Climate change disproportionately affects those who contribute least to its causes and racial and ethnically diverse communities are most intensely impacted by climate change. Racism, economic inequality, and class discrimination are some of the root causes of climate injustice, and Boulder County recognizes a long history of harmful practices and institutional racism that have further perpetuated climate injustices. We also recognize that OSCAR’s climate work to date has benefited well-resourced community members and failed to reach frontline community members with the resources and investments they need for climate mitigation and adaptation. In recognition of the deep-seated legacies of colonialism, systemic racism, and income inequality, OSCAR alongside its municipal partners, is resolutely committed to driving systemic change. Our climate action initiatives are now deeply intertwined with our commitment to racial equity, as articulated in Boulder County’s Fully Inclusive, Anti-Racist & Multicultural Organization Policy 1.06. Racial equity is not just a guiding principle but a strategic priority within Boulder County’s framework for Good Governance. As stewards of local governance, we bear the moral obligation to confront and dismantle institutional racism embedded in our laws, policies, practices, and behaviors. Furthermore, every initiative led by OSCAR is grounded in the principles set forth in Boulder County’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan, underscoring our focus on climate action and climate justice. Currently within Boulder County, there are several environmental justice non-profits, neighborhood groups and community members who are actively participating in climate solutions work with the goal of expanding place-based and/or micro-community-targeted climate action. However, there is no official local government funding mechanism to support community and neighborhood-scale climate justice work, mainly because Boulder County only has the authority to provide grants or funding to legal entities (i.e., tax exempt non-profits). This barrier leaves out neighborhood groups, individual community leaders and other grassroots efforts. Given the current conditions as well as desire to equitably distribute funding, the OSCAR team is keen to create this Climate Equity Fund to provide access to funding to frontline groups/individuals with the goal of investing in those most exposed to the impacts of climate change. We believe that, if implemented thoughtfully, the Fund will advance OSCAR’s racial equity goals of supporting those most impacted by the climate crisis and allow grassroots efforts, traditionally left out of climate solutions work, to implement impactful climate action on a neighborhood scale. Therefore, contracting with a fiscal host will assist us in managing and administering these investments while also building capacity to encourage climate justice change agents to apply for funding to support their climate justice work. The Office of Sustainability, Climate Action and Resilience (OSCAR) team already has official funding streams dedicated to particular areas of need. For example, sustainability tax revenues are annually distributed to Boulder County municipalities, organizations, non-profits, and businesses through several formal funding opportunities such as The Healthy Soils Program, The Climate Innovation Fund and the Municipal Sustainability Matching Grant. These existing grant programs can be used as examples of how the county internally manages funding efforts that support local climate action work with public steering committees that direct where funding is placed. Thus, the purpose of this RFP is to identify fiscal and administrative partners to undertake the following responsibilities further defined in the specifications: Fiscally sponsor/host a $2M-$3.5M climate equity fund in 2025-2030. Build awareness and capacity in communities about a new climate equity fund. Create an accessible rolling application with clear selection criteria. Develop and facilitate a participatory community selection committee that makes funding recommendations. Ensure transparent, publicly accessible and accountable reporting on project metrics. Provide technical assistance for grantees for reporting requirements where needed. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): If you need special services provided for under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact the Boulder County ADA Coordinator at ADA@bouldercounty.gov, or call 303-441-1386 as soon as possible to allow sufficient time for service delivery ahead of applicable due dates.
