The Sunrise Movement Education Fund (legal name U.S. Climate Plan Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the fundraising arm of the 501(c)(4) environmentalist advocacy organization Sunrise Movement. Both groups are associated with the “Green New Deal” legislative campaign.
Background
In 2014, Evan Weber and fellow Wesleyan University classmate Matthew Lichtash joined professor Michael Dorsey to found Sunrise Movement Education Fund. 1
In 2013, Weber, Lichtash, and Dorsey won a $30,000 grant to research and draft a plan to counter climate change. The Sierra Club, a left-wing environmentalist group, allowed the group to use its Washington, D.C. office space to draft their plan. Upon completing their written plan, the group next sought to raise public awareness on environmental policy. This led to the creation of the U.S. Climate Plan Inc., also known as the Sunrise Movement Education Fund, in 2014. 2
Weber has worked in previous roles in anti-fossil fuel spheres, including as outreach director for the Pricing Carbon Initiative, which lobbies for carbon tax policies. 3
Funding & Grants
According to Sunrise Movement Education Fund’s 2016 IRS filing (Form 990), the group raised approximately $113,000 from grants and contributions in 2016. 4 That was up from approximately $65,000 in grants and contributions in 2015. 5
The U.S. Climate Action Network (US-CAN) awarded the Sunrise Movement Education Fund a “Member Empowerment Grant” in 2018. 6 USCAN claims its grants are to support “collaborations and grassroots leadership” to fight against fossil fuels. 7 According to USCAN, the grant awarded to the Sunrise Movement Education fund will support “in-person convening and coalition-building” to align activists across “environmental, labor, racial justice, and economic justice organizations.” 8 USCAN did not provide specific details regarding the monetary amount of the grant. Additionally, the street address listed on USCAN’s website is identical to that of the Sunrise Movement Education Fund. 9
The Overbrook Foundation, a leftist foundation that supports environmental causes, also awarded a grant to the Sunrise Movement Education Fund in November 2018. 10 The Overbrook Foundation’s Environment Program awarded the grant to Sunrise, among other organizations. Overbook did not specify the amount of the grant. Overbook also awarded a $30,000 grant to Sunrise earlier in 2018 for “general operating support.” This grant was part of Overbrook’s “Corporate and Consumer Practices” grant program, which funds “activism against destructive industries.” 11
In 2017, the Sunrise Movement Education Fund received a $20,000 grant from the Mertz Gilmore Foundation. 12 The Mertz Gilmore Foundation awarded the grant as part of its “Climate Change Solutions” program. 13 The Mertz Gilmore Foundation is a private family foundation focused on awarding funds to organizations advancing environmental causes and “democratic values.” 14,15
In 2019, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation gave Sunrise Movement Education Fund $500,000. 16
Organization
According to corporate filings, Sunrise Movement Education Fund is a registered and active entity in the District of Columbia. 17 The company was formally created in January 2014 and has a current address of 50 F St. NW, Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20001. According to public records Evan Weber, Michael Dorsey, Becca Rast, and Guido Girgenti area listed as governors of the business, with Weber listed as CEO.18 19 20 21
References
- “Determination Letter.” Letter to U.S. Climate Plan Inc. August 6, 2014. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/dl/FinalLetter_46-4773036_USCLIMATEPLANINC_03262014.tif.
- Matthews, Mark K., Nick Bowlin, and Benjamin Hulac. “Inside the Sunrise Movement (it Didn’t Happen by Accident).” E&E News. December 2, 2018. Accessed February 24, 2019. https://www.eenews.net/stories/1060108439.
- Ludwig, Hayden. “Sunrise Movement Won’t Let the Sun Go Down on the “Green New Deal”.” Capital Research Center. January 3, 2019. Accessed February 24, 2019. https://capitalresearch.org/article/sunrise-movement-wont-let-the-sun-go-down-on-the-green-new-deal/.
- U.S. Climate Plan Inc., Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-EZ), 2016, Part I, Line 1.
- U.S. Climate Plan Inc., Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-EZ), 2016, Part II, Section A, Line 1(d).
- “Member Empowerment Grants 2018.” U.S. Climate Action Network. Accessed February 24, 2019. https://www.usclimatenetwork.org/member_empowerment_grants_2018.
- “Member Empowerment Grants 2018.” U.S. Climate Action Network. Accessed February 24, 2019. https://www.usclimatenetwork.org/member_empowerment_grants_2018.
- “Member Empowerment Grants 2018.” U.S. Climate Action Network. Accessed February 24, 2019. https://www.usclimatenetwork.org/member_empowerment_grants_2018.
- “Member Empowerment Grants 2018.” U.S. Climate Action Network. Accessed February 24, 2019. https://www.usclimatenetwork.org/member_empowerment_grants_2018.
- “November Grants Awarded.” The Overbrook Foundation. December 20, 2018. Accessed February 24, 2019. https://www.overbrook.org/blog.
- “Corporate and Consumer Practices.” The Overbrook Foundation. Accessed February 24, 2019. https://www.overbrook.org/ccp.
- “Climate Change Solutions.” Mertz Gilmore Foundation. Accessed February 24, 2019. http://www.mertzgilmore.org/program-areas/climate-change-solutions/.
- “Climate Change Solutions.” Mertz Gilmore Foundation. Accessed February 24, 2019. http://www.mertzgilmore.org/program-areas/climate-change-solutions/.
- “History.” Mertz Gilmore Foundation. Accessed February 24, 2019. http://www.mertzgilmore.org/about/history/.
- “Program Areas.” Mertz Gilmore Foundation. Accessed February 24, 2019. http://www.mertzgilmore.org/program-areas/.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). 2019. Schedule I. Archived: https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2021/03/Hewlett-Foundation-2019-Form-990.pdf
- “Sunrise Movement Education Fund.” Business Filings Search. Accessed February 24, 2019. https://corponline.dcra.dc.gov/Home.aspx.
- “Operations – Board of Directors.” Guidestar. Accessed February 24, 2019. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/46-4773036.
- “Sunrise Movement Education Fund.” Business Filings Search. Accessed February 24, 2019. https://corponline.dcra.dc.gov/Home.aspx.
- “Operations – Board of Directors.” Guidestar. Accessed February 24, 2019. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/46-4773036.
- “Sunrise Movement Education Fund.” Business Filings Search. Accessed February 24, 2019. https://corponline.dcra.dc.gov/Home.aspx.