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Strengthening the Climate-Resilience Field by Supporting New Models and Approaches to Policy and Planning That Directly Benefit Low-Income Communities. (Concluded 2019)
In 2014, Kresge launched the CRUO initiative, a five-year, $29 million effort created to prioritize work led by advocates and organizers in urban communities facing disproportionate environmental burdens.
A cohort of 15 nonprofit organizations were awarded $660,000 multiyear implementation grants to execute work plans over three years. Each grantee work plan focused on influencing local and regional climate planning and policy development to better reflect the needs and priorities of low-income communities. In addition to the 15 place-based CRUO project sites, the initiative also provided funding to nonprofit organizations that have a strong focus on equity and social justice work that advances national field-building efforts to strengthen equitable climate approaches.
In designing and implementing the multiyear initiative, Kresge intentionally:
In 2019, the CRUO Evaluation was released, affirming the significant value that community-based organizations grounded in equity bring to climate change work. CRUO grantees achieved meaningful policy wins in their local communities, regions and at the state level. Collectively, they contributed to a shift in how climate change work is framed by expanding the range of issues recognized as relevant, and elevating the profile of equity within the field.
Senior Program Officer
Environment, Opportunity Fund
Managing Director
Environment
Principal, Strategy Shift, CRUO Initiative Consultant