By Neelima Shah and Caroline Miceli
These are challenging times to work on climate. From the federal level, concerted rollbacks of climate policy are arresting progress that had gained momentum with the passage of the federal climate legislation (the Inflation Reduction Act) in 2022. Even here in Washington State, which defended its landmark climate law from a ballot challenge in 2024, climate advocates face new problems like attempts to prolong the life of coal plants slated for closure, and the rapid growth of energy-draining data centers.
While there are many important environmental issues and concerns, climate change is clearly “the most urgent” and “biggest” problem before us, according to Satterberg Board Member Pete Helsell. “Now that we are also dealing with an administration that is denying the need to address this issue, it is essential to guard against the threat to our democracy in order to give progressive legislative leaders the ability to enact and protect climate change legislation.”
Because the climate fight is so critical to Satterberg’s twin mission – a sustainable environment and a just society – we have just launched the $20 million Climate Action Fund (CAF). CAF includes a total of $10 million in general support to be granted over five years to 10 nonprofit organizations in Washington State that work synergistically to advocate for statewide climate policy and build public support. The groups’ focus areas range widely, including building energy efficiency, home weatherization and affordable healthy housing, building and transportation electrification, renewable energy (involving siting projects, grid and transmission), compact land use, and transit.
CAF grants are focused on a targeted set of climate mitigation efforts that address the largest sources of climate emissions in WA. Collectively, groups in this cohort work to make climate solutions affordable and equitable and to serve those most impacted by climate change. They work upstream on developing, passing, implementing, and defending policies which in turn enable community-based climate solutions that protect people from the impacts of climate change, as well as lowering energy costs, and creating jobs.
In the past few years, Washington State has passed numerous landmark energy and climate policies, making the state a leader and model for the rest of the country. The CAF grantees were instrumental in the passage of these laws and will continue to be critical players for both their implementation and defense. The lengthy list of these crucial policy achievements includes the Climate Commitment Act, the Clean Energy Transformation Act, defeat of the pro-fossil fuels initiative I-2066, as well as the Washington Clean Fuel Standard, Move Ahead Washington (focused on clean transit), climate planning provisions in the Growth Management Act, and the environmental justice-focused Healthy Environment for All Act.
These experienced advocates see both challenges and opportunities ahead in 2026. According to Elana Mainer, Executive Director of Rural People’s Platform, the challenge is connecting the cause of environmental justice to people’s daily lives. “The struggle right now is grocery bills,” along with housing and health care, she said. This means her group centers their environmental message on “protecting our home,” and that means listening to and organizing “a rich tapestry of people” inclusive of different income levels and backgrounds. One upside of the current political situation, she points out, is that “people are more aware than in recent years of the observation that things are unfair.”
To Lauren Tamboer, Foundation Relations Senior Manager at Washington Conservation Action (WCA), the key to weathering this rollback moment is to “keep showing up” in communities where the group has been organizing, and to build long-term relationships in the community. Advocates are busy “defending our win(s)” while also “playing the long game,” moving the strategy forward by doing the hard work of movement-building.
Kirk Hovenkotter, the Executive Director of Transportation Choices Coalition, sees a stark contrast between the rollback at the federal level and Washington State’s momentum on the issue of sustainable and clean forms of transit. “We’re a region that can envision big things and deliver them,” he said, citing the new light rail openings being celebrated across Puget Sound. These investments are vital for communities of color, he notes, “because they make our communities more accessible and inclusive.”
Each CAF grantee has a unique role and skill set they bring to their work, and all effectively partner with others. Collectively, they have a strong record of success in building relationships, educating and communicating about issues, strategizing, and garnering public support for statewide climate and environmental policies. Within the cohort there is a powerful balance of risk-taking from newer groups with bold progressive visions, and steadfast bedrock organizations with a long-track record of winning and defending statewide policies. There is also geographic diversity among the CAF grantees. Many have offices in Seattle; and some also have field offices, virtual staff, and/or campaigns in counties throughout the state. Two groups are based in rural communities, building important constituents outside of Puget Sound.
Whatever their geographic range or specific issue focus, CAF grantees agree that collaboration is critical to moving the work forward. Citing the broad coalition behind their transportation wins, Hovenkotter notes that “we can go farther together.” WCA’s Tamboer states that “coalition-building and convening is really the backbone of how we get our work done.” And according to Mainer of Rural People’s Voice: “We have got to be able to work collaboratively in an ecosystem. We have got to be able to come together.”
We hope that this new Climate Action Fund cohort provides advocates with another powerful opportunity to collaborate – and win.
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Neelima Shah is a Senior Program Officer at the Satterberg Foundation. Caroline Miceli is the Director of Operations and Special Interest Grants.