The Solutions Project's 2021 Impact Report: Building Power

A Letter from Gloria Walton, CEO of The Solutions Project

When it comes to equity and justice, it’s imperative to put your money where your mouth is. In a moment when movement values have created a buzz, everyone is talking about equity and justice, but the question is - what are we doing about it?

While there is current uncertainty and fear of the urgent climate crisis, rise of anti-democratic forces globally, and the volatility of our economy, this isn’t a time to retract. It’s time to join forces and be in solidarity as we take collective action on our equity commitments. This moment requires audacious leadership, audacious giving, and audacious impact.

At The Solutions Project, we are committed to equity and justice by practicing accountability, transparency, and solidarity.

In 2020, our work led to a dramatic shift in philanthropy and media coverage towards climate justice solutions created by Black, Indigenous, immigrants, women, and People of Color. In 2021, we scaled our impact by increasing grants by more than five-fold, from two million to nearly $11.5 million, and tripling the number of grantees we support, 193 organizations across 26 states and territories, with 82% of it to People of Color-led organizations.

In an effort to build grassroots power and build with movement leaders, we co-created three funds to center and strengthen frontline leadership and innovations: Justice40 Accelerator increases access to federal funding for grassroots groups, Fund for Frontline Power is a space where grassroots leaders are governing capital flow, and Communicating Our Power strengthens organizational narrative and communications capacity.

We also shifted the national dialogue towards equity by reaching over 25 million people with climate justice solutions stories told by our grantees. Thank you to our partners and supporters for making all of this a reality. As a result, in 2022, we were named one of the world’s most innovative companies by Fast Company and won two Anthem Awards for brand and strategy. And we are just getting started.

Let’s double down on what’s working - and that’s frontline leadership and solutions. Frontline communities are setting the standards and winning policy change with nascent support from philanthropy and coverage in the media. We are proud to have a track record in disrupting the status quo, and you can bet we will continue to do our best and do more to support frontline success. Our grantees and their respective communities are the ones accelerating a just transition to a regenerative economy that works for all of us. Imagine what will come when they have the resources to thrive and the spotlight to show the world what is possible.

Help us resource grassroots communities like we never have before. Will you join us?

Gloria Walton,

President + CEO

Read the full report here.