Designing Justice40: A How-To Series on Philanthropy’s Role in Ensuring Equitable Implementation of Federal Investments (Session 1)

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The Biden Administration’s Justice40 Initiative states that 40 percent of certain federal investment benefits should flow to communities that are marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution. Funders have been asking how to put these goals into practice in real and tangible ways.

How can philanthropy help ensure that the federal investments tied to this initiative, notably infrastructure and climate resiliency dollars, effectively and equitably impact communities across the country?  What specific and immediate strategies can be utilized and funded to not only shape near-term dollars but to institutionalize a Justice40 ethos that will shape public investments for generations to come?

Join The Funders Network on Sept. 28 and Oct. 17 for this two-part series to learn from funders and community-based leaders about practical steps for advancing specific strategies that support equitable implementation of federal spending, such as the American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other climate-related investments that center equity, resilience, and community-developed solutions.

This webinar series is co-sponsored by the Health and Environmental Funders Network, and the Council of Michigan Foundations. This is a funder-only webinar series. Please contact Kerry Hastings at kerry@fundersnetwork.org with any questions.

→ Register HERE

Session 1

Wednesday, Sept. 28
2:00-3:15 p.m. ET

In this session, we will home in on the bread and butter of philanthropic investment for equitable implementation: building the capacity for NGOs and community-led organizations to both influence and leverage federal investments.

In addition to affirming the need for multi-year, unrestricted funding to frontline groups, we will explore the different ways that funders are supporting groups working on the ground, including through capacity-building intermediaries and organizations that facilitate the development of community-driven funding applications.

We will hear technical assistance providers and community-based partners that have benefited from this support and are now positioned to compete for these new funding streams. You will also hear how funders have leveraged national and regional intermediaries to support their place-based grantees.

Speakers: 

(In order from left to right):

Susana de Anda, Executive Director, Community Water Center and member of the Water Equity and Climate Resilience Caucus

Calandra Jones, Eco-D Coordinator, EcoWorks Detroit

Nathaniel Smith, Founder and Chief Equity Officer, Partnership for Southern Equity, an anchor organization for the Justice40 Accelerator

Emily Warren, Director, Land Conservation and Water Programs, Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation (Moderator) 

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Session 2

Monday, Oct. 17
1:00-2:15 p.m. ET

Given the central role that governments play in distributing federal infrastructure and climate resiliency funds, our second session will dive into how philanthropy can support and partner with government at the state and local levels to direct funding to impacted communities.

We will discuss what it looks like to create positive, working partnerships with state and local governments that have shared goals and clear accountability, and will look at some of the pitfalls in funding government ⁠— whether directly or indirectly ⁠— including navigating the tensions that exist between advocacy grantees, frontline communities and government leaders.

The session will highlight ways that philanthropy supports collaborative work with community, residents and local government to jointly advocate for and advance equitable recovery, including investing in capacity-building of small, under-resourced municipalities to access federal infrastructure funds that align with the White House Justice40 directive.

Speakers:

(In order from left to right):

Regina Bell, Director of Government Relations and Public Policy, Council of Michigan Foundations

Katy Hansen, Deputy Director of Water, Environmental Policy Innovation Center

Lisa Jacobson, Senior Program Officer, Barr Foundation (Moderator) 

→ Register HERE