128 Collective
/OVERVIEW: The 128 Collective supports efforts to address climate change and promote clean energy via a variety of programs areas. It also funds projects focused on strengthening democracy, increasing access to work, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
IP TAKE: The 128 Collective is not transparent and does not provide much information about where its funding goes, how to apply or in what amounts. Additionally, aside from a twitter profile, it does not give grantseekers a clear method of contact making it inaccessible for most nonprofits seeking funding. However, networking does seem to be an option here, especially since modest grants are under the control of the couple’s household staff. It appears that this climate funder makes grants at the intersection of justice and policy work.
PROFILE: Established in 2018, 128 Collective is “a progressive climate think tank working on the just transition to 1.5 degrees.” Based in San Francisco, it was created by the billionaire co-founder and former CEO of GitHub, Tom Preston-Werner and his wife Theresa, both Giving Pledge signatories. 128 Collective is “driven by the moral imperatives posed by climate change and inequity, and it seeks “not only to prevent their harms, but also to create a society that redirects capital to build healthier ecosystems and flourishing human communities.” It makes grants for Climate, Politics, The Bay Area, Tech, and Youth Organizing & Climate Education.
Grants for Climate Change and Clean Energy
128 Collective supports climate change focused projects and organizations through two program areas, Climate and Youth Organizing & Climate Education.
The Climate program works to address what it sees as a multifaceted problem by supporting “both proven strategies and needed experiments in progressive politics, climate communications, food and agriculture, permanent negative emissions, and restricting fossil fuel supplies.”
Previous grantees include Green Workers Alliance and Public Power NY.
The Youth Organizing and Climate Education program prioritizes “youth-led or centered organizations that build progressive power for lasting change, as well as other organizations that create foundational conditions needed for youth to build and exercise their power.”
It supports groups focused on national and international climate organizing, progressive youth voter organizing, youth labor organizing, transformative, universal, public climate change education, and political education.
Featured grantees include Alliance for Youth Organizing and Labor Network for Sustainability.
Grants for Democracy and Civic Engagement, and Progressive Politics
128’s Politics program operates with an understanding that a strong and inclusive democracy is central to climate change reform. To this end it supports “grassroots organizing, candidate education, policy and legislative campaigns, reforming US foreign policy, and racial justice initiatives,” specifically capacity building for progressive politics, promoting climate crisis legislation, and job creation in underserved communities globally.
Past grantees of this program include Critical Resistance and Center for Public Enterprise.
Grants for the Bay Area and Northern California
Grantmaking through The Bay Area program is directed by Tom and Theresa Preston-Werner’s household staff.
According to the program description, each staff member is allocated $10,000 each year to go toward the local nonprofits of their choice.
Grantees through this program include Just Be and Welcoming Home.
Grants for STEM Education and Work and Economic Development
The Tech program works to increase people’s access to work and employment through STEM education and career training. According to 128, “When people's work needs are met, they are more likely to be able to focus on progressive issues, such as mitigating climate change.”
Grants through this program support projects that “encourage intellectual curiosity and career development, build better tools, demand just wages and safe working conditions, and develop emerging economies.”
Hack Club and Aviato have both received funding through the Tech program.
Important Grant Details:
The 128 Collective does not accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funding. Additionally, aside from an occasional grantee spotlight in its blog, it does not provide much information about who it funds or in what amounts.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
LINKS: