Photo: Groundwork NOLA participants
The Greater New Orleans Foundation is celebrating the Climate Action Equity Project’s (CAEP) distribution of $53,000 in grants to organizations working towards equitable climate action.
The Climate Action Equity Project is collaboratively led by the Greater New Orleans Foundation, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, and City of New Orleans’ Office of Resilience and Sustainability, and is supported by a 10-member Advisory Group comprised of grassroots community leaders and subject-matter advocates from around the city. Grant recipients were selected by the Advisory Group through a participatory grantmaking process facilitated and supported by the Greater New Orleans Foundation. Participatory grantmaking gives decision-making power to the people most impacted and who will benefit most from the funds. Being a part of this participatory grantmaking process has me reflecting on my journey into grantmaking.
As a former Executive Director and long-time nonprofit leader, I had the opportunity to seek grant support from many different sources, but it wasn’t until I began my role at the Foundation that I truly started to understand the other side of grantmaking. Part science and part art, it’s not easy making these decisions! Participatory grantmaking enables more people to gain that knowledge and get a peek behind the curtain, while also shifting more decision-making power to the people most impacted by climate challenges.
“At the Foundation, we believe that everyone can be a philanthropist’, and participatory grantmaking allows individuals to participate in philanthropy in a larger capacity,” said Andy Kopplin, President & CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. “Beyond the act of awarding much-needed grant funds, participatory grantmaking enables more changemakers to think about how to best maximize our collective impact on the region’s most pressing challenges.”
The Greater New Orleans Foundation manages several participatory grantmaking processes, and each has its own unique components. For CAEP participatory grantmaking, the Advisory Group– with support from the Foundation– developed a set of criteria for awarding funds, designed an application process to appeal to organizations with limited grant fundraising experience, and then conducted outreach, supported potential applicants, and collaboratively managed the decision-making process. Throughout the process, it was gratifying to see Advisory Group members have many of the same “light bulb moments”– like understanding the importance of a thoughtfully-completed Form 990, realizing that providing shorter answers is generally better, the value of rooting decisions in clearly articulated criteria, and so many more –that I’ve experienced in recent years.
“It was enlightening to collaborate with my fellow Climate Action Equity Project Advisory Group members as we selected our six grantees,” said Dawn Hebert, President of the East New Orleans Neighborhood Advisory Council. “I loved knowing that our participation in this process would support numerous organizations as they positively affect our climate and address equity in climate action within our community.”
All the projects selected aligned with the priorities documented in CAEP’s report, “Taking Steps Together on Equity and Climate”, a report developed to modernize our energy use, improve transportation choices, reduce waste, and create a culture that supports workforce and small business opportunities in climate action. The expertise of the CAEP Advisory Group combined with the learning journey they went on through the participatory grantmaking process resulted in fantastic grant selections!
| Organization | Project | Summary | Amount |
| Common Ground Relief | Stay Ready Network | This funding will jump start the activities of the Stay Ready Network, cementing their intention of collaborating on sustainable practices in grassroots recovery efforts. This $10,000 represents a funding package that will support a “learn-by-doing” workshop to build one solar powered generator. | $10,000 |
| Familias Unidas en Accion | Semillas de Salud | “Semillas de Salud” is a comprehensive wellness initiative addressing critical health disparities and climate resilience in New Orleans’ diverse communities. The project integrates community gardening, nutrition education, and active lifestyle promotion to combat food insecurity, improve health outcomes, and build climate resilience. | $6,000 |
| Gumbo Garden at Xavier University of Louisiana | Gumbo Garden | Gumbo Garden is an initiative, staffed by volunteers within the Xavier community, that disseminates fresh food from the garden to residents in the Gert Town community. The grant will fund four key areas : general operations, including identifying a Garden Fellow to maintain the garden and coordinate activities; educational programming about healthy cooking, recycling, and composting, alongside community dialogue circles; sustainable energy projects, including solar generators and light posts; and advocacy and capacity building, covering community organizing, leadership development, policy, advocacy, and technology upgrades. | $10,000 |
| Hollygrove Neighbors Association | Hollygrove Neighborhood Composting Project | Funding will support the incentive program for residents participating in the neighborhood composting project, as well as stipends for students to do pickups and deliveries. The program will purchase two bicycles with wagons to transport waste to a garden property or to Schmelly’s for composting. The funding will also supply buckets for storage to engaged households and offset the cost of repairs and administrative fees for Hollygrove Neighbors Association. | $7,000 |
| People’s Housing + | Modernizing Energy Use for New Orleans’ Low-Income Homeowners | Funding will support the inclusion of energy efficiency components that are included in each PH+ developed home. This funding will ensure that all homes are built to Energy Star Version 2 standards. | $10,000 |
| Ride New Orleans | Bus Rapid Transit Community Engagement | This grant will support the creation and implementation of six focus groups to engage riders and learn more about their needs around the proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route. The grant will cover the cost of stipends for focus group participants, staff time to plan and lead focus groups, supplies, printed materials, and refreshments for focus group participants. | $10,000 |
Background on the Climate Action Equity Project
“Over the years, the Climate Action Equity Project has demonstrated the power of collaboration between the City of New Orleans, the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, and the Greater New Orleans Foundation, alongside our many dedicated partners,” said Greg Nichols, Deputy Chief Resilience Officer at the City of New Orleans. “Together, we have created meaningful opportunities to center equity in our climate actions, ensuring that our efforts resonate with and uplift the communities most impacted. As we continue to work towards our shared goal of net zero emissions by 2050, I am hopeful that these partnerships will grow stronger, deepening our collective commitment to a more sustainable and just future for all.”
The Climate Action Equity Project began in 2016, inspired by a shared recognition by the City of New Orleans, Deep South Center, and Greater New Orleans Foundation that there was a need for an equity lens in the City’s Resilient New Orleans Climate Action Strategy. This could only be achieved through in-depth community engagement and leadership.
In 2017, members of the Advisory Group were nominated and voted on by community leaders in their respective geographies and fields through an intensive process run by the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice. CAEP has benefited from the Advisory Group’s support for a community engagement process to develop Taking Steps Together on Equity and Climate Change, review of report drafts, implementation of recommendations, and now grantmaking decisions. Advisory Group members receive stipends for their time and expertise.
The Climate Action Equity Project Advisory Group is currently comprised of the following nine organizations representing various neighborhoods of New Orleans and subject matter experts from climate-related advocacy organizations.
- Algiers Economic Development Foundation
- Alliance for Affordable Energy
- East New Orleans Neighborhood Advisory Commission
- Gentilly Terrace and Gardens Improvement Association
- Hollygrove Neighbors Association
- Keep New Orleans Beautiful
- Ride New Orleans
- Sankofa Community Development Corporation
- Thrive New Orleans
Advisory Group members were eligible to apply for these grants and were recused from decision-making conversations regarding their applications.
The Climate Action Equity Project has been financially supported by the Greater New Orleans Foundation, The Funders’ Network Partners for Places Program, and the Surdna Foundation.