Pooling and partnerships: a practical approach to funding in a climate crisis

There are many in the philanthropic world looking at how we can best support efforts to address the climate crisis. For those seeking funding, it must feel overwhelming: the list of funders is long and the criteria are varied, with an estimated £2.8 billion available in resilience grants alone.

So how do organisations like ours make a meaningful contribution?  

Back in 2021 - as today - rising fuel prices were significantly affecting charities and community organisations at a time when budgets were already under pressure. The Wolfson Foundation created a Sustainability Fund, supporting organisations to become more environmentally and financially sustainable. The Fund, focusing on relatively small-scale interventions, was widely welcomed but demonstrated that grant holders, particularly smaller organisations, often need more than just financial support.

The Linbury Trust, meanwhile, had come to similar conclusions and, in partnership with climate change charity Ashden Climate Solutions, offered funding with added training for grant holders, including funding for energy audits.

Feedback from grant holders highlighted two key opportunities. Firstly, there was a gap in the funding ecosystem for work which went beyond routine maintenance costs but wasn’t significant enough to unlock the bigger pots of climate-friendly money. There was also a demonstrable need to streamline the application process.

In 2025, the Energy Efficiency Fund was created: a £1.5 million partnership between The Linbury Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The Headley Trust, with partnership support from Ashden. Once again, expertise and funding were pooled in an applicant friendly, one-stop shop. Grants covered energy efficiencies from upgrades to lighting systems and rainwater harvesting to installation of heat pumps and vital window glazing. Impressively, more than double the amount contributed by us was leveraged in match funding from other sources by grant holders.

A win-win for all concerned

It has been a joy working together – and the way in which the programme has been administered (with a high success rate and a single application to multiple funders) has reduced administration for applicants and funders alike. All of the organisations supported through this programme are facing financial pressures from various sources. All are keen to play their role in reducing carbon emissions and utility costs, as well as improving their financial position – putting those savings back into core budgets. And while energy efficiency may not be considered glamorous by some, it is clearly becoming increasingly vital in our uncertain world. All grant holders are now part of a network, funded by the partnership, that supports learning from sector experts as well as each other.

But what of our key learning, as funders?

A full answer to this question will only be possible once the projects have been completed. Certainly, initial feedback has reflected appreciation for a programme that focusses on day-to-day challenges and is providing more than just funding. But time will tell …

Yet one thing that is already clear is the value of this type of philanthropic partnership which, while not unique, is not as prevalent as it might be at this level of funding. It is a benefit to the funders, enhancing our own thinking on climate issues. More importantly, it has been a real benefit to applicants: reduced time applying to multiple sources; exposure to thinking from climate leaders; practical sessions and visits to embed this work both in their day-to-day operations, as well as their longer-term governance and goals.