Frontline Justice Fund
The Frontline Justice Fund (FJF) is an environmental grantmaking initiative of the Tides Foundation. 1 FJF claimed to have awarded $4.25 million to 49 grantees in 27 states and Puerto Rico. 2 In 2023, the initiative “move[d] more than $4 million” in support of local environmental groups. 1
Contents
Background
The Frontline Justice Fund was established in 2022 as a grantmaker for groups that represent under-resourced communities managing the effects of “climate disasters,” toxic pollution, and “the looming threat” of new or expanding petrochemical plants, mines and oil pipelines. 1
The group funds litigation and advocates regulations to promote a “healthy environment” and “livable, sustainable communit[ies].” 1 After the Inflation Reduction Act was passed, the initiative assisted other groups in accessing the funding that the new legislation provided. 1
FJF claimed to have made $4.1 million in grants to 37 groups in 17 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., in 2023 alone. 1
Funding Priorities
Legal Action
The Frontline Justice Fund supports groups that are involved or anticipate involvement in long environmental legal battles. 2
Communities
The initiative funds groups that represent “communities that have acted systemic barriers to power…on the frontlines of environmental injustice.” 2
Frontline Leaders
This prioritizes communities whose frontlines will be directly impacted by “resources.” 2
Non-Legal Costs
The initiative provides “rapid-response” funding that comes with regulatory advocacy and environmental litigation, including technical capabilities and communications. 2
Financials
The Tides Foundation received $250,000 earmarked for the Frontline Justice Fund from the Virginia-based Southern Environmental Law Center in both 2022 3 and 2023. 4
The Frontline Justice Fund claims to have awarded $4.25 million to 49 grantees in 27 states and Puerto Rico. In fall 2024, the Frontline Justice Fund funded several groups in 14 states and Puerto Rico. These groups include La Mujer Obrera in Texas, Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League in South Carolina, Healing Communities PA, Inclusive Louisiana, and People for Community Recovery in Illinois. 2
Leadership
Frontline Justice Fund was led by Angela Mahecha, an Environmental Justice Movement Fellow at the Tishman Environment and Design Center; Douglas Cox of the Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin; Jacqueline Patterson of the Chisholm Legacy Project; and Maria Lopez-Nunez of the Ironbound Community Corporation. 2 Peter Martin of the Tides Foundation is a funder and philanthropic advisor. 2 In 2023, Ash McNeely of Pacific Foundation Services was also a funder. 1
Before FJF, Mahecha was the Climate Justice Alliance’s executive director. She also previously worked for the Green New Deal National Network and had an advisory role with the Mosaic Fund. 5 Mahecha can be hired as a speaker through Gotham Artists, primarily on “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)/Social Justice.” 6 The Gotham Artists profile called her an “influential voice” in “racial justice and economic equity.” 6
Lopez-Nunez has served on the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council and the board of the Climate Justice Alliance. 7 She assisted in the passage of the Cumulative Impacts Law in New Jersey. 8
Peter Martin sits on NextGen America’s board. 9 He also was executive director of the Sierra Club Foundation for almost ten years. 10
McNeely started at Pacific Foundation Services in 2012 as a senior philanthropic advisor. She was also on the steering committee for the San Mateo County Mental Health Plan of Action for School-Aged Youth and on the board of Accion Opportunity Fund. 11