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Environment

Initiative

Community Development Climate Finance Ecosystem

We work to strengthen community-focused co-developers of climate-beneficial projects – and the financing intermediaries and technical assistance providers working with them – to ensure communities of color and low-wealth communities have equitable access to public and private capital to deploy renewable energy and address climate challenges.

Through our Field Building focus area, we prioritize supporting and strengthening leaders and organizations whose work is critical to addressing climate change while advancing racial and economic justice.

Objectives:

Provide support for capacity-building technical assistance, peer learning, and network development to build out the ecosystem.
Deploy loans, equity investments, guarantees, and grants for entities building out a new model or scaling an intervention.

How We Work:

We deploy a blend of grants, social investments, and market-rate investments to achieve these outcomes.

Featured News

A quote card with the photo, name and title of Kresge Portfolio Manager and Social Investment Officer Joe Evans and the quote: "The [community development climate-finance sector] must aim its energy, its focus, and its technical assistance dollars on project readiness at the community level to ensure the capital, tax credits, and new systems all land and grow in communities of color and communities with low wealth—communities largely left out of the transition to a cleaner future so far.”

News

Kresge doubles down on support for climate finance ecosystem with new tranche of investments

April 22, 2024

Community Development Climate Finance Ecosystem News & Views

Quote card with the photo, name and title of Laurie Mazur, Editor, Island Press, and the quote: "Federal funding must adapt to the realities of engaging with under-resourced communities. That means allowing grant funds to be used for stipends, food, childcare, and other efforts to boost community participation."

Commentary

Justice40: Getting federal funds for climate investments to communities that need it most

September 4, 2024

A graphic with text and a photo: Congratualtions! Shamar Bibbins, Managing Director Environment Program (Effective Sept. 30)

News

National climate leader Shamar A. Bibbins promoted to managing director of Kresge’s Environment Program

June 17, 2024

A graphic with text and photo of: Congratulations on your retirement and thank you! Lois DeBacker, Managing Director, Environment Program

News

National climate funder Lois DeBacker to retire after 33 years in environmental philanthropy

June 3, 2024

Quote card: “At Kresge, we imagine a future where everyone is protected from the short- and long-term effects of climate change because their communities have proactively transitioned to renewable energy, prepared for climate change impacts, and done so by elevating equity as a critical priority. We view climate change as a threat to opportunity, particularly for people of low wealth and people of color." - Lois DeBacker, Managing Director, Environment Program

Feature Story

Looking back: The evolution of Kresge’s environmental funding

May 15, 2024

Community Development Climate Finance Ecosystem Team

Jessica E. Boehland

Senior Program Officer

Environment

Joe Evans

Portfolio Director and Social Investment Officer

Environment, Social Investment Practice

Krista A. Jahnke

Communications Manager

Communications Officer Kaniqua Welch

Kaniqua Welch

Communications Officer

American Cities, Human Services

Shamar Bibbins

Managing Director

Environment

Jill A. Johnson

Program Team Assistant

Environment

Yeou-Rong Jih

Program Officer

Environment