I. Northeast regional efforts: Even as state policymakers are working to implement the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the governors of several Northeast states are pushing ahead with broader, more aggressive plans to reduce global warming pollution. The Foundation is interested in initiatives at a state or regional level that complement RGGI, particularly those that:

• Add to the growing momentum and pressure for national climate policy
• Will help set important policy precedents and thus expand the possibilities for national climate policy
• Engage valuable new constituencies in the effort to develop national policy

Letters of inquiry should include:

• A succinct description of the Northeast area or state involved, the specific reductions in global warming pollution that are sought, and other desired outcomes
• Brief background on the initiative, key obstacles to progress, and the proposed methods for overcoming them and achieving desired outcomes
• Highlights of past organizational accomplishments and success
• Brief background on current organization and/or project leaders
• A summary of the specific funding needs the grant is meant to address
• Annual budget figure for the organization and requested grant amount
• Other significant sources of funding (raised or requested) especially for support of the proposed activities

II. New York City: As a long-standing New York City environmental funder, the Foundation seeks to support innovative efforts to address global warming in the tri-state metropolitan area. We are particularly interested in initiatives that will help achieve significant, long-term reductions in global warming pollution; serve as a model or useful demonstration for metropolitan initiatives elsewhere; complement other environmental justice priorities; and inspire the public imagination. Letters of inquiry should include:

• A succinct description of the initiative and manner for reducing the City’s global warming pollution, addressing the criteria described above
• Brief background on key obstacles to progress and the proposed methods of overcoming them and achieving desired outcomes
• Highlights of past organizational accomplishments and success
• Brief background on current organization and/or project leaders
• A summary of the specific funding needs the grant is meant to address
• Annual budget figure for the organization and requested grant amount
• Other significant sources of funding (raised or requested), especially for support of the proposed activities

III. Alternatives to new coal-fired power plants: The Foundation will support a limited number of campaigns to challenge the need for new coal-fired plants and promote alternative energy solutions. Priority will be given to inquiries addressing plant initiatives in Eastern states and those from a coalition or network uniting around a common problem or approach. Grants can also be considered for campaigns by a single organization on an urgent or especially important initiative. Grants could be small, while work is in the exploratory or planning stage, or larger at the implementation stage. Letters of inquiry should include:

• Specific venue and/or problem to be addressed and goals for the campaign, including explanation of why the campaign is particularly important, viable, and timely
• Information on the campaign leaders (organizations and/or individuals)
• How the campaign is to leverage the contributions of different groups, including a list of campaign partners
• Budget figure of the inquiring organization or overall campaign, other sources of funding (raised or requested), and requested grant amount(s)

Across all funding categories, the Foundation will consider the ability of organizations to work with and leverage additional funds. The Foundation will also look for useful convening opportunities to connect leaders working towards similar goals.

TO APPLY: Please send a letter of inquiry (2-3 pages max.) to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it to help staff determine a possible fit with the Foundation’s program priorities. In addition to other information that you may wish to include, please address the specific criteria in the relevant funding category above. All submissions will be acknowledged in a reasonable time-frame, and a limited number of proposals will be invited each spring and fall.

The deadline for letters of inquiry for the fall 2010 board meeting is Wednesday, August 4th. Please note that earlier submissions are welcome, although final funding decisions are made in mid-November.