Environment
How Progressive Farming Groups Are Pushing Biden and Congress
Organizations like Family Farm Defenders are looking to roll back Big Ag's growing dominance of U.S. and global food systems, calling for major reforms. What are they asking for? Read more
Mar 17, 2021
New Initiative Calls for 30% of Climate Funding to Back Justice Groups Led by People of Color
Environmental justice receives just 1.3% of all foundation giving to green groups. A new campaign hopes to raise that to 30% to transform the climate movement and fuel more wins. Read more
Feb 9, 2021
One Other Group Biden Owes: A New Class of Climate Donors
While climate-focused liberals have been giving to Democrats for years, climate donors emerged last year as a more distinctive and significant source of campaign cash. What does that mean for policy? Read more
Feb 4, 2021
Five Reasons Why Progressives Are (Still) Pushing Back Against Tom Vilsack's Return to USDA
Critics tried to block Vilsack's appointment as Ag Secretary before it happened. Now a coalition is making a last-ditch effort to block his confirmation, pressing senators to vote no. What's their beef? Read more
Feb 1, 2021
States and Cities are Poised to Remain Climate Battlegrounds
Under Trump, progressives had to go to cities and states for climate victories. While Washington is again leading on climate, climate activists still have a long to-do list at the state level. Read more
Jan 22, 2021
How the League of Conservation Voters Spent Its Money in 2020
The country's oldest and most powerful environmental electoral player spent over $50 million to elect Democrats. Where did the money go, and with what impact? We take a look. Read more
Jan 14, 2021
How NextGen's Political Spending Has Changed Over Time
The Tom Steyer–funded climate group was once focused on attack ads but has spent the last few years leaning into its voter turnout operations—with a strong return on that strategy in 2020. Read more
Jan 13, 2021
Democrats Have a Secret Weapon to Roll Back Trump Rules. Should They Use It?
The rarely used Congressional Review Act could potentially unravel some of the Trump administration’s most harmful rules. But a key legal expert is cautioning Democrats about invoking the law. Read more
Jan 12, 2021
Wall Street Greens: The Top Givers to Environmental Causes from Finance
Leading philanthropists from finance have given more than $2 billion to environmental causes in recent years, transforming this funding landscape. We analyze the giving of these donors, looking at who’s giving to which organizations. Read more
Jan 11, 2021
What the National Farmers Union Can Teach the Democratic Party
Rural America is tough territory for Democrats. Here's what they can learn from the National Farmers Union and its efforts to advocate for progressive farm policies. Read more
Dec 29, 2020
Santa Monica is Fighting Climate Change, One Ambitious Goal at a Time
A city long on the vanguard of progressive change is an example of what small municipalities can do to reduce carbon emissions and better prepare for the effects of climate change. Read more
Dec 24, 2020
Why Biden's Secretary of Agriculture Pick is so Disappointing to Progressives
Because Tom Vilsack led the USDA under Obama, advocates for small farmers and rural communities have a good sense of what kind of ag secretary he's likely to be. Many don't like what they see. Read more
Dec 15, 2020
Dept. of Fine Print: How the Center for Progressive Reform Works for Change
Largely unknown outside the Beltway, this nonprofit has a small budget and staff. But it packs a legal wallop where it matters most—the regulatory process. We get a peek inside. Read more
Dec 13, 2020
The Quiet Battle Over Biden’s Secretary of Agriculture Pick
Progressive groups have come out in opposition of Biden’s rumored Ag pick and have offered a different choice for leading the USDA. Will Biden listen? Read more
Dec 1, 2020
This Group of Researchers is Asking Congress to Rethink Our Food System
The organization's scientists have been studying the effects of climate change and soil resiliency on farming for a long time. Read more
Nov 15, 2020
"Get to Know Barbara." Inside the JPB Foundation
In under a decade, Barbara Picower has worked under the radar to build the $4 billion JPB Foundation into a heavy hitter in philanthropy that’s forged its own unique path on poverty, the environment and other issues. How has she done it? Read more
Nov 14, 2020
Feisty Law Firm Outwits Energy Giants
The Atlantic Coast Pipeline seemed unstoppable when Duke and Dominion Energy proposed it in 2014. Six years later, the pipeline is dead, killed by environmental lawyers and grassroots advocacy. Can their experience teach others? Read more
Nov 12, 2020
Will Mike Bloomberg Stand in the Way of a Green New Deal?
Mike Bloomberg wants bold climate action, but could his moderate politics stand in the way of a Green New Deal? Read more
Nov 7, 2020
Silicon Valley Greens: Here Are the Top Environmental Givers From Tech
The environment is among the many areas where tech philanthropists have emerged as a greater force in recent years, bankrolling existing green groups, but also creating some new organizations. Who’s doing what? Read more
Oct 17, 2020
The Power of the Hive: New Climate Fund Centers Southern Women of Color
A new funding effort aims to unite gender and climate justice movements in the South, a region that philanthropy often overlooks. Women of color are the driving force behind this initiative, which just released its first grants. Read more
Jul 4, 2020