Philanthropic Climate Resilience Roadmap
Philanthropic organizations can play a critical role in furthering climate resilience in 2025 and beyond, helping prevent the avoidable and manage the unpreventable in the era of climate change.
Amid increasing climate volatility, donors are uniquely positioned to make long-term investments in science-backed projects, programs, and organizations that are affected by federal funding shifts, ensuring continued progress in climate resilience.
For example, in January 2025, U.S. climate funders, including former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s namesake philanthropy, contributed to the U.S. portion of the U.N. climate body’s budget, helping fill a gap left by the country’s withdrawal from international climate cooperation.
Yet, opportunities to support climate resilience remain. According to a February 2025 report from the Milken Institute, less than 10 percent of global climate finance is directed to adaptation and resilience investment. Philanthropic support in these areas can strengthen communities, infrastructure and long-term cross-sectoral change.
Climate Resilience Consulting (CRC) has a strategic roadmap for scaling climate resilience through targeted philanthropic investments. We’ve identified hundreds of initiatives with clear project leads and objectives, utilizing science-based projections of future climate conditions rather than historical data. The essentials of this research, which we preformed for the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, is available here: https://www.climateresilienceconsulting.com/climate-adaptation-field-status
Here is a snapshot of 5 opportunities that are ready for funding:
American Society of Adaptation Professionals A peer-learning program supporting workforce training and professional development in the rapidly growing fields of climate resilience and climate adaptation.
A2 (Anthropocene Alliance) A grassroots leadership program providing scientific and technical guidance to community and frontline leaders in influencing government decisions related to flooding, toxic waste, wildfires, drought and heat.
Climigration Network Community-led relocation pilots for marginalized, rural, tribal, and BIPOC communities facing climate-driven displacement.
NOAA Strong proposals from coastal communities that did not receive funding despite the high need to increase resilience against rising sea levels, drought, and other climate change impacts.
EPA CCG Program High-quality, unfunded projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address legacy environmental justice issues nationwide.
Philanthropic investments in these initiatives can drive immediate impact and long-term resilience.
The Decision-Maker Worksheet: Advancing Climate Resilience Strategies is a tool you can download and use to guide your next steps for climate resilience investment. The worksheet was produced from work co-led with Susanne Moser, Ph.D.
Together, we can move beyond “bouncing back” to create adaptive, just, and thriving systems.