholarship program, for opening her eyes to the significant impact local initiatives can have on global challenges like the climate crisis.

The Snow Mountain Community Foundation also participated in the Global Challenges Local Solutions Programme offered by the Academy for Philanthropy in Poland. With this grant, they surveyed 50 teachers and 200 students to assess awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate issues.

The surprising finding was a pervasive sense of helplessness among respondents, who felt they had no influence over the climate crisis. Determined to change this mindset, the foundation developed educational publications for teachers on the SDGs and climate, organized an artistic competition for children, and hosted a conference for 30 community foundations in Poland to educate and inspire collective action on climate commitments.

Rob shared the journey of the Tyne & Wear Community Foundation, which serves a diverse region in the North East of England encompassing both urban and rural areas. As the largest community foundation in the UK by asset size and one of the oldest, the foundation felt a profound responsibility to lead on climate action. They signed the UK Funder Commitment on Climate Change in September 2022, seeing it both as a public declaration and an internal framework to guide their actions.

Although they previously managed a small environmental fund supporting various local initiatives, climate action wasn’t central to their mission. The pivotal moment came in early 2020 when their Board approved a new investment policy that integrated Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors alongside financial objectives. Recognizing that their substantial endowment would attract scrutiny, they wanted to make tangible progress on this policy before signing the Commitment. Rob emphasized that signing the Commitment was about committing to progress rather than having all the answers upfront.

He expressed satisfaction with the progress made in integrating climate considerations into the investment of their endowment. Their investment policy now aligns with the Paris Agreement, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050 and a 45% reduction by 2030. They are preparing to publish data on their progress. Additionally, they have released a new Vital Signs report that explores the interplay between the environment and issues like education, poverty, and employment. This approach helps donors see the relevance of environmental initiatives to their interests and encourages them to allocate more resources toward environmental issues. Rob noted that discussing the vulnerability of places and communities opens up opportunities to address the climate crisis with donors who may be primarily interested in other areas. Highlighting the potential of the net-zero agenda to create jobs and improve skills resonates in an area affected by poverty, lack of prosperity, and poor educational outcomes. By framing environmental issues within the context of local vulnerabilities and opportunities, they are engaging donors and stakeholders who might not have previously prioritized climate action.