Building a Just Culture in the Environmental Movement: How Funders Can Invest in the Health and Safety of Environmental Leaders

Advocates on the frontlines of the climate and ecological crises often sacrifice their personal health and wealth to make a difference for people and planet. And those working in communities most impacted by environmental degradation bear the added burdens of racism, economic disinvestment, and political disenfranchisement. Philanthropy can sometimes incentivize an extractive culture that seeks to maximize outputs from grantees for the lowest cost and at the expense of the well-being of our strongest leaders. But funders can play a critical role in promoting a “Just Culture” where all nonprofit workers have access to fair compensation and benefits, shared decision making, professional growth, and a healthy and affirming environment. Many foundations and community organizations are doing similar work using terms such as culture of care or promoting healing justice.

Join this webinar hosted by the Health and Environmental Funders Network (HEFN) and co-sponsored by Neighborhood Funders Group (NFG) to meet the supporters and authors of a new report, Building a Just Culture for All. The Franciscan Sisters of Mary, a member of NFG, created this report to understand how they and other funders can better support frontline community, environmental justice, and environmental nonprofits in maintaining healthy and supportive workplace environments.

Speakers will discuss the heavy costs imposed on climate and environmental justice leaders, the motivations that keep them going, what is needed to better support them, and some funders and organizations leading the way in investing in the well-being of movement leaders.

Speakers:

• Salena Burch, Solidarity Economy St. Louis
• Helen Chin, Surdna Foundation
• Anna Loizeaux, The JPB Foundation
• Jumana Vasi, Midwest Environmental Justice Network

Photo by Daria Nepriakhina on Unsplash