BEF and its inequitable distribution of resources has in many ways destabilized the work of frontline organizations to advocate for solutions and funding that center on and resource the communities most impacted by the extractive economy. Based on the first round and giving to date, the majority of Bezos’ funding has gone to mostly white-led big green groups that are using billionaire and philanthropic wealth accumulated on the backs of workers and EJ communities to shape the climate agenda without input – let alone leadership – from the communities most affected by the climate crisis.
The CJ movement has been working to disrupt this power imbalance for decades, work that has now been largely undone by one huge funder coming in and setting a path for other billionaires to follow. Big greens are utilizing additional power from billionaire philanthropy to advance solutions rooted in carbon fundamentalism rather than systemic change and are well-positioned to pull down significant federal funds, which will further leave BIPOC and impacted communities behind. And political leaders, the federal policy process and federal agencies are now following the patterns of billionaire philanthropy and big
While it’s hard to identify the chicken or the egg, top-down and market-based solutions are now being subsidized and promoted in federal policy, keeping the same systems and power structures in place. Grassroots partners are being used across the board as implementers of others’ agendas rather than recognized and resources as the leaders and creators of strategy, solutions, and infrastructure development that contribute to this mainstream moment for climate equity and justice.
These sectoral parallels mean big greens, billionaires, and state and federal governments are piggy backing off each other’s analyses and doubling down on failed approaches precisely at a time when we need more grassroots-led solutions than ever. This is a moment when it is critical to align as an ecosystem to address harms and build root-cause remedies in response to the climate crisis. It is also a moment to confront billionaire philanthropy and challenge tech-based solutions that will perpetuate and exacerbate the same social inequities and injustices.
Historically, institutional philanthropy has demonstrated a lack of innovation and accountability and failed to address the sector’s complicity in economic concentration and wealth-hoarding. The current rules mean that people and the planet always lose. The philanthropic sector must change the rules and structures while working to mitigate the worst harms of the current system’s failures and decades of injustice to frontline communities.
Philanthropy must take this opportunity to radically shift. A deep, intentional investment in groups led by frontline directly affected communities will play a profound role in systemic change at the very moment when investments in grassroots, justice-centered solutions are more critical than ever.
To download the PDF of “Good, Bad, Bezos And Beyond: Climate Philanthropy And The Grassroots” report, click here.