In March, EGA convened funders, movement leaders, and government officials at the 2023 Federal Policy Briefing to build cross-movement efforts for just resource distribution. At the Briefing, Mustafa Santiago Ali, Executive VP of the National Wildlife Federation, called this a time of “existential opportunities.”
Federal legislation and initiatives, including the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and upcoming Farm Bill, are investing billions in environmental infrastructure and innovation. Through various measures, trillions will directly and indirectly scale clean energy, environment and climate justice, as well as sustainable agriculture, and community health. Initiatives such as Justice40 and 30x30 are establishing pathways for implementation that require equity and community.
Environmental grantmakers are essential to ensuring that available dollars reach every region and locale equitably. This sector can collectively move needed resources to local communities, support regional implementation and facilitate development of community-determined guardrails for equity in local resource distribution. Through partnerships with the environmental movement, communities, and government, environmental philanthropy can further the protection of people and the planet.
EGA has compiled some timely resources from the Federal Policy Briefing to support you in developing effective partnership and strategy - access the full resource guide here. Keep reading for a summary of lessons learned at the Briefing and opportunities to advance our community beyond the 2023 Federal Policy Briefing.
Grantee opportunities (submit by 04/07 in advance of 4/14 deadline):
- Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program
- Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) Cooperative Agreement Program
A Look Back: How did we get to this opportune moment of billions in federal investments for communities and the environment?
A Just Resource Redistribution for the Energy Transition
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) invests $369 billion dollars in clean energy, environmental justice, and climate to put the US on a path of 40% emission reductions by 2030. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) includes an additional $62 billion in clean energy investments to DOE. These investments will fundamentally transform our energy system and can help us end our dependence on fossil fuels.
Esteemed leaders, Jade Begay, Jigar Shah, Peggy Shepard, and Erich Pica, joined us at the Briefing mainstage discussion, "Just Resource Redistribution for an Energy Transition." They shared recommendations on how funders can help clear the path for equitable distribution and support a community-led energy transition.
Left to right: Jigar Shah, Peggy Shepard, Erich Pica (moderator). Jade Begay joined virtually.
Key Takeaways
- Currently, over 75% of unelectrified homes in the US are located on Tribal lands. Indigenous people can benefit the most from clean energy investments, but lack access to information about funds. Philanthropy can help bridge the access gap by investing in Tribal-led and serving organizations delivering information to communities.
- A community-led energy transition can optimize projects to fit their unique needs. But many communities don’t have the technical expertise or capacity to independently achieve an energy transition. Resourcing grant writers and staff to meet federal reporting requirements can aid a community-led energy transition.
- The federal government is not planning to monitor the money flowing into states. States, cities, and towns will need to construct systems to monitor funding and distribution. Philanthropy is in a unique position to reinforce these systems, and facilitate relationship-building between communities, state and local actors to support the equitable distribution of funds. And resourcing networking, capacity, and movement building is crucial for sustaining future environmental wins.
GRANTEE RESOURCE: NDN Collective has developed a texting tool that communicates IRA, IIJA grants and RFIs for Tribes and disadvantaged communities. Text IRA4TRIBES to 50302 to receive more information.
HIGHLIGHT: Mindfulness is a tool that helps us practice moving through challenges, and create conditions for equity and peace.
Rev. angel Kyodo williams joined us virtually at the Briefing. She shared that the goal of activism is not to “win,” and that we must move past the “us vs. them” mentality. When we collaborate, “we can create conditions for people to come home” connected, thriving, and in peace.
The planet is our home. –Rev. angel Kyodo williams
Federal Opportunities for Rural Self Determination
The IRA, IIJA, and CHIPS act invests $62 billion combined in rural infrastructure and climate action. At the Briefing mainstaging discussion, "Rural Climate Action - Federal Opportunities for Rural Self Determination," Dr. Jasmine Jackson, John Boyd, Justin Maxson, and Traci Bruckner shared opportunities for philanthropy to align with rural America.
Left to right: Justin Maxson, John Boyd, Dr. Jasmine Jackson, Traci Bruckner
Key Takeaways
- Capacity building must come first for successful rural development. Rural communities lack the infrastructure to access existing resources, much less new money. Rural development policy must focus on rural self-determination, and invest in people to build skills to be strong, effective agents.
- Standing up race as a factor in the equitable distribution of federal resources. Farmers are at the forefront of the climate crisis in rural America. And, race is a major factor in determining which farmers receive funds. Recent federal investments are unlikely to reach Black farmers, unless race is accounted for in the deployment process. There must also be redress for Black farmers in the upcoming Farm Bill.
- USDA’s requirement for farmers to match funds is another barrier to resource access. Multi-year general funding from philanthropy can relieve some of the pressures of matching funds, but ultimately, the 2023 Farm Bill should eliminate the requirement. Funding to land-grant universities, internships, and fellowships also play an important role in sustaining small-scale, regenerative agriculture.
- Whether it’s the IRA, IIJA, or a future policy, agencies implement the law and oversee the deployment of funds. Philanthropy can resource advocacy efforts towards agencies to push for equity in the implementation process.
RESOURCES
- The Rural Democracy Initiative and Rural Climate Partnership are existing efforts providing funding and technical assistance to help communities build capacity.
- Dr. Jackson pointed to the 2021 Justice for Black Farmers Act as a reference to address the history of discriminatory practices against Black farmers and ranchers.
HIGHLIGHT: EGA Joy & Fellowship Space for Black, Indigenous, and all People of Color
Black, Indigenous, all People of Color gathered in joy and fellowship during a special reception at the Federal Policy Briefing. Interwoven with EGA’s commitment to end systemic racial harm is our commitment to nurture joy and celebration for all BIPOC.
Achieving the America the Beautiful Goals by 2030
Billions of dollars in the IRA and IIJA are being appropriated to advance conservation and restoration initiatives. At the Briefing, the America the Beautiful for All Coalition Co-Chairs, Nsedu Obot Witherspoon and Mark Magaña shared efforts advancing equity in the America the Beautiful Initiative and 30x30.
Twin goals of the coalition
- Conserve at least 30% of land, water, and ocean by 2030 to avoid massive species loss, secure just and equitable access to nature’s benefits, and prevent and repair the impacts of the climate crisis for all communities.
- Implement a Justice40 metric for the America the Beautiful Initiative to ensure at least 40% of investments are made in communities of color and frontline communities that have historically seen little to no investment in conservation and equitable access to nature.
Left to right: Nsedu Obot Witherspoon and Mark Magaña
RESOURCES
- The America the Beautiful for All Coalition recently launched their 2023 policy agenda. The Coalition invites EGA members to build power as a partner to advance a just vision of 30x30. Learn more about their workgroups.
- Learn about recent and upcoming conservation legislation in this one-pager of resources from US Rep. Raúl Grijalva, Chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Accountability on the Path Towards Justice
“Accountability needs to be tangible, and people should be able to touch, feel, and point to the changes happening.” –Mustafa Santiago Ali homes in on accountability during this once-in-a-generation investment in communities.
Left to Right: Arturo Garcia-Costas and Mustafa Santiago Ali
Key Takeaways
- Transparency and tracking of federal funding is key to ensuring dollars reach communities that need it most. Accountability measures look like state environmental justice scorecards, establishing state advisory committees like the federal WHEJAC, and creating opportunities for community leaders to set the criteria for accountability.
- Create onramps that support frontline leaders to effectively communicate success stories and challenges. Investing in storytelling tools are crucial for policy action that directly supports communities. These tools should elevate positive stories to shift harmful narratives.
RESOURCE: California Environmental Justice Alliance EJ Scorecard is an example of a scorecard created by local environmental justice organizations.
Strengthening Organizational Resilience and Equity
As we contend, strategize, and collaborate for just resource distribution, it’s time that we strengthen our organizations’ resilience and equity practice. This requires us to invest in people infrastructure, strive for racial equity, promote generative conflict, and engage in mindfulness which strengthens our capacities to meet challenges.
Maurice Mitchell, author of “Building Resilient Organizations,” closed out the 2023 Federal Policy Briefing in conversation with EGA President, Tamara Toles O’Laughlin.
Left to right: Maurice Mitchell and Tamara Toles O’Laughlin
Key Takeaways
- Expand our potential for growth by embracing a cultural shift towards generative conflict. Embracing “yes, and” and reframing “me vs. you” as “us vs. the problem” helps us identify and address the structural roots of conflict. Moving beyond interpersonal problems, and uniting in collaboration helps us build power to succeed.
- Organize the conditions that lead us towards our vision. The narratives that limit our vision are distractions. We create the conditions that can lead us to victory. Investing in people and the infrastructure to support generative conflict, joy, and rest will help us sustain the power to fulfill our vision.
- Building the bigger “we” by looking at the root causes. Celebrating our victories is important, and should also lead to renewed efforts that build a bigger “we.” Again, what are the root causes limiting our collaboration?
Access the resource guide from the Briefing here. The guide includes resources shared by funders, movement partners, Congressional and agency officials at the Briefing.
CALL FOR SESSIONS: EGA’s call for sessions for the 2023 Fall Retreat in Montgomery, AL is NOW OPEN through Wednesday, April 12th [Extended Deadline]! This is your opportunity to dive deeper in your collaborations with grantees and colleagues, and follow up on efforts from the Federal Policy Briefing. Click here to learn more and submit a proposal.
Thank you to the EGA community and our partners for attending the 2023 Federal Policy Briefing!