Environmental Grantmakers Association’s Post

Registration is now open for the 2024 EGA Fall Retreat! Environmental grantmakers are invited to join us this September 22-25, in Stevenson, Washington (45 minutes outside of Portland). At the 2024 Fall Retreat, we will gather to assess and respond to threats on #climate, #democracy, and #RacialEquity. We will rise to the demands of this moment and formulate robust strategies with peers for lasting impact. As we gather in the Pacific Northwest, we will honor and understand the work of sovereign nations in the region and consider new ways that philanthropy can support Indigeneity here and across the globe. We will continue efforts to dismantle racist systems and explore philanthropy’s role in empowering community-led environmental efforts with care. Learn more about the #EGAretreat and register today! ega.org/retreat24

Burnout remains a top concern for nonprofit leaders, and there are steps philanthropy can take to ensure the well-being of their grantees. EGA member, Jamie Allison, Executive Director of the Walter & Elise Haas Fund, shares reflections on the Center for Effective Philanthropy’s “State of Nonprofits” burnout report. The report found that Women of Color leaders of mid-sized nonprofits ($2M - $5M) have the most consistent burnout in the sector. Women of Color navigate deep biases and systemic obstacles, and have outsized responsibilities to best meet the needs of their communities, stakeholders, and team. Jamie outlines four steps that philanthropy can take to better support partners and organizations in their well-being. 💡 Invest directly in the well-being of BIPOC leaders. 💡 Create the conditions for better nonprofit job quality for the entire grantee organization 💡 Talk to your grantees about their compensation and benefits philosophy. 💡 When exiting, be transparent — and generous. Read more on how philanthropy can battle burnout with balance here: https://lnkd.in/eDfGhtmG #BIPOCMentalHealthMonth

💡From August 2019 to August 2023, EGA member, Casa Socio-Environmental Fund provided 264 grants through the Rapid Response Fund, totaling R$3,525,000.00 (US$700.000) donated directly to Brazilian human rights and environmental defenders. A recent report, “Rapid Response Funds—Lessons Learned from Supporting Human Rights and Environmental Defenders in Brazil—A Story of Collaboration, Learning, and Collective Resilience," is the latest resource that compiles lessons learned by the Fund from supporting defenders in Brazil. The report includes data on impacts and results, and articles from guest experts in the sector. 👉Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/e5HdqUy3 #ResourceShare

💡 EGA member William Penn Foundation launches a new approach to grantmaking that prioritizes a simplified process and opportunities for disinvested communities burdened by inequity and racial discrimination, climate action, regional needs, and more. The Foundation’s new process will include an open Request for Proposals (RFPs). The RFPs will be issued according to a published public schedule and will request ideas to address a specific objective in one of its funding areas. The Foundation has also significantly expanded its grantmaking from three to five program areas, providing a wider scope of opportunities. These areas cover arts and culture, children and families, environment and public space, democracy and civic initiatives, and workforce training and services. Read more about the William Penn Foundation’s new grantmaking process: https://lnkd.in/eFPQK45t

👉 A helpful rundown from Grist on the four Supreme Court rulings that restrict the ability of EPA and other federal agencies to implement and enforce #environmental and #climate policies. 💡 The outcomes of four key Supreme Court cases you should know: • Overturning Chevron deference in Relentless, Inc. v. Department of Commerce and Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo: The Chevron doctrine compelled federal courts to defer to federal agencies on how to interpret the laws they administer. It allowed agencies to issue regulations for environmental, health, and safety protections. The ruling to overturn Chevron restricts the authority of EPA and other agencies to limit air pollution, regulate toxic substances, implement climate policies, and much more. • Ended the six-year statute of limitations on challenging federal regulations: Corner Post v. Board of Governors ruled that federal regulations can be challenged no matter their age. Removing the six-year statute of limitations on federal regulations threatens long-standing and future environmental protections by making agencies even more susceptible to lawsuits. • Paused EPA’s “Good Neighbor” Rule in Ohio v. EPA: The “Good Neighbor” provision of the Clean Air Act grants EPA the authority to limit smokestack emissions from power plants and industries affecting downwind states. The Supreme Court put a pause on the rule pending the outcomes of similar cases in lower courts. “The ruling suggests that in the future, any federal regulations, even those issued under clear legal authority, could face similar attacks.“ • Right to jury trials for civil penalties in SEC v. Jarkesy: The ruling now grants the right to jury trials for SEC civil penalties, a move that will impact the ability of dozens of federal agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and EPA, to enforce regulations and impose fines. The implications of these rulings reach far beyond the environment. Restricting the power of federal agencies to implement and enforce regulations endangers people, ecosystems, public health and safety, and more. https://lnkd.in/gfMprVHM #HealthyDemocracyForAHealthyPlanet