Antha Williams is a left-of-center activist who directs the environment program at the Bloomberg Family Foundation (Bloomberg Philanthropies). In her role with the foundation, Williams has directed programs aimed at eliminating all U.S. coal plants, promoting policies that would reduce personal transportation options, and preventing fishing and exploration in marine sanctuaries worldwide. ¹

Williams attended Green Corps in 1999, a left-of-center organization which trains college graduates to become environmentalist activists and community organizations. Since then, Williams has focused on promoting environmentalist initiatives, working for several left-of-center organizations including the Beldon Fund and Atlantic Philanthropies. ^{2 3}

Career

Williams graduated from Dartmouth College in 1997. ⁴ In 1999, she attended and then worked at Green Corps for 5 years. ⁵ Green Corps is a left-of-center organization which trains college graduates to become organizers and activists for environmental issues. It is part of the left-wing Public Interest Network (PIN). ⁶

In 2004, Williams joined the Beldon Fund as a program officer. ⁷ Beldon Fund was created by left-progressive donor John Hunting in 1982 to invest in environmentalist initiatives, providing $120 million in grants before it closed in 2009. ⁸

After the Beldon Fund closed, Williams became an advocacy executive for Atlantic Philanthropies. ⁹  Atlantic Philanthropies was a large philanthropic organization founded by Chuck Feeney in 1982 and headquartered offshore in order to fund political advocacy organization. Feeney provided $8 billion in funding for the organization from the fortune he had accumulated as co-founder of Duty Free Shoppers. Prior to its closure in 2020, Atlantic Philanthropies was a major contributor to left-of-center causes and campaigns. ¹⁰

In 2011, Williams joined the left-of-center consultancy Corridor Partners as a senior vice president. ¹¹  The firm provides clients with strategic planning to support environmentalist policy advocacy and electoral investments, including promoting the elimination of conventional energy sources. ¹²

In 2013, Williams joined the Bloomberg Family Foundation (Bloomberg Philanthropies) as the head of environmental programs. ¹³ The foundation was created by left-leaning Democratic billionaire and former mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg. Today, the foundation encompasses all Bloomberg’s giving. ¹⁴

Williams directs programs focused on environmentalism. She has supported initiatives which have sought to eliminate all U.S. coal plants by 2030, end the construction of new gas plants, and prevent fishing and exploration in marine sanctuaries worldwide. Williams has also led initiatives to end the use of cars, pushing individuals to instead walk, bike, or use public transit. ¹⁵

While at Bloomberg Philanthropies, Williams was involved in the production of From the Ashes, a 2016 film about coal and the negative impacts it has on health,¹⁶ and From Paris to Pittsburgh, a 2018 environmentalist documentary. ¹⁷

In 2019, Williams was also senior campaign advisor on climate, energy, and environment for Bloomberg’s unsuccessful 2020 presidential campaign. ¹⁸

Board Positions

Williams is treasurer and director of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, a network of cities from across the globe that are committed to implementing left-of-center environmentalist policy. ¹⁹ Bloomberg sits as president of the organization. ²⁰

In addition to her work with Bloomberg Philanthropies, Williams sits on the boards of several left-of-center environmentalist nonprofits, including the ClimateWorks Foundation, the European Climate Foundation, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV), Oceana, and Oceans 5. ²¹

1. Bloomberg Philanthropies Annual Report 2020 – Environment. Accessed July 27, 2021. https://annualreport.bloomberg.org/environment/
2. LinkedIn – Antha N Williams. Accessed July 15, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/antha-n-williams-30b15b4/
3. LinkedIn – Antha N Williams. Accessed July 15, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/antha-n-williams-30b15b4/
4. “FSP Alumni” Dartmouth – Department of Biological Sciences. Accessed July 15, 2021. https://biology.dartmouth.edu/foreign-study/fsp-people/fsp-alumni
5. LinkedIn – Antha N Williams. Accessed July 15, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/antha-n-williams-30b15b4/
6. Green Corps – About Us. Accessed July 27, 2021. https://greencorps.org//about.html
7. LinkedIn – Antha N Williams. Accessed July 15, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/antha-n-williams-30b15b4/
8. Beldon Fund website. Accessed July 15, 2021. http://www.beldon.org/
9. LinkedIn – Antha N Williams. Accessed July 15, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/antha-n-williams-30b15b4/
10. Atlantic Philanthropies – Our Story. Accessed July 15, 2021. https://www.atlanticphilanthropies.org/our-story
11. LinkedIn – Antha N Williams. Accessed July 15, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/antha-n-williams-30b15b4/
12. Corridor Partners – Services. Accessed July 26, 2021. https://www.corridorpartners.com/services/
13. LinkedIn – Antha N Williams. Accessed July 15, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/antha-n-williams-30b15b4/
14. Bloomberg Philanthropies – About. Accessed July 27, 2021. https://www.bloomberg.org/about/
15. Bloomberg Philanthropies Annual Report 2020 – Environment. Accessed July 27, 2021. https://annualreport.bloomberg.org/environment/
16. “Coal: New Film Shows How Bad It Is For Your Health” Forbes – Innovation – Healthcare. June 24, 2017. Accessed July 27, 2021. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2017/06/24/coal-new-film-shows-how-bad-it-is-for-your-health/?sh=3e2e0d5a93f9
17. “Rachel Brosnahan Narrating Climate Change Documentary ‘Paris To Pittsburgh’” Deadline – TV – Breaking News. October 18, 2018. Accessed July 27, 2021. https://deadline.com/2018/10/rachel-brosnahan-marvelous-mrs-maisel-natgeo-documentary-paris-to-pittsburgh-climate-change-donald-trump-1202485195/
18. “Greenpeace gives Bloomberg a D-plus on climate” The Hill – Policy – Energy and Environment. December 18, 2019. Accessed July 27, 2021. https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/475102-greenpeace-gives-bloomberg-a-d-on-climate
19. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group Inc. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2019, Part VII.
20. c40 website – About – The Board. Accessed July 15, 2021. https://www.c40.org/leadership
21. Bloomberg Philanthropies – About – Leadership – Antha N. Williams. Accessed July 27, 2021. https://www.bloomberg.org/team/antha-n-williams/