128 Collective
OVERVIEW: The 128 Collective supports policy and movement building for equitable clean energy transition.
IP TAKE: A major climate donor, the 128 Collective conducts all of its grantmaking through a climate lens and prioritizes “democratic public control” of the clean energy transition. This low-key funder is “not afraid to be a first funder on strategies we find compelling.” However, the 128 Collective does not accept unsolicited proposals or provide a way to get in touch. Network with past grantees to get on this progressive funder’s radar.
PROFILE: Established in 2018, 128 Collective is a progressive climate funder that seeks to “to create a society that redirects capital to build healthier ecosystems and flourishing human communities.” It was founded by veteran climate change philanthropists Theresa and Tom Preston-Warner, who are signatories of the Giving Pledge. The foundation is a component of the couple’s Preston-Warner Ventures.
This funder names two main approaches to its environmental giving:
- To “increase the speed of the energy transition through interventions that place climate assets and decisions under greater democratic public control” and
- To “create more favorable political and economic conditions for a rapid transition.”
Grants for Climate Change and Clean Energy
The 128 Collective’s giving targets “high-leverage, upstream, and under-resourced strategies.” The collective names six strategy areas.
- 128 supports campaigns that publicize and support policy to accelerate transition. A significant portion of this work appears to be conducted at the state or regional level, with grants gong to organizations like the Southern Workers Assembly, Public Power NY and the Port Arthur Community Action Network in Texas.
- The collective provides vital support to labor-climate organizing to leverage the influence and reach of organized labor to impact “climate-critical industries” and climate policy. Grantees include the Green Workers Alliance and the Labor Network for Sustainability.
- The state and local politics area makes grants to advocacy efforts for local candidates and policies supportive of the climate agenda, including efforts for public sector control and oversight on industries with climate impact. Grantees include Lead Locally and Climate Cabinet.
- Youth-led organizing grants support youth-led or youth-centered groups and aim to provide young people with resources to “confront entrenched interests, drive clean energy at speed and scale, and build the just transition.” Grants have supported the African Climate Alliance, Treeage an the Alliance for Youth Organizing.
- Giving for federal politics seeks to build power and motivation for large-scale change through grassroots and community groups. This work also emphasizes economic equity and democratization of climate assets and decision-making. Grant recipients include People’s Action, the Working Families Party and the Social Good Fund.
- The collective also supports climate change action globally via its global political economy grantmaking, which focuses on “increasing the power of internationalist climate demands” through international collaborations, harnessing global energy markets and addressing “systemic issues of global inequality.” Grantees include Justice Is Global, McMaster University and the Global Fund for Women.
Important Grant Details:
Grants range from $3,800 to $1 million.
- While this funder supports organizations of all sizes, its climate giving mostly supports policy, advocacy, organizing and political work.
- Giving is national in scope, with a smaller proportion of grants supporting U.S. climate organizations that work internationally.
- This funder does not accept applications for funding at this time.
- For additional information about past giving, see the What We Fund section of its webpage or look at past tax filings .
128 does not provide a clear way to get in touch. Its phone number is listed as (650) 804-7100.
PEOPLE:
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LINK:
CONTACT:
128 Collective
314 Lytton Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94301-1430
650-804-7100
