Impact
Sutherland & Associates has led or significantly contributed to 33 field-building efforts. Reference the Portfolios for examples of this work.
These products have been produced while also continuously managing and evolving the design of 20 unique pooled funding mechanisms across 8 different networking organizations over 13 years.
$71,885,963 in climate investments flowing through the S&A team have supported 779 boots-on-the-ground projects. Here are some examples of products available to anyone for download: climate practitioner resources are here, here, and here. Green stormwater practitioner resources are here. Transportation advocacy work is here.
To date, these competitive awards have leveraged an additional $2,855,970,655 from additional investors.
San Diego, CA advanced an emerging partnership with Groundwork San Diego and its Chollas Creek Coalition-member CBOs to define a community-centered scope for a watershed-scale GSI Plan. Partners for Places
Arkansas Coalition of Local Stakeholders led by the Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation applied for the EPA’ Solar for All Program and were awarded 93.6 M to improve solar energy accessibility. SSDN LIH Cohorts Program
Payne-Phalen Community Council leveraged $44,750 in ETF funding to capture $1.67 million in US Department of Energy funding to extend Evie carsharing on St. Paul’s East Side. The Equitable Transportation Fund
Melbourne, Australia investigated the systemic causes of energy poverty in Australian local government areas which resulted in Council committing $250,000 to pilot a suite of services to support apartment residents around energy affordability, efficiency, electrification and resilience. CNCA Game Changer Fund
Rochester enhanced 11 community gardens by advancing permitting and land use policies to support long-term stewardship. Community partner, Taproot, implemented a youth workforce development model, hiring more than 50 young people who became integral to the city’s broader youth development network. USDN Emergent Learning Fund
King County, WA created a Climate Equity Work Group that compensated 20 community-based participants to integrate frontline community input into the county’s 2025 Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP). This initiative led to 19 community-driven climate equity actions being included in the 2025 SCAP. USDN Emergent Learning Fund
Boulder County, CO developed an extensive set of 12 publication products outlining materials procurement guides, technical guidelines to the utilization of biochar. This is helping to set best practices for other local governments as they incorporate nature based solutions into their climate work. CNCA Game Changer Fund
Solar United Neighbors supported 22 EPA Solar for All applications and 2 applications to the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund. They were successful in securing over $2.8 billion in federal funding to support solar and resilience projects across multiple states. SSDN LIH Cohorts Program
The Georgia BRIGHT Communities Coalition applied for EPA’s Solar for All program and won $156 M to deliver energy savings, jobs and business growth to disadvantaged communities statewide. SSDN LIH Cohorts Program
Pierce County in collaboration with the City of Tacoma and Tacoma Tree Foundation hosted a Climate Leadership Cohort, to foster relationships, support individual development, and connect frontline community members with City and County staff, elected officials, and community organizations that are focused on local climate impacts, emission sources, civic engagement strategies, and solutions through a social justice lens. USDN Catalyst Fund
Seattle, WA successfully used community input to translate a climate calculator into a game that gathered feedback to the City on their new transportation plan. CNCA Game Changer Fund
San Luis Obispo assessed the cost effectiveness of mobile home decarbonization and produced an Electrification Impact Study with next step recommendations. USDN Emergent Learning Fund
Alachua County, FL worked with five community-based nonprofits to survey and dialogue with unreached residents. Partner CBO’s collected 12 interviews, which are now displayed at the Matheson Museum as a digital exhibit. USDN Emergent Learning Fund
The Resilient Southwest Building Code Collaborative, made up of 12-jurisdictions, developed and tested the Residential and Rural Evaluation Matrix to support consistent comparison of building code measures USDN Catalyst Fund
Santa Clara County, CA, Coastal Quest, and 9 community partners established a collaborative grant writing platform to chase federal funding in a methodical way. USDN Emergent Learning Fund
Madison, WI designed an alternative solar financing model for multifamily Housing that has since been in 246 units in 3 other cities across the State. USDN Energy Innovation Fund for Mid-Sized U.S. Cities
Tucson, AZ was awarded $829,696 in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds to build state and local capacity to manage catastrophic incidents via regional collaboration. USDN Emergent Learning Fund
Sydney, Australia worked with The Aboriginal Carbon Foundation to advance carbon offsets for Indigenous land regeneration. They launched a podcast to share stories and to educate people about topics like cultural fire practice. CNCA Game Changer Fund
The Georgia BRIGHT Communities Coalition applied for EPA’s Solar for All program and won $156 M to deliver energy savings, jobs and business growth to disadvantaged communities statewide. SSDN LIH Cohort Program
Columbus, OH in partnership with Electrify Central Ohio hosted an Energy Smart Home Expo to catalyze a network of community organizations focused on affordable energy solutions for Columbus residents. USDN Catalyst Fund
The cities of Decatur, Atlanta and Savannah, GA were awarded a $500,000 Energy Futures Grant from the Department of Energy to achieve clean energy and resilience goals. SSDN LIH Cohorts Program
The cities of Decatur, Atlanta and Savannah, GA were awarded a $500,000 Energy Futures Grant from the Department of Energy to achieve clean energy and resilience goals. SSDN LIH Cohorts Program
Richmond, VA hosted Federal Climate Convening Sessions that resulted in $12M in federal grant applications. To date, $6M has been awarded for Black- and Brown-led urban greening efforts. USDN Emergent Learning Fund
Santa Cruz, CA developed a detailed launch and three year work plan that invests in collaborative infrastructure and access services as well as commits 75% of the budget to compensation for BIPOC/low income serving organizations to participate and lead. USDN Emergent Learning Fund
Ann Arbor, MI built relationships with nearly two dozen BIPOC and frontline residents to create a community engagement strategy to inform the City’s first circular economy strategy. USDN Emergent Learning Fund
Savannah, Georgia, supported a local community-based organization, Savannah Youth City, to provide a safe space for underserved youth to engage in hands-on climate work and to equip residents in historically under-resourced neighborhoods with tools and education for use in the event of a natural disaster, in close collaboration with the Savannah Police Department and the American Red Cross. USDN Emergent Learning Fund
Greater Greater Washington built the capacity of grassroots leaders to advocate for transportation policies that improve infrastructure and save lives - particularly in Black neighborhoods that are harmed by structural racism in transportation investments. The Equitable Transportation Fund
Multnomah County, OR partnered with the Creative and Emergent Technology Institute to show climate justice through art. They gained an additional $70,000 in National Endowment for the Arts grant. USDN Emergent Learning Fund
Detroit, MI advanced community resilience on Detroit’s eastside by partnering with local CBOs in a clean energy cohort, resulting in targeted energy and water assessments, solar feasibility studies, and customized decarbonization roadmaps. USDN Resilience Hub Fund
Benton Harbor, MI developed the Benton Harbor Justice 40 Action Plan focused on local and regional leadership for climate action, restorative community partnerships, and funding opportunities in an environmental justice community. Partners for Places
The cities of Decatur, Atlanta and Savannah, GA were awarded a $500,000 Energy Futures Grant from the Department of Energy to achieve clean energy and resilience goals. SSDN LIH Cohorts Program
Alliance for Metropolitan Stability organized 12 priority community organizations into the Blue Line Coalition, preventing displacement along the new LRT extension. The Equitable Transportation Fund
Move LA ran a fareless transit system pilot for over 1 M students, low-income / affordable housing residents, and formerly incarcerated individuals. The Equitable Transportation Fund
Boston, MA in partnership with member cities, Austin, TX, Boise, ID, New Haven, CT, and New Orleans, LA, formalized the Urban Agriculture Directors Alliance Advisory Committee, establishing governance structures, and building momentum for long-term sustainability. USDN Catalyst Fund
London, UK developed a replicable model for a circular food community, by embedding carbon emission interventions that increase residents’ consumption of low carbon food and reduce food waste. CNCA Game Changer Fund
Hennepin County partnered with the Minnesota Community Energy Network, local non-profit, Great Plains Institute and the Clean Energy Resource Team, to launch a Geothermal Work Group that offered practical workshops and easy-to-use resources, helping local government staff learn about geothermal energy and how it can be used in their communities. USDN Catalyst Fund
Madison, WI installed an 18 kW rooftop solar array across five meters, expected to produce 20,284 kWh in its first year—eliminating 14.2 metric tons of CO?. Over 25 years, it will generate nearly 478 MWh and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 335 metric tons, lowering utility costs for residents of unsubsidized affordable housing. USDN Energy Innovation Fund
East Metro Strong tripled community sign-ups for HourCar, a local nonprofit carshare organization, through their Transit + Carshare campaign. The Equitable Transportation Fund
Palm Beach County, FL strengthened the capacity of frontline communities for climate resilience planning to ensure more equitable processes and outcomes when the County creates its county-wide climate change vulnerability assessment and resilience action plan. This work led to additional grant funding from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. USDN Emergent Learning Fund
Duluth, MN expanded understanding and partnership across multiple levels with partner organizations, which led to over $5 million in Department of Energy and AmeriCorps State and National grants. Partners for Places Fund
New Orleans, LA's Climate Action Equity Report was used by the Biden Administration as a model and identified as a promising community-led initiative on Earth Day, April 2021. Partners for Places Fund
Sarasota County, FL created a Mobile Farm Market and Community Gardens initiative that brought in $1.2 million in donations, and 2.5 million pounds of contributed food valued at $4.3 million. Partners for Places Fund
New York City produced a Culinary Training Impact Report detailing the project’s emission reductions and outcomes. In addition, the New York City team will launch the Center for Environment, Health, and Food Service (CHEFS) to serve as a resource hub for best practices in food service for City agencies and across NYC’s food service sector. CNCA Game Changer Fund
Berkeley, CA hosted three Climate Equity Collaborative convenings and facilitated 23 one-on-one meetings with community-based organization (CBO) stakeholders, engaging a total of 16 CBOs during the grant period. USDN Emergent Learning Fund
Louisville, KY brought together over 100 community members, organizations, educators, youth leaders, and policy experts to assess, reflect on, and drive change in food justice and public health for communities affected by food insecurity—advancing the City's Food Vision 2030 Plan. USDN Emergent Learning Fund
Baltimore, MD in partnership with the Liberty Grace Church of God Community Resiliency Hub created a sustainable, community-centered cooling and hydration station at a neighborhood bus stop—providing solar-filtered water, shade, misting, and emergency messaging—while building resident trust and producing a model for citywide heat-resilience replication. USDN Resilience Hub Fund
Philadelphia, PA used small grants funds to establish a Food Policy Advisory Council of 19 people to develop sustainable food policies and practices in their community. USDN Emergent Learning Fund
LiveableStreets Alliance leveraged their power as a coalition to help Massachusetts secure a $300 million Reconnecting Communities grant. SSDN LIH Program
San Francisco, CA launched a user-friendly platform that allows for item swaps. During the project period, 9 organizations posted 146 listings with a total of 2,888 products. CNCA Game Changer Fund
Alameda County, CA created and distributed emergency preparedness materials for older adults and people with disabilities in partnership with community-based partners. USDN Emergent Learning Fund
Partnering Across Sectors
Sutherland & Associates intentionally partners across sectors because effective climate work requires everyone to be at the table. This chart provides a sector breakdown of the 1,557 current and past partners that this team has successfully facilitated deal flows and initiated payments with – and received reporting and deliverables from project timelines spanning 6 months to 3 years.
Impacts are continuously tracked across network databases to understand how small funding seeds innovative ideas that scale into field practice and leverage billions in additional investments.