In February 2025, the Institute for Sustainable Communities lost $12.4 million in grant money previously promised to it by the Biden administration. This followed the Second Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announcing they had collaborated to terminate $67 million in “environmental justice” grants that had been promised to several environmentalist groups by the Biden administration under its Justice40 Initiative, which included the Institute. 2
Background
The Institute for Sustainable Communities is a grantmaking organization founded in 1991 that advocates left-of-center environmental, economic, and social policies. 13
Financials
According to its 2022 tax returns, Institute for Sustainable Communities reported revenue of $3,481,390, total expenses of $9,064,540, and net assets of $6,614,742. 4
According to its 2021 tax returns, the Institute reported revenue of $13,919,870, expenses of $8,107,738, and net assets of $12,188,933. 5
Funding
In 2022, the Institute for Sustainable Communities reported receiving $1,693,395 in government funding. 6
On February 22, 2025, the second Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced they had collaborated to terminate $67 million in “environmental justice” grants that had been promised to several environmentalist groups by the Biden administration under its Justice40 Initiative. Institute for Sustainable Communities was one of these groups, losing $12.4 million in future grant dollars intended for a “National Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center.” 2
Grantmaking
According to its 2022 990 form, the Institute for Sustainable Communities spent $1,257,884 on program services and training programs in East and South Asia and the Pacific, and $231,023 in grants to organizations in the region. 7
It also listed several organizations and groups it had donated grants to that same year. They included the Asian Pacific Environmental Network, California Indian Museum and Cultural Center, Eastside Community Network, Garfield Park Community Council, Healthy Community Resources and Advocacy, Healthy Gulf, Centro del Obrero Fronterizo/La Mujer Obrera, Power 52, Walnut Way, We Stay – Nos Quedamos, Elevate LLC, Emancipation Economic Development Council, GreenRoots, Groundwork Ohio River Valley, Jastech Development Services, Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida, Pacoima Beautiful, Partnership for Southern Equity, Social Good Fund, Sustaining Way, Thunder Valley Community Development, Unlimited Potential, Virginia Environmental Justice Collaborative, and Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice. 8
Leadership
As of 2025, Rebecca Kaduru is president of the Institute for Sustainable Communities. 9
To pilot interventions in three micro, small and medium-size enterprise cluster regions in India that support a just and sustainable transition to clean energy sources.
Build an inclusive, cross-sector, regional collaboration, that builds community power and leadership towards fostering equitable recovery that increases the social, economic, and environmental resilience of the Texas Gulf Coast region.
To help reduce the production and consumption of plastic in China through a pilot project that aims to cut plastic demand. The Institute for Sustainable Communities is an independent, tax-exempt, not-for-profit organisation which finds community-based solutions to reduce climate pollution in the US and China.
To provide emergency Coronavirus related financial relief to organizations across the U.S., That are led-by and serving communities and neighborhoods of color.
To strengthen collaboration among community and government leaders to advance local and regional equitable climate-resilience planning and implementation.
Fostering effective collaboration among community and government leaders to advance just and equitable climate solutions in low-income, urban communities and metro-regions across the U.S.
4. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Institute For Sustainable Communities. 2022. Part I, lines 12, 18, 22.
5. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Institute For Sustainable Communities. 2021. Part I, lines 12, 18, 22.
6. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Institute For Sustainable Communities. 2022. Part VIII – Statement of Revenue, line e.
7. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Institute For Sustainable Communities. 2022. Schedule F. Part I.
8. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Institute For Sustainable Communities. 2022. Schedule I, Part II – Grants and Other Assistance to Domestic Organizations and Domestic Governments.
9. “Staff.” Institute For Sustainable Communities. Accessed February 28, 2025. https://sustain.org/staff/.
