Amplifying the impact of environmental justice & conservation organizations
For decades, low-wealth communities—predominantly communities of color—have borne a disproportionate share of the harms caused by pollution, environmental degradation, and climate change. Major polluters, including public agencies, have long sited petrochemical plants, landfills, and other toxic facilities in these communities’ backyards. Meanwhile, resources to prepare for and recover from climate-driven disasters have been distributed inequitably, leaving those most affected with the fewest means to respond.
The consequences are devastating: lower life expectancy, higher disease rates, declining property values, and the displacement pressures of climate gentrification.
Writing for Green was founded in 2022 to help change that. We were created to serve environmental justice (EJ) communities—those that have historically faced systemic barriers to the economic and civic systems that could empower them to fight back. Today, we remain deeply committed to these frontline communities while also supporting organizations advancing equity and resilience in other critical sectors, including conservation, human services, and public health.
In his 2022 State of the Union address, President Biden announced a bold goal: ensuring that 40% of the benefits from certain federal investments “flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution.” This Justice40 Initiative represented a once-in-a-generation opportunity to advance equity and environmental justice.
Unfortunately, that momentum has stalled. Recent shifts in federal priorities have halted or reversed billions of dollars once designated for frontline communities—funds that, in many cases, had already been awarded or contracted. As a result, hundreds of community-based organizations (CBOs) across the country now find themselves financially vulnerable and uncertain about the future.
Writing for Green is here to help. We continue to work with organizational leaders to chart more sustainable, self-reliant paths forward—training them to diversify funding streams through grants, donor engagement, and the development of revenue-generating social enterprises. By helping frontline organizations build lasting financial resilience, we aim to ensure that their critical work continues—regardless of shifting political winds.
1 Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/environmentaljustice/justice40/
