Climate & Environment
We envision a world of sustainable communities living in balance with the earth and liberated from the inter-generational harm of structural racism and economic inequality. To achieve this, LGF employs multiple strategies and typically invests in grassroots organizations engaged in direct service, organizing, advocacy, and/or culture change work. We prioritize support for solutions that are led by and center Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE SOUTH
There is still a path forward that will avoid the worst climate impacts, but we must act now. To achieve the speed and scale needed to prevent widespread harm, we must fortify the work of frontline organizations and visionary leaders in the South. These groups are leading the way on promoting equitable solutions, building power, and improving the quality of life for people and communities who have been most harmed by systems of oppression that enable and sustain white supremacy and make pollution profitable.
To avoid catastrophic climate impacts, we have 10 years to cut emissions in half and get worldwide emissions on a pathway to net zero by 2050. Regional greenhouse gas emissions in the South make up ~18% of all US emissions making it a vital part of emissions reductions puzzle. Yet, the South lags behind in climate action funding, making it even more urgent that we focus strong, ongoing investments here.
CURRENT GRANTEES
educates, engages, and empowers communities and uses a variety of programs and strategies to advance real social change in Southwest Georgia and beyond. In 2022, LGF awarded Southwest Georgia Project a 2-year grant for general operating support.
a team of organizations who believe in the power of community and taking action. Their goal is to equip fellow Louisianians with the knowledge and information they need to find their voice, and learn where and when to use it. In 2022, LGF awarded The Power Coalition a 3-year grant for general operating support.
(REACH) seeks to address potential health effects from living close to industrial agricultural facilities, which are greatly affected by climate change and environmental factors.These factors cause problems stemming from mental and emotional oppression, economic inadequacies, unemployment, educational needs, and limited youth services. REACH supports the community to learn about climate change and the environmental impacts of hurricanes. In 2022, LGF awarded REACH a 3-year grant
a non-partisan statewide grassroots organization dedicated to challenging injustice by empowering people in local communities to address issues that affect the quality of their lives. Virginia Organizing especially encourages the participation of those who have traditionally had little or no voice in our society. By building relationships with individuals and groups throughout the state, Virginia Organizing strives to get them to work together, democratically and non-violently, for change.
non-profit association of Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives from all across the South. The organization's mission is to be a catalyst for the development of self-supporting communities via cooperative economic development, land retention and advocacy. The Federation envisions sustainable rural communities that are supported by a network of farmers, landowners, and cooperatives and credit unions
brings people together to protect the land, air, and water of Central and Southern Appalachia and advance a just transition to a generative and equitable clean energy economy. Appalachian Voices equips the communities they serve with resources to build and sustain successful grassroots campaigns that reduce the impacts of fossil fuels and advance inclusive climate and clean energy solutions. In 2022, LGF awarded Appalachian Voices a 3-year grant for general operating support.
(BFLT), a niche land trust based in North Carolina, is one of the nation’s only conservation land trusts dedicated to the preservation and protection of African-American and other historically underserved landowners assets. BFLT believes that land should be a performing asset for current and future generations. In 2022, LGF awarded a BFLT a 3-year grant for general operating support.
(GulfSouth4GND) initiative is a regional formation of more than 200 organizations advancing long-existing work towards climate, racial, and economic justice across the Gulf South. Rooted in bottom-up organizing and driven by frontline leadership, GulfSouth4GND moves together on policy, regional action campaigns, and strategic communications. In 2022, LGF awarded the GCCLP GulfSouth4GND initiative a 3-year grant for general operating support.
believes that community power is the key driver of just and equitable development. As a funder collaborative, Amplify Fund supports Black, Indigenous, people of color and low-income communities to build power and to influence decision about the places they live and work. Amplify centers racial justice and believes in following the wisdom and guidance of local leaders. In 2022, Laughing Gull Foundation (LGF) awarded Amplify Fund a 3-year grant to support BIPOC and low-income communities.
(RTHC) serves a critical role in raising attention to tribal culture and natural resource concerns that are routinely ignored by project developers and to strengthen and amplify the Native voice, which is often unnoticed by mainstream environmental organizations and media. The mission of the RTHC is to support indigenous peoples' self-determination in the 21st century and in so doing recognize their commitment to the integrity of the natural and animal world.
(SCEN) facilitates strategic coordination and equitable resource generation to amplify and build power with members. SCEN believes that local organizations are best positioned to bring about equitable and sustainable energy systems across the Southeast when sharing a common vision and collaborating with a broad range of partners. In 2021, LGF awarded SCEN a 3-year grant for general operating support.
(BEA) envisions a future in which grassroots groups lead and inform environmental movements. BEA’s mission is to foster authentic cross-sector relationships to advance the progress of the environmental movement towards a just transition. BEA shifts power and resources from institutions to grassroots leadership to transform the environmental movement. In 2021, LGF awarded BEA a 3-year grant for grantmaking to environmental justice groups in the Southeast.
has a mission of protecting heirs' property and promoting the sustainable use of land to provide increased economic benefit to historically underserved families to build wealth through education, legal services and forestry technical assistance. These services help low-income landowners protect, build, and maintain land, which ultimately helps improve economic conditions and transforms communities. In 2021, LGF awarded the Center a 3-year grant for general operating support.
(PSE) advances policies and institutional actions that promote racial equity and shared prosperity for all in the growth of metropolitan Atlanta and the American South. PSE's Just Energy program represents an equity ecosystem of frontline communities, subject-matter experts, houses of worship, youth movements, and academia organizing together to engage marginalized communities and communities of color about the sourcing and commodification of power generation in Georgia.
(GCVEF) fights to protect the air, water, and land. GCVEF envisions a future where Georgians place a high priority on building a sustainable and resilient state. GCVEF's mission is to mobilize Georgians to advance climate and environmental justice through education, advocacy, and other forms of civic engagement. In 2021, LGF awarded GCVEF a 3-year grant for general operating support.
(NCCJC) is a multi-racial, intergenerational movement ecosystem rooted in the communities who are first and worst impacted by climate and environmental harms. NCCJC centers their work in the leadership of youth, indigenous peoples, people of color, women, financially poor, and LGBTQI+ people to create strategic alignment. Using popular education and cultural organizing, NCCJC addresses the root causes of climate change and plants the seeds of a life-sustaining, regenerative society.
(LLPP) assists low-income individuals and families in North Carolina by providing direct legal representation, technical assistance, and education to protect their homes, land, farms, and rural livelihoods from loss or diminution and to foster agricultural entrepreneurship and a healthy food system. In 2021, LGF awarded LLPP a 3-year grant for general operating support.
SOWEGA Rising is a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Southwest Georgia, comprised of member citizens and organizations which support the organization’s mission. In 2022, SOWEGA Rising received a 2-year general operating grant.
OUR
FUNDING PRIORITIES
Funder collaborations for climate & clean energy advocacy
Supporting network development, capacity building, and field building so organizations can better connect with one another, educate and train their communities strengthen their organizational capacity and expand regional partnerships.
Power & transportation sector policy advocacy
Supporting efforts to promote and adopt transformational regional energy policies that push power and transportation sector emissions on a downward trajectory in the next ten years.
Community-based climate & clean energy advocacy
Investing in capacity-building and technical support so organizations can better engage in advocacy, and traditionally non-environmental organizations can broaden the reach and representation of regional climate and clean energy efforts.
Land conservation
Invest in protecting undeveloped or minimally developed natural land and returning over-developed land back to its natural state, centering Heirs Property and other BIPOC-owned land retention strategies.
OUR APPROACH
Relationships move at the speed of trust: our grantmaking focuses on developing authentic, not transactional relationships. Our approach focuses on:
FOCUSING ON REGIONAL CLIMATE EMISSION REDUCTION
We support the adoption of policies and practices that effectively lower emissions throughout the region and that center the health and quality of life for BIPOC and low-income communities.
PRIORITIZING EQUITY & COMMUNITIES
We acknowledge the disproportionate impact of climate change and focus our support for those who have been oppressed, faced historic injustices, and on lower income communities.
SEEKING POLICY CHANGE, GROUNDED IN COMMUNITY-LED ADVOCACY
We support policy advocacy to encourage adoption of emissions-reducing actions that improve public health and address the harm done to impacted BIPOC and low-income communities.
ALIGNING FUNDING PARTNERS TO STRENGTHEN CLIMATE & ENERGY NETWORKS
We collaborate with other funders and frontline leaders to increase funding access and support networks of organizations throughout the region.
INVESTING REGIONALLY IN THE SOUTH/SOUTHEAST
As a foundation rooted in the South, we are dedicated to addressing climate change and promoting climate justice led by BIPOC people in this region.
We are not currently accepting applications, but you may email a one-page introduction to introductions@laughinggull.org to share information about your work.