Justice Climate Fund (JCF) mobilizes capital and resources to strengthen under-resourced communities across the United States, investing in climate and clean energy projects that expand energy independence, create quality jobs, and reduce energy costs. We leverage capital and partnerships to unlock solutions that build healthier communities and drive long-term social, environmental, and economic resilience.
Powered by Partnerships
JCF works with a trusted national network of community lenders and state and local partners to leverage catalytic capital, strengthen climate and clean energy financing, and build technical and market capacity. These partnerships help bridge financing gaps and unlock solutions that reduce energy costs and advance environmental and economic resilience.
Community Lender Partnerships
JCF’s network includes more than 400 green banks, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) banks and loan funds, Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs), nonprofits, and state and local stakeholders. Our partners bring decades of experience delivering community-driven projects.
JCF equips community lenders with clearer pathways to capital, stronger deal flow and readiness, and enhanced climate financing tools. Our fee-based-services include:
- Intake and underwriting support
- Standardized deal packaging framework
- Impact measurement and management tools aligned with goals and reporting requirements
- Syndication services with structured support for multi-lender transactions
- Technical assistance and capacity building resources to scale clean energy lending programs and products
- Clean energy transaction sourcing and referrals
To learn more connect with us at C3@justiceclimatefund.org
Catalyzing Capital
We partner with mission-aligned funders to mobilize capital and build financing tools to scale climate and clean energy solutions in under-resourced communities. By combining deep local expertise with flexible, blended capital, we unlock a pipeline of shovel-ready projects more quickly and efficiently.
These investments deliver lasting impact where it’s needed most, creating good-paying jobs, lowering energy costs for families and small businesses, and strengthening economic and environmental resilience.
Bridging the Financing Gap
Credit Enhancement Tools
Catalytic credit enhancements, including guarantee facilities and loan loss reserves, enable community lenders to deploy projects in under-resourced markets with greater confidence.
Energy Affordability Credit Facility
CA co-lending and syndication model tapping into JCF’s network of more than 400 CDFIs and community partners to pool capital, share underwriting standards, and scale clean energy financing.
Philanthropic, Family Offices and DAF Partnerships
Pathways for philanthropic funders, family offices, and donor-advised funds to deploy capital into local climate and clean energy projects across the country.
Place-Based Approach
Our place-based strategies turn vision into measurable results. By focusing on priority geographies, JCF builds a strong track record, deepens partnerships, and develops models that can be replicated nationwide.
Midwest
JCF’s work in the Midwest includes a statewide partnership model in Michigan that bridges climate funding gaps and provides capacity-building technical assistance programs to accelerate clean energy projects across the state.
Our work in Michigan includes launching a statewide program to expand access to federal clean energy tax credits through Elective Pay, also known as direct pay. Working with nonprofits, municipalities, and other tax-exempt entities, JCF and its partners are addressing upfront capital barriers by bundling projects, deploying bridge financing and interest rate buydowns, and providing technical, compliance, and legal support to move projects through the pipeline.
Southeast
Our work in the Southeast includes developing innovative credit enhancement tools to reduce lending risk and finance projects across the region. Working with our network of more than 400 community lenders and state and local partners, we drive projects that deliver tangible impact. Our pipeline includes rooftop solar at schools, hospitals, and municipalities; solar- and battery-powered resilience hubs in community spaces that provide reliable power during extreme weather; and energy efficiency upgrades that reduce energy bills for families and small businesses.
Native Communities
Our work in Native communities includes direct lending and market development designed to create clear pathways for Native-led clean energy projects. Through our network of more than 400 community lenders and partners, we source projects and build partnerships that deliver scalable solutions with lasting impact, including lower energy costs and stronger environmental and economic resilience.
To learn more about our work in Native communities. connect with us at JCFNativeWork@JusticeClimateFund.org
Our Strategy
Our strategy is integrated and impact-driven: Invest in climate and clean energy solutions in under-resourced communities. Empower community lenders and local partners closest to the work. And amplify solutions that can be replicated and scaled.
Invest
Empower
Amplify
“We believe partnership is central to our role in building a clean energy ecosystem–one that’s grounded in standardized, replicable financing models that deliver measurable impact.”
– Amir Kirkwood, Chief Executive Officer