Frequently Asked Questions

IS THERE A NEED FOR A FUND TO SUPPORT CLIMATE & GENDER JUSTICE IN THE US?

Yes! Women, people of color, and others on the frontlines of the climate crisis are among the most intense supporters of climate action and have a clear vision for responding to the climate emergency in ways that build a cleaner and more just society. Yet these champions of change are woefully under-resourced and often marginalized in the fight to avert climate chaos. They have consistently been asked to do more with less and have done game-changing work with shoestring funding in some of the most politically challenging states. Shifting philanthropy to better resource these leaders and organizations is a strategic imperative and an urgent priority. It’s time to add zeros — many zeros — to their funding levels.

WHERE WILL THE HIVE FUND FOCUS ITS RESOURCES?

More than 85 percent of our grant dollars have been awarded to groups based in the US South, where both pollution levels and emerging clean energy opportunities are high, while philanthropic funding levels are low. Hive Fund grants are awarded to constellations of groups using a range of tactics and strategies to tackle deep-rooted problems and promote proactive solutions within key geographies. We also provide funding for collaborative infrastructure across groups. Visit our grantmaking page for more information

WHY IS THE US SOUTH AN AREA OF FOCUS?

The Hive Fund’s Design Team chose the US South as the initial area of focus because women of color in the South are playing an important role in building political power to change the systems that allow excessive pollution. Texas and the Southeast account for nearly 40 percent of all US climate pollution, yet just 23 percent of regionally allocated climate funding went there in 2021, according to preliminary data from the Climate and Energy Funders group. The Hive Fund aims to exponentially increase philanthropic funding in the region to accelerate national and global climate momentum while also cleaning up intolerable levels of air and water pollution in communities of color.

WHAT TYPE OF WORK WILL THE FUND SUPPORT?

The Hive Fund makes multi-year general support grants for organizations driving progress toward our shared goals by building and wielding power:

People power: Securing reflective and responsive government and equitable climate and energy policies through community organizing and civic engagement.
Economic power: Redistributing leadership, ownership, and benefits of the renewable energy transition by developing alternative economic models and increasing access to public and private finance.
Cultural power: Expanding imaginations and building momentum for social change through narrative, arts and culture, and community connection.
Healing Justice and Holistic Security: Building power requires practices and tools that help leaders and organizations heal, transform, and be protected from the harmful effects of pollution and the historic and ongoing stress, trauma, and violence from white supremacy and misogyny.

WHERE DOES YOUR FUNDING COME FROM?

We’re excited to invite funding partners to join us as we invest in dynamic leaders and their organizations and lean into what it means to support frontline leaders, women leaders - especially women of color leaders, and young leaders in ways that affirm culture, foster collaboration, and support healing justice while resourcing day-to-day work.

The fund is open to receive funding from foundations and individual donors. All of our funders are listed on the Funders page of our website. Click here to learn about our values and fundraising principles.

The Windward Fund is the fiscal sponsor of the Hive Fund.

WHEN DOES THE HIVE FUND MAKE GRANTS AND HOW CAN I APPLY?

The Hive Fund typically makes two rounds of grants per year. We use a participatory grantmaking approach with advisors and grantees to co-create strategy and inform effective funding decisions. We do not have an open application process at this time.