Climate + Philanthropy: A Compact Learning Journey
Online short course supporting philanthropy professionals to take climate action
With only 2% of global funding going to climate mitigation, the philanthropy sector needs to do more to respond proactively to climate change and champion positive societal change (ClimateWorks, 2023). By taking this Climate + Philanthropy online short course, you’ll gain the insights needed to drive the change for a more regenerative and prosperous future – from within your foundation and beyond.
Guided by over 20 industry experts, you will explore how to align your grantmaking, operations and investing with climate action, and become a driver for change in your network. The course comprises a multimedia composition of texts, videos, visuals and infographics, structured in modules with bite-sized lessons.
On completion of this course, you’ll have:
A deeper understanding of how to support systemic solutions.
The tools to develop your own climate action plan outlining the next steps to integrate climate into your work.
A supportive community of like-minded peers to continue your climate journey with.
Our course book summarising the most important content and additional resources.
A course certificate to keep.
Sandrine Dixson-Declève
Learn to integrate a climate lens into your foundation’s strategy as you work through the eight modules of this compact learning journey.
Discover the causes of climate change, and the key physical, social and psychological factors that are fuelling the crisis.
Understand the physical impacts of warming, the tipping points in the climate system, and the injustice related to the worst effects being felt by those in developing countries.
Examine the current climate action happening at different levels: From the international stage, to national governments, businesses, civil society, and the philanthropic sector.
Explore how to decarbonise operations, and examine how pioneering foundations are driving change to respond to the needs of a world vulnerable to the climate emergency while delivering on their foundation’s mission.
Discover the journey that foundations need to take to create a climate-aligned grantmaking strategy. Identify some of the key levers for generating lasting change, some first steps for climate-aligned grantmaking and map out the climate philanthropy landscape.
Identify the role that your foundation can play in working to tackle the climate crisis. Looking at what others are already doing in the climate philanthropy space, assessing your foundation's risk appetite, resources and how to iterate as you go.
Reimagine how a foundation’s endowment portfolio can be invested for the benefit of the planet.
Discover the wider impact your foundation can have as well as the role that you personally can play in leading the change needed.
This course is for everyone who wants to take an active role in integrating climate change into their foundation's work.
It explores the fundamentals of climate change, the impacts of the crisis on your philanthropic work, and opportunities to drive change in three main areas; your operations, your grantmaking and your investments. No prior knowledge in sustainability or climate is needed. And if you have some prior experience in these topics you’ll be able to build on what you already know while gaining new insights into the relationship between climate change and philanthropy.
Download the course prospectus for detailed information on the course:
The course will provide you with a solid foundation on climate change basics, knowledge of how it intersects with philanthropy, and how to craft the first steps for your organisation to adequately respond to the crisis. You’ll come out with the expertise to begin aligning your operations, grantmaking, and investing with climate action, and become a driver proponent of change within your sphere of influence. You’ll learn from over 20 industry experts and be invited to join interactive sessions where you’ll build meaningful connections with a community of peers. By the end of the course, you’ll have developed a bespoke action plan describing the first steps you’ll take within your organisation to drive change.
The course is structured in 8 compact online modules. Each module takes roughly 2 hours to complete. You’ll have the flexibility to work on these self-driven modules at your own pace and finish them within 3 months. During the course you’ll work on developing a personal action plan for your foundation. The course also gives you a number of opportunities to meet your peers: You can take part in regular online interactive sessions. Upon completion of the online modules you'll receive a course certificate.
You'll have 3 months to complete the online course. The time commitment for each module is roughly 2 hours of self-paced online learning. Every other month there will be a 1.5-hour interactive session. At the end of the course, you'll receive a course book containing all the key takeaways and additional resources from the online course.
The course is online. You can work through the course content at your own pace within the 12-week timeframe and start when it suits you. The online part is complemented with regular live interactive sessions during the year. To take the course, you require a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, smartphone, or smart device that runs the most recent version of one of the following web-browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Microsoft Edge for desktop devices; iOS Safari 11 and up, Chrome or Samsung Internet for mobile devices. You also need a high-speed internet connection. For participation in the interactive sessions via Zoom you need a webcam and a headset or microphone.
Absolutely! Building a network of peers who are also working to drive change in their foundations is integral. We’ve set up live interactive sessions to create a space for you to meet and build relationships with your peers. You’ll also have the chance to interact and share feedback with them through discussion forums on the online platform.
There are regular live online interactive sessions in 2024. Each of these 1.5-hour-long Zoom sessions are facilitated by Active Philanthropy staff. The sessions with fellow students and alumni give you the opportunity to explore the course materials and share your experiences.
Throughout the course, you’ll flesh out a climate-positive vision for your foundation and detail some of the initial steps for taking action. This action plan will allow you to synthesise learning from across the course.
Absolutely! This will ensure your team will be up-skilled to lead your foundation’s transition to become more climate-aligned. Enrolling team members from across your organisation with different fields of expertise and responsibilities will help smooth the transition and bring everyone on board to innovate and work together. Contact us if you are interested in group discounts or a bespoke cohort.
The course is now available at a at €854 per participant. For those who can't cover the regular price, we offer this course at a subsidised price of €498. As a non-profit organization, Active Philanthropy is non-partisan and independent from governments, financial institutions and NGOs. We are funded by donations and grants from individuals and non-state organizations as well as service fees.
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Any further questions about the course? Get in touch!
Anneke Kirsch
Active Philanthropy supports philanthropists, donor families, philanthropic organizations and social investors who wish to engage in climate action. We offer expertise and expeditions to learn about the climate crisis, as well as opportunities and grant services for effective climate philanthropy. As a non-profit organization, Active Philanthropy is non-partisan and independent from governments, financial institutions and NGOs. We are funded by donations and grants from individuals and non-state organizations as well as service fees.
Philanthropy Europe Association (Philea) nurtures a diverse and inclusive ecosystem of foundations, philanthropic organisations and networks in over 30 countries that work for the common good. We unite over 10,000 public-benefit foundations that seek to improve life for people and communities in Europe and around the world. We are the voice of European philanthropy. Our purpose is to harness its immense multidimensional potential – including when it comes to fighting the climate crisis.