By Justice Climate Fund
Posted on August 13, 2025
Recent federal cuts in climate and clean energy funding and policies have shifted the stakes, upped the urgency, and amplified the demand for affordable, sustainable energy options. Nationally, more than 1 in 3 Americans report having to cut back on necessities—like food and medicine—to pay their utility bills. In under-resourced communities—where more than 100 million Americans live—access to climate and clean energy solutions means lower utility bills, good-paying jobs, and healthier communities.
As a national nonprofit built to deploy $1 billion in catalytic capital, Justice Climate Fund (JCF) has developed a new approach that leverages private and philanthropic capital to mobilize climate and clean energy investments quickly and efficiently. We tap into our network of more than 400 community lenders to deliver solutions to communities that need them most. We’re not just moving capital—we’re creating sustainable and scalable climate finance models that build environmental and economic resilience and deliver tangible benefits for American families and communities that have historically been left out of the clean energy economy.
“Impact isn’t just a metric—it’s how we make decisions,” said Theresa Bedeau, JCF’s chief strategy and engagement officer. “We’re looking at outcomes that reflect what communities truly need: cleaner air, good jobs, lower utility bills, and long-term resilience. It’s a full-spectrum approach—measuring social, environmental, and economic results in tandem.”
We track impact across the full lifecycle of our investments, combining near-term indicators with long-term outcomes. We collect data on emissions reductions, improvements in air quality, and positive health indicators, such as reductions in childhood asthma rates. We measure economic indicators that matter to everyday Americans, including job creation, energy cost savings, and increased local investments. We also track our capacity-building work, including technical assistance and standardization of key elements in our financing models for community lenders.
To meet the moment, JCF is developing new partnerships with philanthropic and mission-aligned investors to meet rising demand in underserved markets and build innovative, equitable, and scalable climate financing models that can be replicated across the country.
This work is about more than climate resilience. It’s about economic opportunity, healthier communities, and a more equitable clean energy future.
Learn more about how to partner with us and support our work—together, we can drive equitable climate and clean energy solutions that unlock opportunity and resilience in the communities that need it most.