Lisa Curtis

Echoing Green announces the launch of the Signal Fund, a financial tool that provides capital to social innovators at critical growth stages. Signal launches with $15.6 million raised and prioritizes founders with overlooked potential for scalable social impact. Signal Fund aims to test a new set of financial mechanisms and model more broadly accessible investment vehicles that can help fuel transformational social change and innovation globally. It will disrupt the current funding landscape that is misaligned with the needs of social innovators. “In the current economic climate, fundraising for entrepreneurs has become increasingly difficult,” said Echoing Green President, Cheryl L. Dorsey. “Through Signal Fund, we are strengthening and de-risking a new pipeline of social innovators — ones that we believe will expand the set of leaders who are too often overlooked by mainstream philanthropy and financial institutions. This fund can help proven social innovators move past the proverbial valley of death that so many start-ups face, achieving organizational milestones recognizable to traditional investors without compromising impact.” #YesWeInnovate https://lnkd.in/dgfjDqAd

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What are your thoughts on the complexities of implementing renewable energy solutions in tribal communities? "Capacity development entails not only funding projects but also funding people, especially tribal energy champions, whose boots on the ground are essential for addressing inequities in energy distribution." ▶ Environmental injustices have left a legacy of skepticism towards large projects. ▶ Often, smaller-scale solutions like solar meet the community's needs without the complexities of larger projects. ▶ Essential needs, such as public health infrastructure often take precedence.

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The world will set a new climate finance goal at COP29. And developing nations need to be able to access that money without going into more debt. Angela Churie Kallhauge has some great insights on how to make climate finance fit the needs of vulnerable countries.  https://lnkd.in/ejsW2Rzn 

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Just catching up - great to speat at #ClimatePhilanthropy2030 organized by Alliance magazine on the intersection of climate finance and philanthropy, together with Elise Larkin from the The Rockefeller Foundation, Paula Ellinger from Fundación Avina, and Maryati Abdullah from Ford Foundation. I focused on how new forms of Private-Public-People-Partnerships (Quadruple Ps!) are growing rapidly in the climate finance space. Depending on the problem faced, the exact tool can vary. For example, if the barrier to investment is: -Risk, then some types of guarantee or first-loss capital can be useful to offer some cushion and change the risk-return profile to be suitable for commercial investors -Pipeline, then technical assistance funds or structuring grants can be helpful to build that pipeline which commercial investors are set up to assess -Revenue, then outcomes-based funding can be useful to help to provide top-ups for some of the benefits or costs that markets don't reward, for example jobs for a just transition The key, of course, is to pick the right tool for the problem!

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We can see 👀 that community-led collaborative funds are emerging as powerful tools for driving equity and justice. These funds 💵 unite diverse stakeholders around shared goals, pooling resources to address complex social challenges. By fostering collaboration among donors, nonprofits, and community leaders, collaborative funds amplify impact and drive meaningful change at scale 💬. Community-led collaborative funds prioritize equity and justice, channeling resources towards systemic solutions💡and underrepresented communities. 🌍 By bringing together a diverse array of perspectives and expertise, these funds amplify grassroots initiatives, promote inclusive decision-making, and dismantle barriers to opportunity. 🙌🏽 🙌🏾 🙌🏿 Through strategic investments in areas such as education, healthcare, and economic empowerment, community-led collaborative funds drive tangible progress towards a more just and equitable society. How can we leverage these funds to address systemic inequalities and advance social justice? 🌀 Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below! How do you envision community-led collaborative funds shaping the future of philanthropy? #collaboration #PhilanthropicAdvising

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Ambitious #climate goals are bringing #cities and counties face-to-face with a serious reality: the need for carbon dioxide removal in addition to #decarbonization. As some local governments start to look at carbon removal strategies, experts say the public sector entering the ring could help bring down the cost for everyone. My story for Smart Cities Dive:

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Removing forests to install solar panels is like.... ... well you should read this terrific article! EcoRestoration Alliance

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You can now read an excerpt from my book, *The Language of Climate Politics: Fossil-Fuel Propaganda and How to Fight It*, at The New Republic. Here's the gist. 👇 And my book offers powerful new ways to talk about the #ClimateCrisis that will help create transformative change. https://lnkd.in/dvuA--WG

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I spoke with Jade Sasser about her new book, “Climate Anxiety and the Kid Question,” which explores the complex intersection of climate change and reproductive decisions. We discussed the importance of diversifying the conversation around climate emotions, understanding climate anxiety as a collective experience, the challenges faced by climate-concerned parents, and cultural pressures around having children. Sasser emphasizes the power of inclusive dialogue and emotional resilience as we navigate this uncertain future together. Her insights provide much-needed perspective on one of the most profound questions of our time. Read our full interview through the link in comments. #ClimateAnxiety #ReproductiveJustice #HopeInAction

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Are you in NY in June: Join Us at #TheEconomistForum Will be in a panel having a conversation about "Feeding people and planet: the future of American food systems" See you soon! #TheEconomist #AltaMed #FoodAsMedicine #NewYork

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🎧 Rewriting the Playbook for Women’s Investing with Tessa Flippin Tessa Flippin and Julie uncover: • The challenges faced by diverse founders, including women and underrepresented groups, in accessing funding. • Investing in social impact funds to drive financial return and support sustainable practices. • The importance of diversity and inclusion in the entrepreneurial space. • The impact of women-led businesses on society and the environment. ⬇ Tag a colleague who is looking to invest in the near future ⬇ #boarddiversity #executivewomen #howwomenlead #howwomeninspire #howwomeninvest https://lnkd.in/e73BzPwc 

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🎧 Rewriting the Playbook for Women’s Investing with Tessa Flippin Tessa Flippin and Julie uncover: • The challenges faced by diverse founders, including women and underrepresented groups, in accessing funding. • Investing in social impact funds to drive financial return and support sustainable practices. • The importance of diversity and inclusion in the entrepreneurial space. • The impact of women-led businesses on society and the environment. ⬇ Tag a colleague who is looking to invest in the near future ⬇ #boarddiversity #executivewomen #howwomenlead #howwomeninspire #howwomeninvest https://lnkd.in/e73BzPwc  

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Whether in Africa, Brazil or the U.S. you’ve probably seen images of devastating flooding this week. And those are the kinds of images that come to mind when we think of climate change...disasters that upend lives in an instant. But climate change also has long-term impacts that are slowly reshaping our world. Things like biodiversity loss, rising sea levels and desertification. These are known as slow onset events. And @IPCC estimates that more people will be affected by slow onsets than extreme weather events in the long run. From loss of livelihoods to population displacement, these events impact us all. We must address them. And it’s going to take a lot of money. That’s where the new Loss and Damage Fund comes in. It was created to deliver the financing vulnerable nations need to address the climate crisis. And that includes slow onset events. But addressing widespread, long-term impacts isn’t as cut-and-dry as rebuilding after a hurricane. EDF and Pollination collaborated to explore the best options to provide financing and make sure every dollar delivers maximum impact. Here’s what they discovered and their recommendations for moving forward: https://lnkd.in/exx7Hh7Z

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Thank you Move LA for inviting me to speak on the Vision 2026: The Clean Air and Climate Health Initiative panel alongside many other prominent leaders who are working to support a zero-emission, clean future. It was an honor to share our Ports for People mission: to work together with local communities, allies and partners to transform ports from hotspots of fossil fuel pollution to thriving hubs of sustainable economic development and environmental protection. A ballot measure to raise a boatload🚢of money would help us advance our 2040 zero-emission Port goals🔌⚡and get our port-adjacent communities some much needed relief from toxic air pollution 😷. On a global level, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC)--the body of U.N. scientists focusing on climate change--warn in their latest Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) that global emissions need to be cut in half from 2019 levels by 2030, and must peak by 2025 to stay under a 1.5 degree Celsius climate warming scenario. Locally, the San Pedro Bay contributes to 1200 premature deaths each year in port-adjacent communities. The time is NOW to invest in a climate resilient future--our disproportionately impacted frontline communities can no longer afford to wait! I'm eager to continue working with community leaders and different stakeholders to ensure a clean, renewable energy transition of maritime shipping and goods movement operations is environmentally conscious and encompassing of the community voices 🌎.

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**Earth Day Storytelling: A Call to Action for San Francisco** 🌉🌱 "San Francisco can be a beacon for what’s possible when you prioritize sustainability and climate action." These are not just words; they are a commitment—a vision I shared with Adam Shanks of the San Francisco Examiner. They reflect my unwavering belief in the positive, transformative power that bold climate action holds for our city and the world. 💡🏙️ Storytelling remains one of our greatest tools in addressing climate change. It starts with listening and sharing our views with one another. Today, I want to applaud the editorial team and reporters of the San Francisco Examiner for their special edition dedicated to #EarthDay. They have intricately woven together the many challenges and opportunities presented by the climate crisis, showcasing the innovative solutions emerging in our city. 📰🔍 The articles in this edition cover the spectrum—from the advancements and obstacles in our city’s climate action journey to the dynamic climate tech sector and the health ramifications of climate change. 🌳🏘️ I urge you all to read these insightful articles and share their stories. Let them educate you, resonate with you, and inspire you and others to take action. 📘💬 This Earth Day, let's do more than just admire the beauty and fragility of our planet. Let's recognize the collective strength we have to protect and enhance it. 🌎✨ Together, let's continue to light the path for others by carrying a torch of awareness and action into a greener future. 🔥🚶‍♂️ 👉 https://lnkd.in/gVxDbRJh Jessica Wolfrom #climateaction #sanfrancisco #bayarea

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Six Myths About Hops, Earth Day Sustainability, and Market Shrinkage. That's the title of my most recent post over on Substack. You'll find it at the link below. Let me know what you think. #hops #craftbeer #sustainability #beer https://lnkd.in/g8VMmnQU

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